Munich Germany was hands down one of the most educational stops of my European experience. It sounds odd because I’m not big on beer nor do I really obsess over anything German made (food, clothes, history). We got the hotel and had no time to do anything but drop off our luggages and head down for our city tour. Our very educated tour guide was originally from South Africa and was hilarious. Every fact he told us was began with a funny little joke, which made the experience very enjoyable. I didn’t realize Munich was one of the top three largest cities in Germany. I also really never cared to be honest lol… We stopped at the very beautiful Rathaus-Glockenspiel which was a vision in itself, the detail was insane. Every day at 11 a.m, 12 p.m and 5 p.m. it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century. It consists of 32 life-size figures and 43 very large bells. From what I remember, the top of it tells a story of a local married couple (obviously an important one) … Blah blah blah… I can’t really sit here and give you a mini tour of all the places we saw but one thing that stood out to me was a church that I went inside of. I honestly never even caught the name because I was so taken by how beautiful everything in there was. I went in there for my mom who is in my opinion, the modern day mother Theresa, LOL…but I was so glad I got to experience the most beautiful church I have ever laid eyes on. Everyone was complaining and I couldn’t help but giggle at how dramatic the people I was with were being because they thought it was so cold…. But maybe that’s because I am used to the Canadian weather. Our walking tour had to come to an end and our tour guide took us to the very famous “Hofbräuhaus am Platzl”
building which is known for larger-than-life beers, pretzels and German dishes. Our group had lost eachother, so a few of us ended up sitting with random people. I learned in Germany that everyone sits with everyone. It is more strange to reserve a table alone than it is to just pull up a chair with complete randoms and pretend like you’re part of their crew, so we did just that! We all ordered German dishes and since I hate beer oh so much but still wanted to fit in, I ordered a special on the menu that is half lemonade and half beer which definitely took away from that nasty taste. It wasn’t the best since I’m a wine or vodka girl but when in Rome (Germany?) do as the Romans (Germans?) do right? We met some really cool people who were from Colorado on business and spent the rest of the evening drinking ourselves stupid while playing made up games that made absolutely no sense. At around 1 am, my friend from Brazil, Katia and I went back to the hotel to find that there was a “hotel party” happening (haven’t been to one of these since I was maybe 20). The first one got “busted” so Katia ended up bringing everyone to our room. We had a lot of fun and had a chance to get to know more people from our tour. A couple of days later, on our exit from Munich, we stopped at the very chilling Dachau concentration camp. For anyone who doesn’t know, it’s one of the very first Nazi concentration camps that opened in Germany. There was 32,000 documented deaths at this specific location. I can’t really express how it felt to be there and in this situation there was really no words. To say it was heart breaking would be an understatement. Again, just like at the Ann Frank Huis in Amsterdam, they were selling all sorts of things in the store to make a buck. There was also a food court in there, like… Who really wants to sit and enjoy a nice meal in the presence of all the innocent lost souls. I’m not sure who can even stomach a meal, much less have an appetite at a monumental place like that. It irked me so much but I ignored it and went straight to the site. As soon as I entered the portables, I felt sick to my stomach and suddenly all my blessings rushed to my mind. Everything felt eerie and cold; I couldn’t be there for too long because I could feel the depression coming on. I stood on the grounds and the religious side of me came creeping out, so I said a little prayer for all the lost lives and gave thanks for everything I have been given in my life. Again, I left feeling like a different person and I recommend anyone who ever travels to Germany to go to the concentration camps because you only really and truly get it once you’re there to feel it.
Munich was both eventful and very educational. I’m so glad that I experienced it. Would I go back? Yes… I wouldn’t mind spending some more of my days there. Would I recommend others to visit? From my short stay and some education on the city, without a doubt. This was the half way mark of my European adventure and I can’t wait to write about my next and probably favourite stop .. ITALY. xx