Germany (and Austria)

Now that I've been back from Europe for a few days, I'm having a hard time assimilating to my American way of life again. Being away from work for two weeks and answering to over 200 emails on my return, didn't exactly help things along when I got back. But now that I've had a few moments to sit down and reflect on things after the Easter rush, I'm still having a hard time thinking about how to describe my travel abroad. Brad and I saw, did, and ate so much, that I'm not sure I can adequately give the trip justice. There are too many inside stories and funny jokes to document. So instead of trying, and thereby exhausting myself, I think I'll write up a series of observations about each place we visited. Complete with pictures of importance. So here we go.
Having visited Germany for a month of my life when I was 17 yrs old, most of what we saw and did while in Munich wasn't new to me. I don't think I was prepared for how rusty my German was, but somehow I did manage, and was happy to find out that my comprehension is still much better than my expression. :-) It does help to stay with friends who can order for you though if you get in a pinch. In addition to the language, here's what you need to know about Munich:

1. Germans don't eat very much. They drink. A lot.
   
2. "Kaffe und Kuchen" is a way of life (coffee and cake hour from about 3-6pm when most stores/restaurants close down). This is a way of life I could certainly get used to.
3. Antisemitism still exists. German police officers are stationed outside every Jewish synagogue, school, place of worship or gathering. It is not necessarily a precaution, so much as a gesture of goodwill. It was weird, and yet comforting at the same time.
4. There are royal residences and palaces EVERYwhere
5. Real Germans don't own cuckoo clocks. Nor do they have those Christmas advent displays w/ the candles. Real Germans do eat weiner schitzel the size of their heads, and weisswurst with sweet mustard. Did I mention they also drink? A lot?
   
6. I forgot how much I missed the Klofrau's (Bathroom station attendendants that you have to tip - usually about 40 Euro cents)
7. They are not kidding about starkbier. It is very dark bier. And at 9% alcohol content, you are not the drinker you once thought you were. You my friend, are a shabby lightweight.
8. There are stairs EVERYWHERE. My goodness I climbed a lot of stairs on this trip. I got up close and personal with just how out of shape I am. Including an episode of hyperventilation. Awesome.
   
9. Authentic apple strudel is so much better than American versions. The same holds true for pretzels, sausage, radler (beer mixed with lemonade), and any soda that actually contains sugar instead of the dreaded High Fructose Corn Syrup. Pastries, are literally, to die for.
10. Sponge Bob Square Pants is HUGE in Germany, huge. Even adults love him. I do not understand this.
11. Beer festival waitresses do not want to take their picture with you. They will oblige you, but they are not amused.
12. Street markets (like the one we happened upon in Dachau) are a fantastic place to view the local way of life and grab some cheap lunch.
13. The Sound of Music only does Salzburg, Austria partial justice. The city is gorgeous. Stunningly gorgeous.
14. Germans have a lot of cute cars that we cannot get in the States. This is highly disappointing. I wish we could own you BMW 1 series hatchback.
15. There are occasionally drunk crazy people on the subway. Ah, the comforts of home. Just like New York.