It’s been a week since my Munich trip, and I can’t help but smile every time I think of how incredible it was. Everything came together so perfectly, from the travel plans to the travel partners, making it truly wonderful. What wasn’t so wonderful however was our 3 am wake up call, but it made it better to travel with friends right from Aix versus my last early wake up. From the bus ride on we were laughing nonstop, and I knew it was going to be a spectacular trip.

We learned quickly that we didn’t know German, not that we thought we did, but we REALLY didn’t know anything. I couldn’t even pretend to know any words, and I automatically went with “Do you speak English?” I later became best friends with the phrase “Sprechen sie Englisch?” We were quickly on our way to the hostel to drop off our stuff, which was thankfully located right by the central train station. We stayed at a hostel called Jaeger’s Munich, and it was quite the step up from our hostel in Nice. The vibrant decor and lively staff made for a nice transition into Germany.

Our first destination was to fulfill my lifelong dream in the town of Füssen, two hours south of Munich. The train looked old-fashioned but the ride was incredibly smooth. Just a bit out of Munich and we were stunned by the gorgeous countryside, coated in a fresh layer of powdery snow. It was the perfect setup for a perfect day. Our arrival was easy, and the town of Füssen was so quaint and charming. Every building had a German vibe, and the streets were filled with happy people. We enjoyed drinks at a café before heading to the main event: The King’s Castles. 

I’ve always seen pictures of Neuschwanstein Castle, and it was my goal to make it there this semester. No picture could ever prepare me for seeing it in person. I was absolutely taken away. At first glance from the bottom of the mountain, it’s a little nugget nestled in the mountains. After a “15 minute walk” (definitely took us 30) it revealed itself to be a glorious and majestic home built for a king. Every angle revealed something new and incredible, giving the castle even that much more charm. At the end of the tour, I looked up in awe. Seeing this fairy tale structure in real life was amazing. Walking inside every room was more magnificent than the last, and the detail in every piece of dark wooden furniture was beautiful. There were indoor gardens as well, and every view from the windows was insane. In one area you looked out onto the snowy mountainside, in the other was the blue lake. The medieval feel was complete with secluded halls and detailed doors making the rooms feel like chambers. The ballroom was magical and each wall was painted with a story. It looked as if it belonged in Game of Thrones. The winding staircases between floors felt never ending, and added that much more to the fairy tale essence of the castle. If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be in Neuschwanstein.

We enjoyed traditional German food that night at a local restaurant, and while I was not absolutely impressed with Wiener Schnitzel, I was definitely glad I tried it. The train ride back put us right to sleep, and we awoke in Munich ready to hop into bed. That dream was short lived however, because when we walked into our room we hit a wall of sweat. The 4th person in our room was not aware of normal hygiene standards, and despite my best attempts to switch rooms they were all booked. I have never gotten ready for bed so fast in my life.

Day two was Meaghan’s dream day, but it was of course a wonderful time for all. We took a bus to Salzburg, Austria, only two hours east of Munich, for a Sound of Music tour! We used FlixBus to get there, and it was equipped with WiFi and comfortable seats, so we were set. We were dropped off in the main station there, paid 50 cents for the bathroom, and were on our way to explore Salzburg. We stumbled upon the Mirabell Gardens, which is where Maria and the children sang a portion of “Do Re Mi.”

It was time for our Sound of Music tour and the ever so Austrian tour guide Erich greeted us. From the get go he was energetic and animated. Our first stop was the “16 going on 17” pavilion and the street that Maria runs down while singing “Confidence.” That’s Erich below dancing and singing in the street.

We drove around Salzburg for a bit and learned about the Abbey and the houses used in the movie. They used two different homes for the Von Trapp house, one for the front view and another for its lake. The lake had a view of the mountains in the background. No wonder they used it for the movie.  

We ventured into the countryside to see the “hills” listening to the soundtrack, and it was another moment that no picture/video could prepare me for. The view was incredible, nearly bringing me to tears with the stunning landscape. No words can truly describe what the view was like. We continued to drive through the mountain ranges, passing grand lakes and listening to “Do Re Mi.” No one was singing like Erich wanted, so he started clapping ferociously and walking up and down the aisles to get everyone pumped up. Tour guides really do make or break the trip.

The third day we divided up to explore different areas of Munich. My friends went to Dachau concentration camp, and since I wasn’t in a mental state to handle that, I went off on my own. I do hope to make it to a concentration camp one day, but I need to have that more thoroughly planned out. I walked to the Marienplatz from the hostel, which only took ten minutes, and was once again floored by the architecture. You begin to see the main building before turning the corner, but once you keep walking it keeps revealing itself more and more. I walked up at about 11 am, and saw a large crowd gathered. I was unsure what was going on, but soon found out when the first bell went off. For about fifteen minutes, the bells echo throughout town, and then decorated figurines dance around the center part of the building playing an elegant and happy song. 

I moved onto the Nymphenburg Palace after that. While Neuschwanstein was a castle, this was a palace. The extensive halls cover a massive plot of land, decked out in fountains and detailed gardens. The student discount came in handy once again, and I got to explore the lavish property.

Munich was a trip I will truly never forget. The whole thing was a whirlwind and didn’t even seem real because of all of the wonderful trips we took and sites we saw. The company definitely made the trip as well, as we all traveled well together and were on the same page about the details. Everything about it was incredible and I absolutely cannot wait until my next trip to Germany to explore even more about the wonderful country.

Next stop, Midterms ☹ (I guess it is time to do that school thing though)