AUSBURG; Ich liebe Dich
So the time came to say goodbye to the wonderful town of Augsburg, which has been my home for almost a month. I would recommend to anyone to come here. The middle/main part of town is soo gorgeous with its cobbled streets and all the shops. I've loved been able to just cruise my bike into town.
I also love training at the course. Its a lot of fun and best of all was free and there were three canals where you could train. Each very different. So I reallly never was bored. Back hoem in Australia I get bored quite quickly of the flat water.
So we had Tommy and Fritsi and their daughter Helene over for dinner on my last night in Augsburg. It was really good to catch up with them again and to hear all their exciting news about new family members, new jobs and new houses. Helene has grown so much since I last saw her in Australia. She is still so cute though.
On my last day in Augsburg, after paddling, I took my bike for one last spin around town. It was a really warm beautiful day so it was just soo great around town. Almost made me not want to leave.
Then that afternoon I said goodbye to the girls and headed out on the train to meet Erin
MUNICH
After eventually finding Erin at the very large Munich HBF, we took the short stroll with our bags to our accomodation, a hostel '4 U Munich' just one street away from the station. The place was pretty cool, and the room was just what we needed, full of Australians apparently- or so all the British people we met kept telling us- yet I only think we managed to meet one.
Once we settled in we went for an evening stroll down to the Marienplatz which is lined with streets, cafes and full of people.
The next day we got up early and took advantage of the hostels free breakfast (which unbeknown to them also provided lunch for us). We then decided to stroll down to the Marienplatz, as that is where alot of the monuments and the main Rathaus and glokenspiel are, so we could look around there before the Glockenspiel went off at 11am. The Glockenspiel is pretty much a very elaborate and large cookoo clock. Which enacts a huge big scene. Yet our one day in Munich happened to correspond with a large military demonstration/parade, with lots of VIP in attendance (apparently their PM was their).
So large areas of the city was cornered off and I swear every policeman, policewoman and officer in Germany was there in Munich. There were buses and buses full. It was pretty crazy. Luckily though we were early that morning and caught the Glockenspiel before it became really crazy. We went then off to the Royal Residenz where it wasn't quite so crazy.
This palace was absolutely huge. I was exhausted walking from room to room and very easily lost. I can't imagine what it would have been like living there back in the day. Would have spent most of my life lost! SOme of the coolest things we saw where some of the large ballrooms, a room with religious relics which was also slightly disturbing ( they had in these elaborate carvings bones and peoples skulls and even in the middle of the room there was likea baby mummy that was massacred by the order of herrod- look education trip, i learnt things!) and there were rooms full of crockery. I'm pretty sure mum would definitely been jealous of the plates they had there. The treasury room was pretty amazing too! After looking in there I've decided that I really would like an ornate gold sword encrusted with rubies, so if you're ever looking for a good present to get me :P)
We were pretty damn spent and hungry so we sat down for the lunch that we packed (thanks for the bread again 4 U Munich!) in the palace gardens. We went then went up fro a stroll to the Englischer gartens where we same some guys surfing in a small wave which made me wish for my boat and then we proceeded to get very lost.
Once we made our way out of there and got back to the accomodation we were so tired that we decided to go up the road to the cinema we heard about at the hostel and saw HArry Potter in English. I'd been really looking forward to seeing it for a long time so I was pretty excited to get to see it. Not very cultural i know but it was a relaxing way to rewind.
We ended the day having some pizza back at the accomodation and had a fun evening meeting fellow travellers from around the world and then ended up playing some Wii on the bar big screen.
This morning we headed to the train station to head here to Salzburg. I had a good giiggle because one of the trains had accidently failed to stop in time and had collided into the end of the platform. The platform came out the worst in this fight.
SALZBURG
Erin adn I are now chilling out here at Strawberry Youth Hostel. Tonight is movie night. Movie night is every second night and they always start off with the SOund of Music. Maria right now is having confidence. Anyway must be off. Till next time
