Jake in Germany

Documentation of my European travels for your viewing pleasure.

[indejake]

Last week I visited a friend of mine in Lübeck, with my brother, for a day. The city is know for its many church steeples and it's marzipan. After seeing the churches and sampling the marzipan, I can see why the city gained such a reputation.

[indejake]

Ich bin ein Berliner

This past weekend I had the opportunity of touring Berlin with my brother. Somewhat paradoxically, the more I travel around Germany, the less I seem to be sure of here. When I was living in Flensburg, my knowledge of Germany stemmed only from my experiences in Flensburg, and therefore Flensburg was Germany. However now, after having spent time in a few different German cities, all of which completely different, I realize how hard it is to define my experience here with a single set of attributes.

Berlin was quiet a diverse city. Thanks to the extensive bombing it suffered from in it's city center during WWII, there was frequently a stark contrast between traditional and modern.

This modern twist has made Berline the most "artsy" of German cities, and evidence is everywhere. From the political advertisements for the Pirate Party, to the well-done graffiti, to the large number of international restaurants, there are many indicators to the contemporary nature of Berlin.

Along with the disconnect between old and new Berlin, there is also the apparent difference between former East and West Berlin. I had a lot of fun walking around the city trying to figure out if I was in former Soviet or NATO control, based on the architecture and layout of buildings around me. Coincidentally, the hostel we stayed at was about 300m from the former East-West border and present day site of the Berlin Wall.

Surprisingly, when walking around certain parts of Berlin, they had a very similar look and feel to parts of New York City. I don't know if this was due to American influence in city planning or something else, but it was interesting to see a locale I was familiar with a few thousand miles away from home.

[indejake]

I'm getting good at this...

Hamburg tomorrow

[indejake]

Saturday was the first day of Oktoberfest here in Munich. Before going to the Theresienwiese, the Goethe-Institut organized a Bavarian weisswurst breakfast that I attended. In typical Munich fashion, the meal came with a half-liter of beer (at 10 in the morning).

Before the start of the Oktoberfest, there was a parade with carriage for each of the tents and traditional Bavarian music.

The weather was perfect on Saturday, which consequently meant a ton of people at Oktoberfest. Unfortunately, this made getting a table in one of the beer tents next to impossible. However there is much more to Oktoberfest than drinking beer, such as tons of rides, roller coasters, games, and great food. Due to my inability to get a table at the fest, we went to a beergarten in the Hirschgarten for a few beers.

Oktoberfest lasts for a few weeks, so I will be trying my luck there tomorrow and a few more times before I depart from Munich.

[indejake]

Yesterday I had the privilege of touring Munich's Neue Pinakothek. Although it was built in the latter 19th century, commissioned under King Ludwig, it was newer than the old pinakotheque, and therefore took the name of "New Pinakotheque". Most of the art exhibited there spans from the realistic period to the impressionist period, with it's earliest works being from the late 18th century and it's latest being from the early 20th century.

I really enjoyed the museum as it featured many impressionist masterpieces, which is probably my favorite period of art. It was also nice to go along for a tour, which although in German, I understood it completely.

[indejake]

Today I visited BMW World and the BMW Museum, adjacent to the newly created Olympic Park, where the World Cup was held in 2006. The BMW complex however, was only completed in 2007. Both buildings really embody the clean and precise styling of BMW vehicles.

There was plenty of information to be gleaned concerning the history of BMW, but for the most part I was just interested in looking at the cars. Specifically, there was an art exhibit going on where various models of cars where lent out to famous artists, who designed a custom paint job for the car they received.

[indejake]

Ready for Oktoberfest

[indejake]

Neuschwanstein

I recently returned from my obligatory South-Bavarian excursion to the famous castle Neuschwanstein. Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, it was commissioned by "Crazy King Ludwig II" in 1869, and (mostly) completed in 1892.

The castle may look very familiar, as it was the inspiration for the famous Disney castle, found in Disneyland. Along with the trip to Neuschwanstein, the group stopped at an open-air museum of farming in upper Bavaria.

Although the farming museum was interesting to see, I thought the best part was just being able to experience the picturesque Bavarian countryside.

Going to Neuschwanstein is a typical tourist activity of anyone going to Bavaria, but after experiencing it for myself, I could see why. The castle is perched on the top a mountain overlooking the Alpen See (Alp Lake) and Schwan See (Swan Lake), as well as the palace of his grandfather, King Ludwing I, the Hohenschwangau Castle.

When you hear that the castle was built in the late 19th century, it kind of seems like cheating at first, considering it was constructed well past the time where castles were necessary. However when seeing the castle in person, those feelings are fleeting as the detail, design, and intricacy of the castle are impressive by any day's standards.

Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed in the interior of the castle, but I can say that extravagance well surpassed that of the exterior. Every inch of wall or ceiling was painted with a mural or design, and every piece of furniture was intricately carved by hand.

[indejake]

Paulaner Brauerei Tour

Yesterday I visited the main brewery of Paulaner, one of the 6 major Munich breweries. It was founded in 1634 by a bunch of monks.

Despite the tour being in German, I learned quite about the brewing process and of the rich beer history of Munich.

Paulaner still beer abides by the famous Reinheitsgebot, or purity law that stated the contents of beer could only include: water, hops, and barley (it was not yet known that yeast played a roll in beer production).

After the tour I was able to enjoin a traditional Paulaner "Helles" along with Bavarian Leberkäse and potato salad.

[indejake]

Those Germans can be so rebellious sometimes.

[indejake]

Fun in Flensburg

My journey to German began with a flight from BWI to O'Hare, to Frankfurt, to Hamburg, and culminating with a 2 hour drive to Flensburg on a rainy Thursday. At Flensburg I stayed at the Marineschule, the closest equivalent to our Naval Academy in the German Navy. For the duration of my stay there I attended classes on navigation, pilotage, radar, and other nautical things taught in German. Most of the other students of the 1.Inspektion were between the ambiguous German rank of "midshipman" and LTJG-equivelants.

Although I was only in Flensburg for 3 weeks, I was able to do plenty when I was there, thanks to the hospitality and generosity of the friends I made at the Marineschule. Some of the highlights included: going to diskos, attending a rock concert in Hamburg, going to a German sauna for the day, spectating an American football game, watching the dragon boat cup, tasting plenty of good German food and beer.

The American football game I saw with one of my Marineschule friends starting on O-line for the Flensburg Sealords.

The annual Flensburg Dragon Boat Cup. Despite the poor weather, there was a great turnout of spectators, and local businesses and organizations participating in the races whilst donning ridiculous costumes.

The picturesque view of downtown Flensburg. My first month in Germany has been amazing and I am looking forward to my next 4 months here.