Bella Italia

Oktoberfest was a BLAST!!! We went to a beer tent at 11am and left at 11pm. I completely lost track of how many beers I drank or pretzels I ate, but Ill tell you it was a lot. I have some really funny videos that I wish I could show you but youll have to wait until I make a video when I get back to America. These pictures will have to suffice. People in Munich are really serious about their beer. And their Liederhosen. We sang drinking songs, slurred classic American hits, and clanked many a mug as big as your torso - seriously. It was too fun to put into words, but Oktoberfest is definitely an experience not to be missed. It also happens to be a fair all lit up at night including rides and games. I went on the ferris wheel and enjoyed beautiful views from the top of Munich in the evening.

Brief sauna update...wonderful! Very relaxing and not akward at all because it was just Karissa, our host, and me. Perfect.

I love that Im meeting so many travelers here. A lot of them are on their second or third year of traveling. They started with a few months and couldnt stop. Id like to join them. If only money were no object...

Ive compiled a small list of things I love about Europe. I left it in my room, but Ill try to remember some of it:

-everyone smokes and no one judges...it doesnt seem weird or disgusting here. So European
-you can buy just one cup of coffee and sit in a coffee shop all day long without being bothered. Prime people watching time and a great relaxation.
-city centers! It is so nice to know that there is a big square where everything happens and then work your way out from there. It makes sightseeing and museum hopping much easier and is fun to wander through.
-in an hour you can be immersed in a completely different country, landscape, and language than you were an hour before whereas in the US it takes hours upon hours of travel to see a completely new place.
-so much to do, so much to see. The history is so rich here you are never bored and the architecture is always something gorgeous to look at if you just feel like taking a walk.
-Europeans are cultured. They know so many languages and understand what being Kosher is without judgement. In America, I just tell people Im vegetarian because they have no clue, but here if you say you are Kosher they get it and accommodate accordingly. Its so nice to be understood.
-art appreciation. In America, when budgets are low, arts are the first thing to go. But here, they are a priority.

o there were sooo many more but I cant remember them all now. More to come later.

I went to Dachau yesterday and was moved by being in the area, but it was a bit too museumy for me. I wanted to just be in the place and it doesnt feel like youre really there when you have two maps and an audioguide with you. But it is still heavy and Im not prepared to elaborate on the entire experience.

Today we took the bus from Munich to Venice, Italy!!! I love it already. so warm, so beautiful. The bus ride was breathtaking with the mountains and the mist and just everything about southern Europe is great. I know I havent seen that much of it, but I know I love it already. We are staying at a hostel tonight and tomorrow because hosts in Venice are hard to come by and we havent actually ventured into the city but will tomorrow. Im excited to celebrate my Rosh HaShana (Jewish new year) in one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Im going to find this great old synogogue tomorrow and hopefully theyll let me attend services without needing a ticket or anything.

I was going to go to Greece but I decided I have been looking too forward to seeing it to only give it a few days so Im going to save that for another trip. If Im in Israel next year I wont be too far from it anyhow.

Not much to report...beautiful views and great beer...thats about it. But its a lot. enjoy the pics. Happy Birthday papa mcdermott

Munching in Munchen

cheesy title, I know. So in case you didnt guess Im in Munich (munchen in German). Its Oktoberfest!! woohooo

I wrote a haiku while celebrating the festivities and although its elementary, at best, I think it really portrays some truths about life and love and....beer

beer beer beer beer beer
beer liederhosen beer beer
beer drunk blogging beer

appropriate considering the occasion...

Anywho, back to real life. Its Karissas birthday!! yay!! and we plan on celebrating with...beer (maybe more haikus to come later)

We just spent a wonderful and relaxing few days an hour outside of Salzburg in a little, country village called Maria Schmolln. Very beautiful and relaxing - we sat by the fire and read and crossworded and ate tons of organic, biodynamic food. The couple we stayed with is really into biodynamic food, which i dont fully understand but i know it has something to do with no chemicals whatsoever not only not on the vegetables but not even anywhere in the soil so everything is really pure. When they see this post they can correct me where I am wrong and elaborate.

Because of Oktoberfest, the busabout bus to Munich was full and we couldnt get a booking on it so we had to take the train there. Gotta love public transportation. Our host here is this wonderful 60-70ish year old woman who is a fabulous painter and showed us a ton of her artwork last night. We liked one so much she put it out in the living room by our bed so we could look at it. We are cordially invited to go to a naked, co-ed sauna/ice bath/garden (yes all naked and all coed and all mostly over 66 years old) with her this afternoon and despite my many discomforts with that situation I may actually attend. Karissa is all for it...surprise. When in...Munich.

no pictures today...maybe after the sauna