Graz, though we were only there for a day, was pretty amazing. They have a big hill right in the middle of the city called the Schloßberg, which is like having Stone Mountain in downtown Atlanta, and it has trees on it. Pretty cool. They also have the first serious river I’ve seen all trip, the Mur. Puts the Arno and Tiber to shame.
Vienna is an interesting place, I wasn’t all that taken with it, though the music was wonderful. Went to an opera (Die Zauberflöte, or The Magic Flute) the first night and visited the Bösendorfer piano factory on the third, and did the Vienna Mozart Orchestra that night as well, though that was my least favorite concert so far. Too gimmicky.
Came into Munich Tuesday. First real rainfall we’ve had, so no one really went out that night after the orientation dinner, which was in a hotel in a suburb clear across Munich. Someone shoot the travel agent. Did a trifecta of art museums (the Alte and Neue Pinakotheks and the Pinakhotek des Moderne) the first day, and then walked around the city center and up into the English Gardens, which is a huge city park. Afterward, a group went to the Hofbrauhaus, the most famous beer hall in the world, where I somehow managed to drink zwei Großen (that’s two one-liter mugs, if you’re keeping count) of beer, which in retrospect was a bad idea. In any event, this morning we had class, in the same hotel as the welcome dinner, and we took the U-Bahn to it. Bad idea, it took just as long as riding on our bus and was far less comfortable.
This afternoon, most of us went to the Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Dachau, which Jan had previously volunteered to drive us to if we wished. Very unreal experience. I can’t really explain what it was like, but being on the grounds, and walking through the gate…suffice it to say it’s very moving.
Finally went to a grocery store this evening; bought a loaf of bread and a wedge of brie for €1.98, which along with a snack salami stick was dinner. Even though I didn’t finish all of it (just try eating a whole baguette someday), it was still a great deal. Also picked up a couple packs of Haribo gummy bears and some trail mix.
Tomorrow we depart for Strasbourg, which is the stopping point for us on the way to Paris, our true destination. The travel part of the trip is winding down, and I’m feeling a sense of relief knowing that I’ll be off the road soon.
