Mainly Munich

You know your trip will prove lively when the man in line behind you at the check-in counter gets banned from traveling in the first ten minutes at the airport. Apparently yelling out things like "Jesus Christ on roller skates!" in impatience is considered causing a disruption, as well as throwing colorful language around at airport staff.
Although Captain Outburst didn't make it on the plane, we did, and set out for London :) My seat neighbors were incredibly good company. One man was returning home to Scotland after going to Nashville for CMA festival. He is convinced that no city in the world beats fun and friendly Nashville. The lady on my other side was a Polish teacher who teaches high school German. She taught me all sorts of fun trivia about the places I'm visiting this week.

After a sleepless but enjoyable flight that left at 4 pm, I arrived in London and then to Munich, Germany by noon. Thankfully my adrenaline was at an all time high. Munich looks as if it were out of a storybook. The vivid green and yellow countryside, the captivating architecture, even the people make you not want to blink an eye.

After a short drive on the autobahn where there still are no speed limits at parts, we stopped to explore Nymphenburg Palace, an unbelievably massive summer home formerly used by the royalty of Bavaria. It's even larger than the Olympic grounds we had driven by earlier.

I spent the rest of the evening in Marienplatz, the city's central square. For just a Euro and a half you can climb to the top of a cathedral steeple and overlook the city, much like you can on the statue of liberty. After endless winding staircases, it was absolutely worth every step. The view, not to mention the weather, were absolutely perfect. Also, for the first time in my life I actually realize that not everybody speaks English haha. But it's kind of fun dealing with that challenge, and the accents spice up the chit chat you overhear while relaxing over a cup of coffee. After a little shopping and some bavarian traditions I picked up as souveniers (I can't share in detail yet because some of you are receiving them ha) it's almost time to crash. But not until I see one more thing at the square.

In the city hall, a huge clock tower chimes at 5, and a company of mannequins halfway up the clock come alive and dance away the end of the day. Everybody gathered together to watch the nightly ritual. It's an early morning tomorrow packed to the brim with excitement, so I'm hitting the hay. Until next time :)

Vienna waits for you

Tomorrow I'm starting a stamp collection. My passport will no longer be just a bundle of empty pages but a continuous story about experiencing every nook and cranny of life, and variety, and culture. About learning from those who desire to teach, and taking in raw beauty in a way that you can feel as well as see, in a way that can't simply be captured on film or described in a postcard. I should be sleeping, but I can't stop imagining what the next twelve days has in store. The first of my oversea adventures, the first stamp in my passport.