Munich, the Klamm, and other freakishly cool shindiggs

This posting is dusted with photos from a few of my recent excursions - enjoy!

Okay, for those who may not already know... I have the greatest gig ever. I am currently working for the recreation department here at the resort. Today, I walked to work (in the rain) and clocked in around 8am. I then proceeded to get PAID to take a tour of Munich. I have serious reservations concerning the sanity of any person that does not like, nay love, this damn town.

We walked around for about an hour while I tried to contain myself. The architecture is simply amazing. Munich is one of those cities that I have only read about or seen on the travel channel. Now, having been there, I feel like I watched a travel channel special in IMAX... it doesn't seem quite real just yet. I was not able to take my camera because I was "working" but there will certainly be return visits.



I ate at the Hofbrauhaus during my visit. Great food, flawless beer... 'nuff said, as words are wasted in trying to describe the party that took place in my mouth. Afterwards, I had coffee and dessert on the roof-top patio of a cafe. From where I was sitting I could see the booming market, the Glackenspiel in the Marienplatz, and nearly every church in the city. AHHH, words failing me again here, so you will just have to wait until I can post some pictures of this amazing place.

Tangent: This is a look at what I see as I walk/ride to work every day:I love going to work these days...

Yesterday, I had an unexpected day off and decided to go hiking to a place called the Partnachklamm. The Klamm is a gorge that has been carved through a section of the Bavarian Alps. After I emerged from the gorge, I decided that the day was too pretty to be over with and hiked up a mountain and had a beer at the restaurant I found on the top.









The Gorge was impressive





















And the hike was tiring... but certainly worthwile!

Germany!

About a week ago I hopped on my very first plane and landed in Central Europe. The 18hrs spent traveling may prove to be the most anxious and exciting time of my life. Upon walking out of the Munich Airport, the air was cool, crisp, and clean... a welcome change from Charlotte. The bus ride to Garmisch was uneventful, that is until the shadows of the Bavarian Alps came in to view. Luckily enough it was a crystal clear day and I could see every craggy mountain-top in full detail. The other people in the vehicle with me were chatting and passing the time with no regard to the freakish natural beauty around them. Me, I sat silently, head upturned in awe at the treeless mountain tops sprinkled with waterfalls.


My first week has been nothing short of (for me) totally unbelievable. I have already taken a bike ride with my new roomie, Tom. We climbed one of the smaller mountains in Bavaria and visited King Ludwig's castle at Linderhof. On the way back we stopped at a monastery called Etal and enjoyed one of the beers that the monks brew there. On Thursday, only 4 days after my very first time in any country other than the U.S. I went on a tour into Austria and got paid for it. As if that wasn't enough, a few people invited me to Maastrickt, Netherlands for a few days. I accepted, of course. Maastrickt was amazing, as everyone in the city was wearing the most fashionable garb available. I was certainly out of place, not to mention very high... legally!

For the past few days now it has been rainy in Garmisch, and the city is picturesque as ever. This morning I woke up to walk out on my balcony and see that the Alps are now capped in snow... gorgeous!

Pictures will be available soon... and sorry for the long time between posts. This should become a steady thing now that I have settled in a bit.

Auf Wiedesehen!