Munich!

Wow, Munich! What a city – truly incredible! I had an amazing time and probably could have spent one more day there but I think I was cheap to spend another 20 Euro on a room, plus the money I'm sure I would have spent on more food and wasted at a bar or club or something. Wombat's was a great hostel, though, and I met some really cool people.

First day I went straight to Wombat's, a whole 2 blocks from the train station, settled in and dropped off my things. I headed out for a short afternoon adventure, just walking wherever looked interested. I came upon the famous Oktoberfest grounds where some kind of “mini” Oktoberfest was taking place. It was like a huge carnival with tons of big rides and food stands, along with the biggest rummage sale I've seen in my life. It was quite a happening place so I wandered around for some goodies at the rummage sale and grabbed a bite to eat. On my way back I stopped into a big church, St. Paul's, and climbed up the stairs to the very top tower with an incredible view of the city. The weather was absolutely brilliant – my luck came back after Mannheim and I think it's going to stay with my for the rest of my time in Europe! I stayed at the top of the tower and took it all in for a while. There was a great view of the mountains in the distance... of course it made me want to go skiing! After that, I headed back to the hostel and tried to catch up on some e-mails. Later that night, I hit up the “WomBAR” downstairs a couple beers. Didn't take long to meet some people and we decided to head over to the infamous “Hofbrauhaus” in the Munich city center. It's basically a huge beer-drinking hall with food. Good thing because we were all starving! The guys I was with were two Saskatchewan Canadians and three American military guys – super funny and all nice enough to pitch in together for my meal and a few drinks. We also sat with a guy from Munich and his friend from Prague who'd been living in Munich for some time. We were a jolly bunch, getting most of the tables around us involved in some chanting and cheering of various kinds. This place was like one giant party, medieval feast style. We moved on later to an Irish pub that was basically too packed to enjoy so we just returned to the hostel bar and talked to some people there. Pretty convenient when you're tired you can just walk up the stairs and you're basically in your room!

On Sunday I did more walking around to the city center and then found my way to the Deutsches Museum, a huge science and technology museum right next to the river. I spent a good 3 hours there and saw things from full-size fighter jets to ancient sailboats and even a lighting demonstration. Yes, they made lightning right in front of our eyes and it was so loud we had to cover our ears! Really cool, though, that museum was awesome. After the museum I took the S-Bahn (it's like a local train system, think of it as a cross between regular trains and the metro) to Dachau with the help of an old couple who recognized me staring cluelessly at the ticket machine. It was a lot more complicated then it needed to be, okay!! But the couple, despite our slight language barrier, helped me figure it out and I knew enough German to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted! But really nice of them to stop and help me – don't get much of that in Europe.

Dachau was really cool. I almost didn't go but I'm glad I finally decided to. Although there weren't the same massive amount of killings there like Auschwitz or other concentration camps, it was still so moving and obviously a staple visit if making the journey to Europe at any point. The museum there had everything in English and was quite extensive. I learned quite a few things about Dachau that I hadn't known before. Not much else to say about it but... just go.

Sunday evening was interesting. I went down to the WomBAR again and had a nice big juicy cheeseburger. Met a few different people and we tried to find some bars or clubs full of people somewhere around town but didn't have much luck. We ended up at another hostel bar next door to Wombat's but it still wasn't too exciting. I ended up talking with some of the bartenders there and it turned out to be a long night! A small group of us were up until about 4am or 5am, just sitting around, talking about life. Those nights are usually the best ones because learning about new people, their background and life story is always so interesting. But I really couldn't stay up any longer so I finally went to bed! The next morning was a rough one since I had to be all packed up and out of my room by 10am. Of course that's just a “guideline” and I didn't quite make it but it wasn't a problem. I looked up the next direct train to Vienna and it wasn't until 1:30pm so I got my things together in the lobby and took a nice long nap on one of the hammocks. Woke up, went to the train station and boarded the ÖBB RailJet... one of ÖBB's newer trains – it rivaled those of the Deutsche Bahn! So when I said ÖBB had some catching up to do, I was just out of the loop because they are right up there with everyone else. Being on the ÖBB already made me feel at home, though. I'd be back in Vienna in about 4 hours.

Cadolzburg and the Engelhardt's

So behind on the blog! I hate playing catch-up but I think it's a must! (Sorry, I'm a loser and didn't take any photos but maybe the Engelhardt's will send one of Frank and I about to go on a bike ride.)

After a wonderful week in Luzern, I headed to Nuremberg via my huge Deutsche Bahn disaster which you should have already read in great detail sometime last week. Luckily that's now a thing of the past and something I can try to laugh about, now... TRY! At the train station in Nuremberg, I heard some English and asked if I could borrow a cell phone to call Frank and let him know I arrived. A short 20-30 minutes, Frank was already there and helped me with my things to his car. I just sat and talked over a beer with the Americans who were stationed in one of the U.S.A.'s Germany military bases nearby while I waited for Frank. I went with Frank to a pretty cool little bar in the center of the city. We had a small dinner and walked around the city for a little bit, then headed to Cadolzburg where his parents live and where I would be staying for the next few days.

The house was amazing and I was SO excited to cuddle up in bed after such a long and horrible day on all the trains and at all the stations! The next day was perfect, and I think my time in Cadolzburg and sight-seeing around the area really made up for my train debacle the day before. Frank's parents were really great – so cheerful and so excited to have me. A giant feast of a breakfast awaited us outside on the newly-built garden deck. Almost the whole family joined us including Frank's parents, brother, his brother's girlfriend, Frank's sister and her boyfriend. The weather was amazing and I felt so comfortable with a family I'd only known for just a couple hours! After lunch, Frank took me on a little bike ride through the quaint town of Cadolzburg. The exercise was a godsend and I couldn't remember the last time I'd done anything that active! Just getting on a bike was awesome, too. After that, Frank organized a casual soccer game for us with a bunch of his friends. All the guys were super nice and even let me score a few goals! Haha, yeah just kidding, I went easy on them, though. ;) That evening we explored the nearby town of Fürth where Frank's girlfriend (Vera) lives. The town is pretty historically relevant, being one of Germany's largest Jewish populations. It was very nice and had an amazing city park right in the center of town. The U-Bahn there even went all the way to Nürnberg.

Frank took me to his college flat in the nearby town of Erlangen on Monday. Another quaint German town, but bustling with college students and lots of action. I was pleasantly surprised as we wandered the downtown streets of the little place.

On Tuesday, Vera's parents were nice enough to take us along to their mom's place in Engelstadt, south east of Nürnberg. We stopped at a few historical sites like some Roman baths and a big castle on the way, and of course the German countryside was gorgeous. Vera's grandmother was so sweet and we enjoyed cake and coffee with her for an hour or so outside her flat on the patio. After that, we ventured into town where Vera's father gave me a pretty detailed history of the town and its main features. We continued on to a small university town not far from Engelstadt. Vera's parents treated us to a fantastic dinner at a pretty authentic German restaurant. Frank and I finally got home late that night and hit the hay.

Another bike ride was in store for me Wednesday, but instead of town we ventured into the forest. It was really beautiful with so many trails I couldn't believe it! On our way back to the house, we stopped at Frank's Aunt and Uncle's farm at the edge of town. They were super nice and showed me around the place. It was really different from the way we do things back home but also pretty enlightening. I'm glad we have as much space as we do! After the bike ride we were pretty beat and did some more relaxing. After a quick run to the grocery store for some BBQ meats, we went to one of the guys' house we played soccer with for a real German-style BBQ – crazy people almost always grill pork! We had a great time, though, and I'm really glad it's how I was able to spend my last night in Cadolzburg.

Frank saw me off Thursday morning from Cadolzburg Hauptbahnhof – kind of a joke because there were two tracks and only one possible direction. Haha, it was cute, though. Didn't have too much trouble with my transfers although I was running through the station in Nürnberg in order to buy my ticket to Mannheim and catch the train on time. I was supposed to have 15 minutes but ended up with 10. I'm pretty sure the ticket lady didn't think I'd make the train but oh... oh yes I did, indeed!

Cadolzburg and the Engelhardt's was awesome. Those people are truly amazing and I really look forward to the next time I can visit them and their lovely home. Frank and his family's kindness are truly one-of-a-kind and something that is never forgotten! I hope Frank will visit the U.S.A. Sometime again soon so I can hopefully repay the favor. That whole area around Nürnberg is so gorgeous – I can't wait to return!

Luzern catch-up!

Finally have a bit of time to catch up on the blog, today. My friend Clara, the Austrian girl I'm staying with, doesn't have wireless in the apartment. A little difficult to get online, although I can use her computer, but I don't like spending too much time on it.

I'd like to fill everyone in on my trip to Luzern since I know I never got a chance to write much about it - Definitely a highlight of my time in Europe. Photo is from the balcony in my room at Greti's house.

Christian Sr. and Sarah picked me up at the train station in Luzern just minutes after I arrived around 7:00am. I hadn't slept much all night on the train but I felt pretty good, all things considered. Night trains are an adventure in themselves I suppose, but I think everything worked out pretty well. I didn't pay extra for a real bed and I'm glad I didn't because I think I had more room in the regular seating area. Most of the trip I had the compartment to myself, laying down all six seats so it was like sleeping on a super-firm king-sized bed! There were a couple strange occurrences, though, like waking up to a family of four asking if the seats were available, sitting down and being loud and obnoxious, then leaving about 20 minutes later for no apparent reason. That irritated me just a bit, especially since I had finally ACTUALLY fallen asleep! The next time I woke up, there was a guy sitting in the compartment with me so I moved my feet out of the way a little bit but he left about 5 minutes after that... yeah, I know, a little sketch! It was just a tiny bit difficult to feel comfortable falling asleep because I always had the possibility of someone stealing my stuff in the back of my mind – even though my ski bag was probably out of the question since it was about 80 pounds, and all my big valuables (wallet, laptop, etc.) were in my backpack which I was using as some kind of pillow and would probably notice if someone was messing with it... but still, always bugging me that some creeper would come in and try to take something. I completed the journey without losing any goods so it was okay.

I recognized some things about Luzern but not much since my last first in 2004. I definitely remembered the Amgwerd house, though, and immediately felt at home, just as I suspected. It was so great to see Greti looking unchanged, just as happy and vibrant as I remembered her. First order of business was breakfast and a lot of catching up. Christian has mastered his coffee preparation and always had a cup of black ready for me each morning. I did enjoy the occasional cappuccino, though. I lasted a few hours but finally succumbed to my need for sleep around 10am or 11am. I woke up around 12:30pm and Christian Jr. made his first appearance of the morning by inviting me on a afternoon stroll through downtown Luzern with his girlfriend. Once again, I recognized a few things but most was just a blur from my old high school years. The weather was gorgeous and stayed that way the entire week I was there. So lucky!

Back in Vienna

I just arrived in Vienna a couple hours ago and I made my way to my host-mom's flat. I anticipated her not being there because Mondays she usually works a bit later, so I settled down on a park bench next to the building to wait it out and decided I'd give some WI-FI a try. Right now I'm all connected up to my host-mom's wireless working on sleeping arrangements - I'll be staying with another friend for the next few days - perfect! More later!

Mannheim

Made it to Philip's place in Mannheim after a few awesome days in Cadolzburg with Frank. My apologies for the delay in posting but as you can imagine, I've been pretty busy in just a few days' time.

I arrived in Mannheim yesterday afternoon and Philip met me at the train station. After we took my things to his apartment which happens to be about 2 blocks from the train station, we walked around town and saw the university and the town center. We got a few things for dinner and ate back at the apartment. Around 9pm we headed for a student pub called "Cafe Vienna" for a couple beers.

I just woke up and I'm sitting here writing this with CNN on in the background. We watched part of Obama's speech in Mexico City last night... ugh.

Today Philip is going to take me to Heidelberg, a little town not far from Mannheim and I guess a little more made up for tourists. Philip thinks Mannheim is one of the ugliest cities in Germany! I don't know about that but he doesn't seem to like the city here much - just the university here.

So my plans are to take off for Munich sometime tomorrow morning. It's only 3 hours or so from Mannheim so it won't be too bad. I'll spend a few days there (hopefully find a place to stay - travel season has started and some of the hostels are pretty full!) and then return to Vienna Tuesday or Wednesday night.

Philip showed me some pictures from the last time he was in the United States with us and it really made us BOTH miss it!

The Joys of Deutsche Bahn Travel

(Written yesterday in the train.)

Today was officially, and easily, my worst day in Europe. I'm still extremely irritated, so naturally it's a great time to write my blog entry.

I booked an awesome train itinerary from Luzern to Nürnberg with just one change in Basel. I was to depart Luzern around noon and arrive in Nürnberg about 6pm. As you may have already guessed, this did not go according to plan.

In Basel, the transfer went smoothly and I had plenty of time to make my connection. But less than an hour into the journey from Basel to Nürnberg, “things” hit the fan. We were stopped in a tiny town, the name I can't recall now, just waiting and waiting, with of course no English coming across the loudspeakers. I kept busy watching some TV shows on my laptop but after some time I realized that a lot of people on the train were now outside laying in the sun or walking around with ice cream or something. When I asked, all I got from one of the train attendant was, “In a few moments we go to Offen-something and you get on another train.” Great.

So we finally arrived in Offen-whatever, Germany where we were packed onto a second train along with an already delayed group of passengers, who had apparently been waiting there for some time (I think over an hour!) because of fire on the tracks ahead. Keep in mind I'm carrying all of my luggage from 3 months in Vienna – really fun stuff.

This new train was headed for Hamburg and didn't stop in Nürnberg. It did, however, stop in Karlsruhe where I could change over to another train that would go directly to Nürnberg. About 30 minutes into the train ride the attendant came over the loudspeaker and said that everyone was required to exit at Karlsruhe because the train was too far delayed (something like 2.5 hours) and they were just straight-up taking it off the grid. So of course when we arrived in Karlsruhe it was an absolute sh!t-show, with basically two trains-worth of passengers piling off, trying to make the fastest connection to wherever they were going. I had NO idea what/where my connection was because the train attendant didn't always speak in English; and when he did, half the words were in German. I heard something about the TVG (TGV??) through Karlsruhe being delayed, too, and it would go though Stuttgart. Okay, that sounds good.

Our train finally stops in Karlsruhe and I'm one of the last to exit because I have two bags that I can only handle one-at-a-time, and the mob getting off the train will never let you back in until every last one of them is out. None of the platforms say Stuttgart or Nürnberg so I'm about to board this TVG (TGV??) but there's nothing on the sign so I don't want to just get on without knowing for sure where it's going. I walk up to one of the train attendants and say, “Excuse me,” in German and the dude completely ignores me, waves off the train (the official signal that his area is all clear for departure), steps onto the train and shuts the door. By this point, I was about ready to rage.  I suppose I could have pressed the button on the train and gotten on, but again, I wasn't sure if that was the right train or not!!

After that, I looked around for an arrival/departure board but the only thing is a giant, written out schedule which takes forever to interpret. You basically have to ready every single train/itinerary to search for whatever city you want until you find the right one or one going in the direction you want. I find a train direct to Nürnberg leaving in 30 minutes but it says, “Außer Sa.” Something Saturdays? Oh yeah: NOT SATURDAYS!!


Admitting defeat on the platform, I went to call Frank and family via T-Mobile pay-phone. I knew it would be expensive but I had to get in touch with him somehow to let them know I wouldn't be arriving at the time we had originally planned. I had a pouch full of change, anyway. So I put some coins in there and the max amount it let me insert was €1.40. I dial Frank's number and then I realize I have no idea/can't remember what city I'm in and I'm trying to explain to him, “Something that ends in 'ruhe'... ??” but we can't get it figured out. The money left on the pay-phone was constantly going down so I kept putting coins into the phone as fast as I could get them out of my pouch. So I asked some people next to me eating at McDonald's what city we're in and they just gave me a blank stare like I was crazy. Frank decides I should call back in 5 minutes so they can figure it out. I go to the Deutsche Bahn desk and tell them I need to get to Nürnberg and the lady tells me a train is going to Frankfurt and then from there I can change to a train (1.5 hours later) going through Nürnberg – arrival time 10:00pm. Bingo.

I call Frank back and for whatever reason he can't understand or hear a thing I'm saying. So I try again and still the same thing, and again I'm continuously adding change to the pay-phone. Frank asked me if I had something to write with – Well yes if I had two more hands to get some paper and my pen out, sure. So I just hang up, completely, out of my mind pissed off just at everything. I got on the train to Frankfurt and send Frank a text via T-Mobile pay-phone, who knows if it went through, notifying him of my new arrival time. Then I realized that I could put everything I didn't need for the next two weeks into my giant ski bag and leave it in Frankfurt at the airport in some kind of storage. I spent some time with crap just spread all over the train platform, re-organizing and re-packing my bag. Now this thing is just ridiculously heavy but I drag it upstairs and use a free info-center phone to call information and ask about long-term storage. The lady was really nice and explained where to go so I rolled my bag over there, sweating, exhausted (it was heavy, man...) and finally found the storage place. €7 for every day. But like the desperate, mental idiot I was at the time, I said yes and calculated it later... yeah, €90 when I pick it up on the 23rd. Perfect.

On my way back to the train platform, I decided to stop in the Deutsche Bahn office and complain a little, maybe try to get some money or a free ticket or something. I figured I'd had a pretty good reason for being so pissed off. But, after explaining to the lady at the counter that I had spent the extra money for a direct train to Nürnberg because I had probably 100lbs. of luggage, and instead of being there in 6 hours with one transfer it took 11 hours and 4 transfers, she told me I could e-mail Deutsche Bahn and they could possibily refund me 20% of the original ticket price sometime within the next 6 months. My day was getting better by the minute.

I returned to my other bag down on platform 4 and of course get accused of trying to steal the thing by some rando on the other side of the tracks. I can't understand a word he's saying so I just give him a really irritated, annoyed look, which by chance happens to be the look that's already on my face. So he just forgot about it and walked away. Now I'm on the train to Nürnberg. It's about 8:30pm and I have another hour and a half before I get there and HOPEFULLY Frank or someone will be there with a cold, German beer and a ride to either a bar or a bed.


UPDATE: I did, indeed, get a nice cold beer upon arrival in Nürnberg and chit-chatted with some American military guys in the train station while I waited for Frank. I'm in Cadolzburg with Frank and family now, feeling A LOT better!

(More on my week with Greti and family, later... I had a really great time!! Sorry, I just had to vent about this, first!)

Skifahren in der Schweiz

Well you can't expect much from a place called "Titlis" but I still had a really great time. There were plenty lips in the piste to keep me entertained since the "park" was... let's just say less than ideal. If you're like me and bomb down runs doing ridiculous daffy-type maneuvers, you'd be okay here. The freestyle-G's finally made an appearance around noon... I guess anything earlier than that is not cool anymore!






But, as you can see, the weather was spectacular and for once during my time this winter I got lucky with the weather! Good thing I grabbed that sunscreen on my way out - by the end of the day I'd stripped down quite a few layers.








I wish I could tell you this was taken on April 1st, mostly for the sake of this guy's reputation but I think the damage has already been done. Good to see the little one isn't following in his footsteps! (Unfortunately for the Swiss, I had to restrain my gaper-photo-taking-spree throughout the day... Am I the only one who actually laughs out loud when I see something like this??)

Finally in Switzerland

Wow, 10 hours in the train was not the best experience I've ever had but I did arrive in one piece so I suppose I can't complain! When I did get into Luzern, I was wide awake but that didn't last long. After some breakfast and a little settling-in, I passed out for a good 4-hour nap. Hopefully my sleeping schedule will be back to normal, now.

Yesterday, Christian and his girlfriend took me back to the city center for some lunch and a little bit of strolling. I remembered a few things from my visit in 2004 but there were still some sights I didn't recognize. The weather here is perfect - no more wintery cold but not too hot, yet.

Today, Greti, Sarah and I traveled to the famous Jungfrau peak near Interlaken, Switzerland. The mountain is known to many as the "Top of Europe" although there are definitely higher mountains in the Alps. Still, I think 11,000+ feet was still a record for me and being that high made me feel just a little... off. The weather was absolutely spectacular. Unfortunately, the one cloud in the sky was stubbornly stuck to the very top of the mountain, blocking the surrounding view. It was still a sight to see and I really appreciate Greti and Sarah spending their time to take me touring!

If this one photo doesn't completely describe Switzerland - I don't know what can.

Tomorrow I'm going skiing in Engelberg, Switzerland. There's a direct train from Luzern that takes exactly an hour. I'm looking forward to my last European ski trip but obviously sad that this may very well be my last time skiing this year! I'll have to make it count!

Christian is leaving with his girlfriend for Mexico tomorrow so I'll have to bid him farewell. It was really great seeing him, even though it was only a short period of time, but time spent with family is always worthwhile. I'm sure he's going to have a great time amongst all spring breakers in Mexico!!

I suppose that's all for now. Still no solidified plans after my visit here. I've been discussing some options with Christian, Sr. and Greti about where to go/what to do with my bags. We've been coming up with some possibilities but nothing for sure, yet. I'll definitely keep you posted. Hope everyone back home is having a great afternoon!

P.S. I can't understand ANYONE here AT ALL, besides Greti!!

Packed up and ready to go!

After:

How????

It's official... I'll be leaving Vienna for good in less than 2 hours. Definitely have mixed feelings about it. It doesn't seem like I've been here for very long at all, and there's plenty more exploring to be done! But I'm also very excited to continue on my European adventures - and especially to see some family in Luzern! I know I'm going to have a great time no matter where I go or who I meet, but Vienna will always seem familiar to me in a special way. I hope to return, sooner than later, to meet up with Austrian friends and party like the local I once was. But until then, I'm looking forward to whatever comes my way next. See you in der Schweitz!

Last night in Vienna

Well... it's finally here: My last night in Vienna. Yeah it's a Friday and I'm sitting here trying to decide whether or not to go out. Things got pretty rowdy last night and I'm still feeling it, plus I don't need to spend another €20 on clubs and drinks before I leave. It is... my last night though, so it's possible I will change my mind by the time I finish writing this...

Somehow my pile of crap got bigger in the last couple days. I'm supposed to be packing things away so how does that work?? I don't think I'm going to have any problems fitting everything, in fact I'm fairly certain I will have room to spare. Dragging everything to Westbahnhof (the train station) will be fun, though.

Yesterday our host mom took us out in the afternoon for a walk in the Wienerwald (Vienna woods) and see some pretty cool views of Vienna. I saw a fox scampering across one of the trails - it was pretty cool! After a bit of walking, we found a small Heuriger for wine and dinner. I had, of course, knödel and some pork.

After dinner, Paige and I came back to the flat to prepare for our night out. It was the last meeting of all the remaining AHA students. A couple have already gone home! We met at our beloved 1516 Brewery where I had my last glasses of their famous Stout. After that, some of us split off for Flex after more goodbyes. The group at Flex danced the night away in true Viennese fashion and didn't roll into bed until the birds were chirping. Needless to say, fun was had by all!

It's nearing 1AM here so I think I'll cozy up to my little laptop and watch this week's episode of Heroes before I fall asleep. I've got my work cut out for me tomorrow! Gute nacht.

Packing for Switzerland

(Written Tuesday... next update coming soon.) The time has already come for me to pack up and leave this place for good... I can't believe how fast the semester went. I feel sorry for my friends back in Montana who are still struggling through theirs – actually I'm just happy I'm not right there with them!

I'm officially done with classes today and my music presentation went just fine. Tomorrow we have no classes and Thursday morning we're having our farewell get-together at the AHA office. Pretty crazy.

No plans until Saturday night when I'll board the night-train to Luzern, Switzerland (10 hours) to hang with some relatives for about a week. Trying to work out a couple days in Engelberg so my skis don't get lonely while I'm there. After that, northward to Frankfurt for a visit with a family friend, then to Munich for a few days and back to Frankfurt for my flight HOME (!!!!) on the 23rd.

Well, as you can see, I've got some tidying to do. Time for dinner (Making my own Käsekrainer / cheese-filled hot dog) and then preparing for some time out with the AHA crew! Tschüss!