Germany and Prague
I really planned to update my livejournal more often on this trip, its not like I havent had internet-in fact I am online probably 2-3hours a day. But I just havent been in the mood, until now.
I arrived into Munich in the morning, and managed to figure out the metro subway lines that would take me to meet up with my couchsurfing host, Stefan at Munich's central train station. My plane was delayed 20 minutes, and i was worried to keep him waiting. Luckily, I told Stefan what I would be wearing that day-a bright green shirt, and he managed to find me before I found him.
As far as big cities are concerned, Munich is kinda like NYC. They have great public transportation and as the Germans like to mention "everything is efficient".
For example, the escalators only move once you step on it, and go faster the more people who get one it-i hear its run on kinetic energy. Also the use of living space is more utilized. At Stefan's apartment every little space has a purpose. For example, instead of having a laundry room, they keep the washing machine in the kitchen so it can use the same drain.
Munich was cool, Stefan gave me a tour, and then we explored the Beer Gardens. Germans basicaly have parks dedicated to drinking beer, you really just get a Stein of beer from a stand, pay for it at the counter then sit on a park table and drink beer. Its kinda nice to drink outside in a park like setting.
Stefan took me to Wurzberg, where he has another apartment that he uses on the weekends-Stefan works in Munich, but drives to Wurzberg almost everyweekend.
I really loved Wurzberg! Its a decent sized city about 120,000 people with a really cool city center, with pretty bridges, and a castle. I did not feel touristy at all in Wurzberg, which is nice.
Stefan has an adorable Greek street dog, Pino. Germans love their pets! Stefan told me that animals in the shelter in Germany are so well taken care of, and as expected i did not see any stray animals at all in Germany. In fact people bring dogs from other countries for Germans to adopt. Pino, was rescued on the street in Greece, then brought to Germany where Stefan's family adopted him.
In Wurzberg, I got to hang out with Stefans family and friends. It was really nice to hang out with locals. Stefan's sister, whose nickname is Kenny-he voice sounds like Kenny from South Park, was really sweet and nice. She told me that if i ever meet a German who is harsh and blunt as they are often stereotyped, then I should run.
I really liked the Germans I met, and have nothing but good things to say about the country, in fact its like a cleaner, more efficient, better organized United States.
Stefan took me back to Munich on Sunday, and i caught a night bus to Prague. I met up with some friends in Prague and we have been seeing the sights. Compared to my experience in Germany, Prague isnt nearly as great. But thats because I got to have a real local experience, whereas here I am doing the touristy thing. Which is fun, but just not my favorite part of traveling.
From Prague we are taking a night train to krakow, Poland. I am hoping that Krakow will be less touristy then Prague.
I arrived into Munich in the morning, and managed to figure out the metro subway lines that would take me to meet up with my couchsurfing host, Stefan at Munich's central train station. My plane was delayed 20 minutes, and i was worried to keep him waiting. Luckily, I told Stefan what I would be wearing that day-a bright green shirt, and he managed to find me before I found him.
As far as big cities are concerned, Munich is kinda like NYC. They have great public transportation and as the Germans like to mention "everything is efficient".
For example, the escalators only move once you step on it, and go faster the more people who get one it-i hear its run on kinetic energy. Also the use of living space is more utilized. At Stefan's apartment every little space has a purpose. For example, instead of having a laundry room, they keep the washing machine in the kitchen so it can use the same drain.
Munich was cool, Stefan gave me a tour, and then we explored the Beer Gardens. Germans basicaly have parks dedicated to drinking beer, you really just get a Stein of beer from a stand, pay for it at the counter then sit on a park table and drink beer. Its kinda nice to drink outside in a park like setting.
Stefan took me to Wurzberg, where he has another apartment that he uses on the weekends-Stefan works in Munich, but drives to Wurzberg almost everyweekend.
I really loved Wurzberg! Its a decent sized city about 120,000 people with a really cool city center, with pretty bridges, and a castle. I did not feel touristy at all in Wurzberg, which is nice.
Stefan has an adorable Greek street dog, Pino. Germans love their pets! Stefan told me that animals in the shelter in Germany are so well taken care of, and as expected i did not see any stray animals at all in Germany. In fact people bring dogs from other countries for Germans to adopt. Pino, was rescued on the street in Greece, then brought to Germany where Stefan's family adopted him.
In Wurzberg, I got to hang out with Stefans family and friends. It was really nice to hang out with locals. Stefan's sister, whose nickname is Kenny-he voice sounds like Kenny from South Park, was really sweet and nice. She told me that if i ever meet a German who is harsh and blunt as they are often stereotyped, then I should run.
I really liked the Germans I met, and have nothing but good things to say about the country, in fact its like a cleaner, more efficient, better organized United States.
Stefan took me back to Munich on Sunday, and i caught a night bus to Prague. I met up with some friends in Prague and we have been seeing the sights. Compared to my experience in Germany, Prague isnt nearly as great. But thats because I got to have a real local experience, whereas here I am doing the touristy thing. Which is fun, but just not my favorite part of traveling.
From Prague we are taking a night train to krakow, Poland. I am hoping that Krakow will be less touristy then Prague.