Germany!: Tim

We have arrived here in Germany! I must say I am pretty excited because I am part german (very small part) and my girlfriend is half German so she is excited for me to be here as well. I think we fit in the most in Germany and my proof would have to be that everybody speaks to us in German thinking that we know the language. Lucky for us though, they all seem to speak a bit of English.

Today we walked downtown and saw the gigantic Glockenspiel in the main town center

and were offered tours right and left by people who could tell we were not German. However we just went strait to the nearest Foosball-laden (football shop) and I picked up a Bayern Munchen jersey because they are one of the most successful European soccer teams and they come from Germany (there really weren't too many successful Swiss soccer teams, so I went with the next closest heritage). Then we headed over to the famous Hofbrahaus which is a gigantic German beer hall where there are traditional beer gardens with the bar maids as well. I tried the best beer that anyone could recommend me and it was the best I had ever had...but still a bit away from a nice cold class of water. I guess once I start eating vegetables I may be a step closer to being able to appreciate drinks made from plants.

After the Hofbrahaus, we headed over to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site. This was quite a somber memorial as we saw images and heard stories of the many prisoners that had gone through the site.

It amazes me that something so atrocious could happen in the world and how credit was given to the United States for freeing the prisoners from the camp. I just think it is pretty amazing how such a young country is able to come over and show who's boss, and then be able to return the land back to Germany. It is crazy to think that around 60 years ago there were Nazis where I am today. Now anyone can travel here and I would say it is one of the easiest cities to travel through and get around in as well. I wonder if this is what Iraq will be like 50 years from now, it will definitely be an interesting place to visit with many stories similar to those from the Dachau concentration camp.

Oh and I'd better mention that we did manage to finally see Harry Potter in English once we got to Munich. Matt and I would probably get upset with me if I forgot to mention that. It was pretty exciting to be in a theater of mainly German speakers that could all understand English enough to want to watch a movie in it with no subtitles. I myself was not the biggest fan of the 6th movie though it did have its funny moments, but Matt and Mike may have different opinions so I will refrain from speaking on their behalf. Tomorrow we will be heading out to the castle from Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as well as the inspiration behind the Disneyland castle as well...