O, The Places I'll Go...: Springfest!

In the magical land of Germany “beer flows like wine”. Our first day we started out doing a bike tour led by a fun witty Irish lad named Andy. It was a great way to see the city and hear stories about Crazy Ludwig being found in the river and the shoot out Hitler and his men had on one of the squares. Huge groups of us were seen riding around on our beach cruisers all throughout the city- tourism at its finest. We made a bit stop at the second largest bier garten in Europe. I am not sure what we were more excited for the food or the beer. We got an assortment of meet some sauerkraut and potato dumplings it was all delicious. We all tried a beer called the Raddler which is a bikers drink so it was fitting to have one of those. It is a beer mixed with lemonade- very good. After the bier garten we finished up our bike tour then went home and got ready to head to Springfest! When we got there it brought back memories of the 4h Fair, but this was much better. We rode some of the rides then found the tent from the inside it doesn’t look like much but once we stepped in we were taken back by all the people in their lederhosen standing on their benches and the massive liter mugs of beer being passed out and the singing with the band up at the front of the tent. The women carried these liter mugs up to ten at a time I could not believe it. Once we found ourselves a table we all got a beer, had a “prost” and sang a long with the band. Everyone was so friendly we knew we would like this place from the start. The next day Devin and I headed up to the famous Disney castle known as Neuschwanstein Castle. It belonged to Crazy Ludwig who only got to live in the castle about 127 days because he died. They never finished the full construction of the castle but it has been open to the public shortly after his death. It was absolutely beautiful every inch of the finished rooms were painted. His room had many wood carvings on the furniture as well. We were taken back by the beauty of the landscape around the area. Once we headed back we could not wait to go back to the festival for round two. We headed straight for the tent this time. We met some boys and girls from Germany that soon became our clos e friends we all sang songs like Sweet Caroline together and had a ball. I was not sure life could get any better. Time seemed to stand still in the tent because we went in when it was light and came out when it was dark. The next day we went to Dachau Concentration camp. It was a dreary day which seemed fitting for it all. The memorials were powerful enough to put someone in a somber mood. It was ironic as well because the anniversary of Hitler’s death was the day before. Walking through the gas chamber had to have been the hardest part to imagine the mounds of people around that area being killed for no reason at all. The dormotories put things into perspective imagining living in such close tight spaces. It was very interesting to see all it and walk through the museum. It was a nice ending to such a wonderful weekend. On our way home I couldn’t help but keep thinking that things were coming to an end. When people said it goes fast they were kidding. I just don’t feel as though my time here is up yet I don’t feel finished with Italy or any of Europe. I find myself walking slower now and looking up more to take in everything that I won’t be able to see. This was our last week of classes before finals as well. I am trying to eat at the places I have been wanting to eat and do the things I have not done yet with the little time I have left here. Sometimes I wish time would just stand still, but that is life time is never on any of our sides.