An Interesting Foreigner

While in Munich, I went to the bar/restaurant in the Hostel and sat down to get something to drink when I noticed the girl next to me speak very good English. Many times I start conversations here by telling them I notice they speak English, and then ask them where they were from. Sometimes I get answers that freak me out how small a world it is, by telling me they are from the town next to me (this happened twice). In very good English she responds, Equador. I honestly thought English was her first language when I heard her speak. We started talking about why we are here in Europe and specifically Munich, Germany. We brought up our home countries and what it's like there. It was just really cool meeting somebody who has never been to America and having so much in common with her because we find ourselves in Europe doing the same thing. While I'm North American and she is South American, we found a common ground and talk for a long while. We eventually had to go different directions that night, but it was really fun talking to somebody who has never been to the United States and finding out what she thinks about us. We got eachothers names down and are keeping in touch via Facebook.

Salzburg, Innsbruck, Venice, Munich, Bavaria, and Dachau

Wow, what a week! It's so amazing how much of Europe you can fit in only 7 days, and yet feel like you were on the road for weeks. At first we went to see if the hills were really alive with the sound of music and maybe see high on the hills that lonely goat... but the rain must have scared the goat away and took the sound with him. Despite the weather, I really enjoyed Salzburg very much. When we first got there we walked around and saw the old town, the beauty of the Alps, Mozart's birthplace, a few places where the sound of music was shot at, and the Fortress at the top of the hill. The next day we went to the Salt Mines, which were really sweet (errr...salty?) I liked them. Then the day after we took the Sound of Music Tour! Which brought us to all of the outside locations the film took place in: The Gardens, the streets, the churches, Captain Von Trapp's mansion, and the gazebo. The rain kind of made everything a little less enjoyable, but it was still fun.
Then we went off to Innsbruck, Austria to meet up with the Spring Breakers from Franklin Pierce. Some of us went up the mountain and took a lot of pictures, after the whole group of Vienna students took a tour of the city.

The next day was a free day, and I went to VENICE, ITALY! W00T!
Venice was amazing. We left at 5am, got there at 11am, went to a glassblowing place and watched some guy make cool things out of glass, and then we were left to wander on our own at noon. I walked all around and took many pictures and got many souveniers. Venice was just beautiful. I loved it. We left at around 4pm and that pretty much sums up the day.

The next day we left for Munich and did our art presentations and then go to the Hofbrauhaus! Which is where I believe Oktoberfest is held. The next day we went to Bavaria and saw CrAZy Ludwig's Castles. One of the castles gave Walt Disney the idea for the castle in Disney World, so it was cool seeing what inspired him. Overall though, I wasn't too impressed. That night i walked around the city and went to the Hard Rock Cafe and other places around town.
The next day we went to the Bavarian Film Studios, which was cool because we saw the sets of many European films and even acted in our own =) I was the purple guy from Star Trek. We even got to see Falcore... from the Never Ending Story. After that I saw something that wasn't something I was enthusiastic to see, but something I had to see, and that was Dachau Concentration Camp. It was so overwhelming that I didn't know what to feel because I felt angry, sad, depressed, free, and about 10 other feelings at the same time. I went to the memorial there and payed my respects to the 7 children my grandfather lost in the Holocaust. The hardest thing was seeing the Krematorium and walking through the gas chamber and seeing the ovens. It's something I hated to be put through, but I wanted and needed to.
That night we left back for Vienna and it ended our 1 week on the road. While it was very tiring and fast paced, it was so worth it.

Rome, Italy

Wow, where do I begin... 3 nights and 4 days in Rome was one of the most incredable experience I've ever done. There are so many highlights, but it's better if I tell this like a timeline.
Pre-trip information:
Nicole and I wanted to get away for the long 4 day weekend, so we decided to take a trip to Rome! We booked a Hostel for 9 Euro ($12) per night and decided to ask if anybody else wanted to go last minute; Ryan decided to join us. So Nicole and I now had another fellow classmate join.
The trip started at 7:23PM on Thursday night, and the train would take 13/14 hours to get to Roma Termini. The trip was long, but we met a few European teens who were delighted to have a conversation with us in English. I managed to sleep about 3 hours on the train.
On Friday at around 9AM we got to the station and went to go find our hostel. It was a beautiful place that was very secure, friendly, and located 5 minutes from the terminal. We left our bags there and I saw this girl who was unpacking, she smiled and said hi. After about 30 seconds, I found out she went to the same high school as my father in Petah Tikvah, Israel. We became friends very quickly and she would join us until she left for Israel. Our first day I split off from the group and went with Chen (the CH is pernounced like CHannukah, or leCHaim). We went to the Republic, then got lunch. Pizza no doubt. After the amazing food we went to the center of Rome, saw the old ruins and then looked to our left and saw the incredable Coluseum. I knew I was in Rome when I first arrived, but seeing this landmark really made me know I was in the center of Rome. Infront of me was the whole premasis of "Bread and Circus", the Gladatorial Games, and what kept the Roman citizens happy. We toured more of the city, and then went back to the hostel and slept.
Friday we went on a more detailed trip and saw the shopping streets, the Spanish steps, more ruins, and other marvoulous architecture. We toured much more of the city and went back to look at the Coloseum again, and eat at other restaurants.
Saterday was great. We went inside of the Coloseum and it was incredable. They are rebuilding part of the floor, so you can understand what it was like there. Just being in the center of the Coloseum looking around at the seats and where the emporer sat was just incredable. That day we went to many other places. I went to the Tribute fountain, and up to the northern end of the city, and just all over. I had lunch on the river with this guy I met at the hostel from Buffalo, New York, and we saw where Caesar was assassinated. That night I went out to a few bars with the friends I met at the hostel and met 2 girls from the town next to me in Massachusetts. Such a small world! Then I met this other girl who knew one of my friends from my college, and was travelling with her... again SMALL WORLD. It was a lot of fun.
Sunday we caught up on all the places we missed or wanted to see again. We managed to go shopping, go to the Pantheon, and other places to the West of the city.
Monday was quite incredable, we went to another country within Rome. For those who don't know their geography I'm talking about Vatican City. I went inside the museaum and saw works by many famous artists, such as Raphael and Michaelangelo. The Sistine Chapel was incredable. I was all of a sudden in this long narrow and tall room, and I look up and see the "Creation of Man," where G-d is touching Adam's finger. Absolutely Incredable. That day we packed up and left for Vienna.
This trip was so amazing and I managed to keep my budget on track. I spent less than $150 for 4 days, because the Hostel was only $12 a night, and it included breakfast and dinner. So worth it. I am off to Salzburg this weekend, and then Innsbruck, and then Munich, and then Venice? I will recap all of my journeys when I return.
Auf Wiedersein.