Pictures!

Clockwise: Neuswanstein Castle in Fussen, Germany; Enjoying a stein at the Haufbrauhaus, The Berlin Wall, New Years Eve celebration in Amsterdam, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Weirdly, Germans drink all beverages out of a boot...

I had been to Munich once before; however, it was Oktoberfest and very little sightseeing was done. A great experience in itself but it is amazing how much one misses when they are only in town for the beer drinking festivities. That is not to say that there was not a fair about of beer drinking done and beer halls visited this time around, but there is so much in and around the city as well. A much prettier city that Berlin, the Bavarian capital has a very German feel to it, not to mention the food and beer were far superior to the capital. Visiting the original Haufbrauhaus House coupled with some walking tours took care of the city sights, but there were also two very interesting day trips that are a must do when visiting Munich not for a beer drinking festival.
Neuschwanstein Castle was the brainchild of Ludwig II, one of Germany’s late 19th century monarchs, and the true inspiration of Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle. Nestled in the base of the German Alps, the palace is just as amazing as one might imagine. An easy two hours train ride south of Munich in Fussen, the castle is filled with history, mystery and technological advancements unheard of for its time. The snow blanketing the area added to the allure of the location but the castle is surely a must visit for anyone in the south of Germany at any time of the year.
The last full day that I had in Munich I decided to take a day trip that would be a little more somber. Through my immersion in detailed German history that started in Berlin, I learned that Dachau was Hitler’s first concentration camp and located just outside of Munich. Within a month of power, the Nazi party set fire to their own capital (the Reichstag, mentioned below), blamed the Communist Party and used the fear to suspend rights and imprison Hitler’s adversaries. We all know what followed.It is truly horrible what these places were. Obvious statement, I know, but there is only so much that words in textbooks can do. Nothing quite suffices to express the true horrors that occurred under Hitler’s regime. The memorial is humbling, doing an incredible job to not only honor and remember the victims but to also remind the public how evil man can be. Walking through the gas chambers was a chilling experience, a feeling that words cannot truly justify and an sensation I have never quite had before in my life.
After 10+ days on the road, I was very ready to return to Madrid with a much lighter bank account. Germany is not the most popular location for American tourists when heading to Europe, with the romantic allure of France and Italy stealing the thunder from the Rhineland; however, I would highly recommend it to any European travelers, and I have only been in two cities!

Ich bin ein Berliner

Unlike the Spanish, who conveniently write very little about their forty-year dictatorship or the ways in which Francisco Franco came into power, the Germans beat the fact into the ground. If something involving the Third Richt happened in a locale, the information describing said event is plentiful; some tours are even tailored specifically to how certain buildings and locations played a role in the movement. That being said, Berlin was a city rich with history.From Reichstag, which is Germany’s parliament and epitomizes the cities recent history, to the Brandenburg Gate where US presidents and presidential candidates have made historic speeches, it feels as if every corner of the city is rich with history. Certainly ruins still remain from World War II, reminders of the devastation of war.
Interestily, however, the Berlin Wall was not easy to find. Albeit only 1500 yards still remain, the location of it was not well described in guidebooks or by locals. It is only logical that only a section remains in an obscure location, but what was amazing was how poorly marked the East Side Gallery, the name of the remaining section that has now been transformed into fifteen football fields of artwork. It may be an American mindset, but the first thing that comes to mind when speaking of Berlin is the Wall.A very cold but informative trip, Berlin was a nice change from the insanity that was Amsterdam. After three days of exploring the city, I headed south to Bavaria.

New Years 2010: Amsterdam

Learning in early October that I was going to be spending New Year’s Eve in Europe got me to thinking: what/where would be the best way to go about doing it. My godfather refers to the night as ‘amateur hour’ and usually, I have to agree; however, this year was different. A few weeks into the school year a buddy of mine mentioned that his brother lived in Amsterdam, working in a comedy show. As December approached, Andrew informed me and another buddy that his brother’s club was throwing an awesome party and we should all be in attendance. Stupid not to. After a day and a half of taking in the sights, we proceeded to the club for the big party. It did not disappoint. With ten minutes to go before the New Year, Andrew’s brother found us and brought us onto the roof of the club. Amsterdam is one of the few place fireworks are legal (shocking, I know) in Europe, a fact made very clear the second you get off your train and they are hurled at your feet. The entire Dutch sky was alit with fireworks for the 45 minutes we spent on top of the roof, a very well done celebration.I woke up in Utrecth, a city 45 minutes outside of Amsterdam. Allegedly the last thing said to my friends as I left the club were, “lets get weird.” A fantastic night for sure and, finally, one that lived up to the hype that accompanies New Years.The next night didn’t disappoint either, as we took in a few Dutch bars away from the tourist central of the city and Andrew’s brother’s comedy show. After the two days of debauchery, I made my way to the German capital.