An early rise for an early flight.
Germany - such a great country, easily one of my favourites. Everything is so simple, organized, and efficient there - even compared to other European countries that I've been to. The people are quite friendly to tourists, and the cycling is the best I've seen for novice cyclists with an incredibly dense, extensive network of bicycle paths and bike-friendly minor roads. Taking the bike on the train could not have been easier.
The costs were comparable or cheaper than Italy, although much more expensive than Portugal. A wide variety of kinds of things to see and do - from medieval villages to cutting-edge technology to war remnants to large forested areas... something for everybody. Very safe, very friendly... I'm sure I'll be back!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Saturday, May 16 :: Munich, Germany
Saturday, May 16 :: Munich, Germany :: 4km
Early back to the concentration camp, and early on the subway into downtown Munich. We scored a great hotel for 62 euros, got some bike boxes, and were set for a full-on Munich day. We rushed off and walked the sights downtown... churches, Rathaus, English Garden, Hofbrauhaus. All fun, and very crowded on a bright sunny Saturday. Tired but happy, we saw a movie then went back to the hotel to pack.
Central Town Hall (Rathaus) in Munich
The figurines that move, like a cuckoo clock, in the Rathaus
Early back to the concentration camp, and early on the subway into downtown Munich. We scored a great hotel for 62 euros, got some bike boxes, and were set for a full-on Munich day. We rushed off and walked the sights downtown... churches, Rathaus, English Garden, Hofbrauhaus. All fun, and very crowded on a bright sunny Saturday. Tired but happy, we saw a movie then went back to the hotel to pack.
Central Town Hall (Rathaus) in Munich
The figurines that move, like a cuckoo clock, in the RathausFriday, May 15 :: Dachau, Germany
Friday, May 15 :: Dachau, Germany :: 75km
Out early for a long day. Such a privilege to ride in a country that appreciates and caters to cyclists. Today's route was just from point A to point B on the map - no tourist bike routes - but even yet, we were on bicycle paths for much of the day. A solid, well-done ride by Liz, and another personal best for her!
Dachau. The name is a bit ominous to those who know a bit of history, and rightfully so. The Nazi's built their first concentration camp here, way back in 1933, and today the camp grounds stand as a memorial. We made it there with a few hours to spare, quickly grabbed the first hotel we came across, and dashed over to the memorial/camp. Its not the usual kind of place you "dash" to, but we were trying to see it before it closed for the evening.
The concentration camp itself was partially intact with some original buildings (and watchtowers, barbed wire, etc), some recreated buildings, and a museum to explain everything. It was all quite factual and no punches were pulled - including many pictures, anecdotes, etc. I had sort of known what to expect, being a history buff, but Liz was a bit... disturbed by it. We didn't quite make it through by the 6pm closing, and resolved to return in the morning.
The central laneway at Dachau, originally flanked by barracks (only foundations now). The trees were planted by inmates during the Nazi era.
Out early for a long day. Such a privilege to ride in a country that appreciates and caters to cyclists. Today's route was just from point A to point B on the map - no tourist bike routes - but even yet, we were on bicycle paths for much of the day. A solid, well-done ride by Liz, and another personal best for her!
Dachau. The name is a bit ominous to those who know a bit of history, and rightfully so. The Nazi's built their first concentration camp here, way back in 1933, and today the camp grounds stand as a memorial. We made it there with a few hours to spare, quickly grabbed the first hotel we came across, and dashed over to the memorial/camp. Its not the usual kind of place you "dash" to, but we were trying to see it before it closed for the evening.
The concentration camp itself was partially intact with some original buildings (and watchtowers, barbed wire, etc), some recreated buildings, and a museum to explain everything. It was all quite factual and no punches were pulled - including many pictures, anecdotes, etc. I had sort of known what to expect, being a history buff, but Liz was a bit... disturbed by it. We didn't quite make it through by the 6pm closing, and resolved to return in the morning.
The central laneway at Dachau, originally flanked by barracks (only foundations now). The trees were planted by inmates during the Nazi era.Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, May 14 :: Ingolstadt, Germany
Thursday, May 14 :: Ingolstadt, Germany
Rain! Well it had to happen sometime this trip. We abandoned our cycling plans for the day and took the train instead. Before noon we were in Ingolstadt. This is the town that Mary Shelley based her 1818 novel "Frankenstein" on, due to the presence of a medical school here which, at the time, specialized in experimentation on dead bodies. Do I hear a bike trip to Transylvania (Romania), anyone? We saw a few sights, including a less-than-exciting medical museum, and called it a day.
Tomorrow - Munich!
No evidence of him here, anymore
Rain! Well it had to happen sometime this trip. We abandoned our cycling plans for the day and took the train instead. Before noon we were in Ingolstadt. This is the town that Mary Shelley based her 1818 novel "Frankenstein" on, due to the presence of a medical school here which, at the time, specialized in experimentation on dead bodies. Do I hear a bike trip to Transylvania (Romania), anyone? We saw a few sights, including a less-than-exciting medical museum, and called it a day.
Tomorrow - Munich!
No evidence of him here, anymore
Out the train window. Wet!
Wednesday, May 13 :: Hipoltstein, Germany :: 38km
Wednesday, May 13 :: Hipoltstein, Germany :: 38km
An early, long train ride from Berlin brought us back to Bavaria and Nuremburg by 1:30pm. We went over to the infamous Nazi parade grounds... one of the only Nazi structures left relatively intact in the country. First was a massive building built to out-do Rome's Colosseum... you can see the resemblance in the pictures below. Then to the "Zeppelin" stadium... grounds big enough to hold 200,000 spectators, where giant Nazi rallies were held and where the bulk of "The Triumph if the Will" (1934) was filmed. I didn't realize that they had left these grounds intact and was pretty... stunned and uneasy to see the same buildings that I had seen in the film (see picture below), and read about in Hilter's biography. We ascended the steps and stood on the very pulpit - the very spot - where Hitler preached his madness and converted the sane into insane. Quite unbelievable and powerful in a terribly weird way. The top of this structure once bore a huge stone swastika that the US Army blew up in a very famous piece of film footage. Police, incidentally, were everywhere, as was barbed wire fencing with narrow gaps to permit limited entry. We were watched carefully as we entered the grounds... it seems as if visitors are allowed, but not appreciated, and the "wrong" type of visitors (i.e. Nazi sympathizers) would have been quickly ejected.
From then we began a bike ride to and down the Main-Danube canal to the little town of Hipolstein, past a few locks and again, many other cyclists. Yet again, beautiful countryside, great people, and yummy food!
Nazi "Colosseum"
Nazi "Colosseum"
Zepellin field speaking pulpit
Main-Donau (Danube) canal, from midway up a lock - you can see the bike path on the right side
Outside our hotel in Hipoltstein
An early, long train ride from Berlin brought us back to Bavaria and Nuremburg by 1:30pm. We went over to the infamous Nazi parade grounds... one of the only Nazi structures left relatively intact in the country. First was a massive building built to out-do Rome's Colosseum... you can see the resemblance in the pictures below. Then to the "Zeppelin" stadium... grounds big enough to hold 200,000 spectators, where giant Nazi rallies were held and where the bulk of "The Triumph if the Will" (1934) was filmed. I didn't realize that they had left these grounds intact and was pretty... stunned and uneasy to see the same buildings that I had seen in the film (see picture below), and read about in Hilter's biography. We ascended the steps and stood on the very pulpit - the very spot - where Hitler preached his madness and converted the sane into insane. Quite unbelievable and powerful in a terribly weird way. The top of this structure once bore a huge stone swastika that the US Army blew up in a very famous piece of film footage. Police, incidentally, were everywhere, as was barbed wire fencing with narrow gaps to permit limited entry. We were watched carefully as we entered the grounds... it seems as if visitors are allowed, but not appreciated, and the "wrong" type of visitors (i.e. Nazi sympathizers) would have been quickly ejected.
From then we began a bike ride to and down the Main-Danube canal to the little town of Hipolstein, past a few locks and again, many other cyclists. Yet again, beautiful countryside, great people, and yummy food!
Nazi "Colosseum"
Nazi "Colosseum"
Zepellin field speaking pulpit
Main-Donau (Danube) canal, from midway up a lock - you can see the bike path on the right side
Outside our hotel in Hipoltstein Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 12 :: Berlin, Germany
Tuesday, May 12 :: Berlin, Germany
An easy, fun day at the Berlin Zoo.
Now for 3 more days of cycling... finishing in Munich for our flight home!
An easy, fun day at the Berlin Zoo.
Now for 3 more days of cycling... finishing in Munich for our flight home!
Monday, May 11 :: Berlin, Germany
Monday, May 11 :: Berlin, Germany
A big day of sightseeing in a fantastic city. I won`t go on and on but we took in the Reichstag, some underground WW2 bunkers on a tour (very cool!), the German History Museum, and lots and lots of walking and looking at buildings. We must´ve crossed the Spree (Berlin´s main river) about 18 times. All this walking meant blisters for me. Damn.
Berlin is such an easy city to get around, with such great food and interesting old and new things to see, that we both love it - just like the rest of Germany. Accomodation here is slightly pricey - 70 euros for a double room in a hostel - but we ARE staying downtown, which is so convenient. After taking in such a wide swath of Berlin, we can take it a bit easy tomorrow with the sightseeing.
Liz in front of the Reichstag
Fountain downtown
Alexanderplatz - one of the main transportation hubs
A big day of sightseeing in a fantastic city. I won`t go on and on but we took in the Reichstag, some underground WW2 bunkers on a tour (very cool!), the German History Museum, and lots and lots of walking and looking at buildings. We must´ve crossed the Spree (Berlin´s main river) about 18 times. All this walking meant blisters for me. Damn.
Berlin is such an easy city to get around, with such great food and interesting old and new things to see, that we both love it - just like the rest of Germany. Accomodation here is slightly pricey - 70 euros for a double room in a hostel - but we ARE staying downtown, which is so convenient. After taking in such a wide swath of Berlin, we can take it a bit easy tomorrow with the sightseeing.
Liz in front of the Reichstag
Fountain downtown
Alexanderplatz - one of the main transportation hubs
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