Munich

Hallo Deutschland!

This one looks like more of a yawn, which is impossible because I'm inexhaustible.

We arrived in Munich via train and found our way to Ashley's former au pair's apartment. Alex lived with the McGinnises for a year in the late 80's and they managed to stay in touch through Facebook. Alex and her wife Rozenn were amazing hosts and we had a lot of fun catching up. Our Munich trip would not have been complete without their company and generosity.

We. Love. Munich. I can't find a better way to put it. Everything about our experience was awesome. And the beer, oh the beer.

At the Hofbrau Haus. You can't hear the Hofbrau Haus song, but it was there.

We spent an afternoon at the Bavarian Treasury (we probably should have allotted more time).

Rich people's assets seized by the state montage

After, we went and saw the Bavarian Royalty's former palace where they used to keep all the stuff we just saw in the treasury.

Big, old hall

Room with silk wall paper, and wait, what's that? ZOOM IN

Pack of dogs losing to a lion

Pack of dogs losing to a bull. Does not compute.

We took a day trip out to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial. I didn't take many pictures that day. It was definitely one of the saddest, energy sapping places I've ever been. The memorial and museum were extremely well done, and while I don't want to say I enjoyed it, I definitely appreciated it.

'Work will set you free' 

Fuck.

The following day we took a wonderful train ride out to Fussen, where we would stay overnight and go see Neuschwanstein Castle.

View of the castle from the bridge (high in the Bavarian Alps)

View of the bridge from the castle. Below the bridge there is a roaring waterfall, to really hammer the fear home.

I'll admit I was actually a little underwhelmed by the castle. Not that it wasn't magnificent (it was), but it was completely outshone by the surrounding countryside, and considering this is the castle Walt Disney modeled Sleeping Beauty's castle after, that's saying something.

 An alpine lake from a massive balcony over a cliff

After yet another gorgeous train ride, we were back in Munich for our last day there. We walked around  one of their massive parks and saw something we weren't quite expecting.

They're SURFING on a RIVER in a PARK in MUNICH

So we're seriously going to miss Germany (or at least Bavaria). What an amazing experience, with special thanks to our hosts Alex and Rozenn. And another huge thanks to those of you who donated money. You know who you are. Your donations were turned into comically large Bavarian beers which weren't really in our budget otherwise. Thank you.

I'm typing this from our hotel room in Istanbul. Conor is here! More on that once I sort through all these pictures I'm taking. It's nuts here (and safe).

More soon,

Brendan and Ashley

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