Friday, June 27, 2008

Deutscheland!!!!!!!!!

Guten tag!!!
Sorry its been 2 days since ive posted anything. Greg and I have been traveling around Germany and northrn Switzerland like homeless, grungy vagabonds with very little internet or phone access. Anyway, Germany is perhaps the most WONDERFUL place on the planet I've been!The people, the culture, the beer, the food, the scenery, EVERYTHING just makes me feel so comfortable and happy. Perhaps it's my German blood, but I just feel so great here and am having a blast!
We met Torsten in Cologne which is a beautiful city on the Rheine and watched the semifinals of the Eurocup featuring Germany vs. Turkey. Cologne has a HUGE Turkish population and the Germans are insane about their soccer, so it made for an incredible experience. We watched it outside at a cafe with thousands surrounding us singing and cheering in the streets and when Germany won there was the most insane riot/party in the streets of Cologne until way into the morning. The Turks and Germans were both highly of Germans waving the flag clogged the streets and people were blasting music, singing the nationl anthem, dancing around cars, with horns honking surrounded by hundreds of riot police pretty much joining in. It was simply the most incredible scene i've ever taken part in and is simply impossible to explain adequately.
Yesterday, Greg and I decided we were going to stop in Switzerland as we made our way to Munich and we stopped first in Basel which is at the border of Germany, Switzerland, and France and is absolutely beautiful. We basically just got lost and walked around for multiple hours but it was wonderful. Next we got back on a train heading towards Zurich and had about an hour there to wander aimlessly and it became apparent to us that Zurich is a city you would need a lot of time to explore bc it's just really big and very cosmopolitan. Zurich also has iced tea brewed with marijuana that you can buy for 2 dollars iin vending machines around the city like you were in need of a diet coke - needless to say, Greg and I were quite surprised!!! After Zurich we got on a train around dinner time and headed towards Munich, and the train ride was an adventure in itself! Going through Northwest Austria and southern Bavaria through the lush green mountain villages and crystal clear lakes right outside the train windows was simply incredible. Also, there was a woman who was sitting behind us and met her boyfriend at some stop where we were for a few minutes, but she didnt get back on the train on time and chased after it screaming because she left her purse and luggage on the train. Unfortunately for her, she was in some nameless Austrian town while her bags made their way to Munich. Greg and I really couldnt feel badly though bc she was busy making out with some random guy at a 1 minute stop in Austria and left her purse and everything on board. I actually didnt feel like the stupid tourist for once haha!
We finally got to Munich late last night and are staying at this campsite on the outskirts of the city called "The Tent" which is kind of a renowned international party scene with its own beergarten and has a giant bonfire every night where smelly hippies from all over the world go and dance around. It's awesome though and its such a great, cheap place to stay.
Right now, we're at an internet cafe in central Munich after just having a giant breakfast of huge German pretzels and weisswurst which was amazing. That crazy bastard Greg even ordered a liter of dunkel beer to wash down his 9:30 am breakfast which apparently is not totally uncommon haha. In a few minutes we're going to head out on a short S-Bahn ride to the Nazi concentration camp Dachau which will be very sobering and sad but is something Greg and I feel we both just have to see. Later tonight we plan on hitting up the Hofbrauhaus and drinking some 'Das boots' of incredible German beer while we listen to "oompah" music and eat sausages. I finally feel like I'm home hahaha!!!
Tomorrow is Prague but i'll try to post again tonight if I get the chance... all depends on access to a computer and the amount of beer consumed prior to that time!

3 comments:

Nicole said...

incredible, harry!

Big Ralph said...

Toatally enjoyed your comments on Germany,the Germans in general and on Prague. Take care of yourselves.

West Beach said...

Beer at 9:30am???

Never before 10, man.