Back from Munich - April 13th, 2009

Here is a post that I wrote after going to Munich over Easter break with a group of people from my study abroad program.

What I've Liked About Europe

• the yummy food at the Heuriger in Vienna
• train rides and how night trains work
• walking through Schönbrunn & being blown away by its immense size
• the nature and meadows behind the Munich palace
• the random nature. You're in a city and then you're in a forest, deceptively tricked in being seemingly far from all urban encroachment
• Seeing Vindabona in Vienna and imagining
• the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, especially the acoustics as the entire interior fills with the chanting and thumping of people "Ole, ole, ole!"
• the yummy beer available in Augustiner Keller
• Taking the impression that 3 Swiss men held about young Americans and turning the impression upside down. Additionally, making them laugh by saying jokes auf Deutsch. Being funny in multiple languages would be an amazing accomplishment! I felt more like myself when I was cracking jokes with the Swiss than I had since arriving.
• the friendly girl named Rachel in the Munich hostel
• the attic room in the first hostel that I stayed at in Vienna.
• the Prater in Vienna
• hiking to the Heuriger
• sitting in the English Garten in Munich and seeing the surfers. It was such a random, unique sight. But it makes me wonder: Was the spot formed for the surfers? Or did it bring the niche surfer community to Munich?
• Random street performers (but I like those everywhere)
• The first full day that I was in Vienna, I was randomly exploring and walked up Mariahilferstrasse to see a full-on demonstration that took up the entire length of the street (about a mile). They were protesting against capitalism and racism. I saw the riot police and it brought back memories of watching the WTO Riots on the television screen. Yet, here, they were not throwing tear gas but merely making sure it was a peaceful demonstration. I continued to see similar protests throughout my entire stay in Vienna. The riot police (and subsequently the city) allowed the demonstration to happen. I cannot say with absolute certainty that the same would have happened in my city
• Witnessing the INSANE FC Bayern München fans and following them from the train station to the stadium, as they yelled chants. That's true fan spirit
• The possibility of seeing the FC Bayern football game but mostly just liking the journey to the stadium.