København

Wow, it has been a long time since I have written a travel post, but I suppose that is because the only planes I took in 2014 were to/from school. I spent my time after graduation either job hunting or working. I see it as a serious growing period, as well as a time to save for the incredibly enriching travel year that 2015 has turned out to be.

I have just recently returned home to Miami after a 3.5 month internship in Milan at the World Expo. During this internship, I had the opportunity to visit five new countries and even experience traveling completely by myself once. To start off, I am going to write about Copenhagen, the first city I visited and the one that is still my favorite.

Denmark was a country I had thought about, but did not have ahead of places like Austria or Israel. When I booked this trip, I was actually looking into visiting Budapest with my friend and colleague Brittany. But because prices had increased exponentially from the time we decided to take a trip to when we finally sat down to book flights, we needed a Plan B. Knowing we did not want to waste any more "vacation" days in Milan, we looked on Google flights and found that Copenhagen was not only more affordable, but a place I was now very curious about. Essentially, I had a "why not?" moment. So, four days before the flight was set to depart, we purchased two round-trip tickets for a 2-day trip to Denmark's capital.

Day 1: June 15.

We set out on RyanAir to Copenhagen that afternoon with high levels of adrenaline and anticipation. One never knows what to expect when flying RyanAir, but being frequent flyers of this airline from our individual study abroad experiences, we did the several check-ins required and boarded our plane. In about two hours, we were flying over the crystal blue waters of Denmark and landing in Copenhagen before dark. With an easy to navigate train/metro system, we caught the train toward our hostel's neighborhood Nørreboro and after asking for directions and being guided by the NICEST people on the planet, we found our hostel, set our things down and began exploring.

We decided to wander around the streets of our neighborhood because of its eclectic reputation. It did not take long for us to see its artsy and urban personality. We went from acquaintances with the neighborhood to dear friends after sitting down at a coffee shop called Kaffehusset and drinking hot chocolate and chai tea lattes. The evening was cooler than what we were used to in Milan, so we really enjoyed the warm embrace these hot beverages provided for us.

Day 2: June 16.
This was our only full day in Copenhagen, so we had an early start and began walking. We considered renting bikes to see the city the way a native would, but after seeing how easily one could reach every point of the central city by foot, we made a mental note to get a bike the next time we visited the city -- because there will definitely be a next time.

After having breakfast and coffee, we felt sufficiently fueled for the day's adventure. Copenhagen does not disappoint in offering healthy options to those who are more conscious of what they are putting into their bodies. I was blessed enough to even sit down at a place with gluten free options. Though pricey (something we would soon discover was the case everywhere. God bless economically rich nations), we ate well, healthy and the service was phenomenal. Something else we learned quickly was that Danish hospitality was not restricted to service jobs, but the every day person was 10x nicer than the nicest person you have ever met in United States. 

After breakfast, we crossed the bridge over to the central city and began exploring. The only thing we knew we definitely wanted to see what the Nyhavn port, so we decided to see the sights on our way there. As one might expect, we were awestruck by the beautiful architecture, the amicable people and the cool weather. Does it actually get any better than that? 

It did not take long before we made it to the port and let me tell you, it's much more beautiful in person than any photo gives it credit for. The colors are vibrant, the restaurants are charming and even the old, rusting boats have more character than anything I have seen before. We spent a good amount of time admiring, taking photos and being much colder than we expected to be. I tightened my scarf, closed my jacket and wondered if it was actually June. But even with that, this Miami girl would move there in a heartbeat.

The day continued to go well. We searched high and low for the Jewish Museum, but sadly found it only minutes before closing. But with that search, we spotted even more beautiful buildings, appetizing restaurants, cafes and monuments. In front of the museum was a beautiful garden and we soaked up the warm sun on bright green grass, sitting next to vibrant pink and purple flowers. The garden, which we learned were royal (nbd), were another splendid accident.

We ended the night, once again, at Kaffehusset. This time we both had hot chocolate (it came with white chocolate chips!) and shared a raspberry cheesecake. Needless to say, this trip was a perfect reintroduction to my summer of European travels. I dream of returning and strangely enough, its harsh winters aren't a turn-off. Yes, the connection was that undeniable.

Day 3: June 17.
This day was just a traveling day because our flight time was 9:30 in the morning, but even our stroll to the station to catch the metro was enjoyable. 

The trip to the airport via metro is another incredible part of Copenhagen that should be mentioned. It took us a mere 20 minutes to get to our terminal from the Nørreboro stop and vice versa. There's nothing more frustrating than finding it difficult to get into the city center after flying for a few hours. It was not this easy on every trip, but like I said, Copenhagen is near perfection. 

My next trip was a solo one. Completely solo. I have been on airplanes by myself plenty of times, but I am always off to meet someone or do something with a group of people on the other end. Never before have I set out to explore a new city completely on my own. It was something I have always been curious about and thankfully, Prague was a safe and enjoyable place to explore by myself.

More photos of Copenhagen:

Manhattan, NY

I went to NYC in October of 2013 and never wrote about it. Because I now have the itch to return, I thought I'd write a reminiscent post of everything I remember doing and what I think everyone should do when they visit.

Day 1: Thursday, 10/17
My sister and I flew from different cities and landed in the JFK airport around the same time (I had to wait for her for about 30 minutes, but I love airports enough to have enjoyed a little exploration.) We then took the AirTrain from the airport to the Jamaica Station in Manhattan to then connect to the Subway.

We arrived to the stop nearest Grand Central Station and walked a few blocks to our hostel The New York Budget Inn.* Because we both had heavy bags, we went straight to the hostel to check-in. Many hostels and hotels say you cannot check-in until about 3-4PM, but I would advise trying anyway. Many hostels can hold your luggage in a closet or behind the desk, even if your room is still unavailable. This way, you can start your adventure without lugging your things around.

Our temporary humble abode.

We were blessed enough to have our room ready and the nicest staff at the front desk. Because it was my sister's 25th birthday weekend, the concierge gave my sister a bottle of champagne and two plastic glasses for us to enjoy it in the room. The trip was starting off great.

We reached our room and fell in love with it. We got a private two-bed room with a shared bathroom on the floor. The room was clean and super cozy. We had found incredibly affordable and comfortable lodging in NYC. Was this real life?

We dropped off our things, freshened up and then were on our way to begin our epic adventure.

During our first day, we found Times Square and Central Park. It was nothing short of magical. One thing I noticed right off the bat: New Yorkers sure do love their Starbucks––there was one in every single corner.

At the end of the day, we knew we had to visit Serendipity III while we were in Manhattan. So, we set out (feet exhausted) to share a famous "Frrrozen Hot Chocolate."

We arrived and only had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. We were intrigued by the knick-knacks by the hostess podium. The most random things, but all somehow completely interesting. I was close to buying something when the hostess escorted us upstairs. Serendipity III is tiny, but somehow fits a lot of people. It was––like what seems like everything in New York––cozy.

After being seated, we noticed a sign that said every table needs to spend at least $9 (or something like that) and one frozen hot chocolate was only $8, so we both had to buy our own. We didn't complain! My sister bought the original and I bought the peanut butter one. Let me tell you––it is everything everyone says it is. Serendipity III deserves its fame. It's amazing. I am beyond pleased we have one in Miami Beach.

 We were exhausted after a day of traveling and walking all over the city (but actually only probably a third of it), so we stopped by a CVS near our hostel and bought some snacks for the evening and fruit for breakfast. Our only full day in NY was ahead of us and we needed our rest!

Day 2: Friday, 10/18
The first thing on our checklist for the day was visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). We bought our tickets ahead of time to avoid any unnecessary lines (something we learned from Europe) and immediately entered. My sister was on a mission to see Starry Night and I was intrigued by identifying any pieces I recognized from my Contemporary Art History course from the previous semester. I just about cried seeing some famous original pieces and my sister was Star-struck (see what I did there?) with her favorite Van Gogh.

It did not take long to see everything we wanted to, so we left just in time for lunch at the nearby Au Bon Pain. The food was delicious, but that was not what made that lunch date memorable. While I finished my Italian sandwich and soup, my sister whispered to me: "It's SJP." I turn and saw a woman that looked just like her and nodded very cooly, "Haha yeah, looks just like her." My sister then rolled her eyes and said "No, IT'S Sarah Jessica Parker." Oh my gosh, it was. I saw Carrie Bradshaw on 5th Avenue! Let's just say it was a highlight.

We then walked through the shops of 5th Avenue and made our way back to the hostel because we had tickets to a Broadway show. As a huge fan of "Chuck" and Zachary Levi, I was so pleased to find out he'd be in an original show when we'd be in New York. The show was called "First Date" and it was everything I wanted it to be. It made me laugh, cry, feel despair and hope. It was a wonderful show and now I'm hoping it'll win some Tony's.

Day 3: Saturday, 10/19
It was our last day and we were feeling pretty tired from the walking we had done the last two days. We loved feeling like New Yorkers a bit, but we were definitely out of shape. So, we decided to get some lunch at an Irish Pub and then get our nails done.

After a bit of pampering, we people-watched at a corner Starbucks until it was time for us to catch the Subway and train back to the airport.

Overall, my trip to NYC was more than I expected it to be. I want to go back––maybe even live there someday. I applied to a job at the NY Public Library just this morning. I loved being able to walk everywhere. I loved that I was just as moody and rushed as the rest on the streets. I loved the cabs, the lights, the buildings, the people, the food, the atmosphere.

Next time: I want to visit Little Italy and Brooklyn. I still need to see Coney Island and the Statue of Liberty. NYC is too large to see in just 2.5 days, so I look forward to returning often.

*Hostel Review:
-Super affordable
-Super clean
-Amicable staff
-5/5 stars!

La Toscana

I haven't written a post in a while because I actually haven't gone anywhere. I had reached that point in the semester where you remember that you are studying abroad and actually need to pass some exams. Therefore, May and June were/are a little busy, but I have a few trips lined up in between exams and before my exams this week, I went to Tuscany for two days with the program as an incredibly unforgettable and relaxing excursion.

Different from our excursions to Urbino and Ravenna last semester, this was an overnight trip and we visited 5 different small cities (well, 4 small cities and Siena). We stayed at a former monastery that had the most scenic grounds and views -- but also, no heat. It was definitely an unforgettable adventure.

Day 1: (Monteggironi, Sienna and Sant'Anna in Camprena)

The Medieval Wall/View of Monteggironi

We set out to Tuscany bright and early that morning and arrived in about 2.5-3 hours. The views along the way were absolutely breath-taking. The green pastures, rolling hills,vineyards and farms were absolutely everything I could have imagined and more. The truth is, no photo album or movie can really do these places justice. Everyone should take a relaxing vacation to Tuscany in their life. Wine and strolls along green grass and sunflowers. What more do you want?

A beautiful vineyard in Monteggironi

We arrived to Monteggironi, where we were able to see a perfectly-preserved medieval town. We were able to take stairs to the top of the still-standing medieval walls and take pictures and stand in awe at the views before us. The wind was strong and the air was cool, but our excitement was strong and our pictures were cool. Win-win.

We walked a bit along this small town, but you could probably circle it about three times in less than thirty minutes. Imagine living there? I think I wouldn't mind staying there for a quiet vacation.

We then headed to Sienna where we were given some free time to grab lunch before our guided tour of the city. I learned a substantial amount about the city's customs and history and really related to their history of rival neighborhoods which still plays a role in their everyday lives (especially during the Palio horse races that occur twice a year in its main piazza). Because we related, Courtney and I exchanged these words: 
Me: "Not quite like UNC and Duke."
Courtney: "Not quite."

At the end of the tour, we entered Sienna's Duomo which not only exhibited the usual striped-marble design on the outside, but on the inside as well. It was very beautiful. Our tour guide was obviously knowledgeable and very passionate. I enjoyed her 2-hour tour.

After Sienna, we drove to Sant'Anna in Camprena where our monastery was. We arrived with an hour to spare before dinner, so many of us freshened up, while others instantly walked over to the views. I enjoyed my stroll around the monastery grounds before it started raining and I had to freshen up before dinner.

I was mesmerized by the views from our window. Not only was the tiny window in our room beautiful on its own, but once we opened them, we were able to see the monastery garden. It was breathtaking.

Dinner, like at every BCSP excursion, was amazing. It was multiple courses (including dessert) and we were able to enjoy quite a bit of the local wine and even biologico (organic) olive oil. It all tasted gourmet and delicious. I was pleased.

We slept that night in the monastery with no heat. Perhaps one would assume that it doesn't matter for June, but it dropped to about 40 degrees and we all looked hilariously silly in our multiple layers. I slept well, but I definitely looked like I belonged in the middle of January.

Day 2: (Pienza and Montalcino)

Pienza is famous for being the birthplace of Pope Pius II and it was definitely a lovely addition to our Tuscan vacation. It was quaint and lovely like the rest, but my group of friends and I spent most of our time just standing along the town walls staring at the views. The rolling hills of numerous different greens, the aromas of fresh flowers and the inhalation of pure air. It was such a relaxing break from the stressful month I have been having. It nice to sometimes just pause life and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. I know this can be done anywhere, but it definitely was a perk to be able to do this in Tuscany. A blessing, for sure. Then, we decided to actually see the tiny town because our time was coming to an end. I was pleased to find myself in Piazza Pio II (named after the pope) and see both a bell tower and an old well. The flag of the tiny paese (meaning country, but also town) was a light blue. Basically, Courtney and I felt a little nostalgic for UNC. It is definitely lovely to see little reminders of home in our current home. Not to mention, there was a gorgeous Carolina blue sky above the entire time.

The day came to a lovely conclusion when we visited Montalcino, where we bought lunch at a COOP (supermarket) and then headed over to our last appointment. We went to an organic vineyard where I tried the best red wine I have ever tasted; it is called Brunello and is produced strictly in this Montalcino and its surrounding areas. It was incredibly delicious -- and I am more of a white wine girl myself.

Vineyard in Montalcino

Our ride home was bittersweet because I always love returning home to Bologna, but Tuscany was such a beautiful place. Next time I visit Italy, I'd like to rent a car and just drive through all of the small towns again. This is such an ideal vacation. Agriturismo is one of my favorite things to do.

Overall, I recommend this type of trip to every kind of traveler. There is something for everyone. All of these towns have incredible amounts of history, churches, architecture, food, wine and relaxation. 

Next stop is quite a different vacation; I am heading to Nice and Paris! I am so excited about visiting Paris again, but during a different season and enjoying the French riviera. I need a relaxing beach vacation, though Tuscany definitely relaxed me quite a bit! It's definitely just a different type of relaxation!

<3, a dopo!

Barcelona

¡Hola!

I went to the motherland this past week and it was amazing (though the weather could have been nicer 2/3 days we were there!) I once again traveled with Jessica and we had an incredible time. Like most of our trips, we let the city tell us what to do and like always, it didn't fail to make it an incredibly memorable experience.

Day 0: Wednesday.
We were supposed to fly out of Bologna at 18:50, but our flight was delayed until 23:00. Thank you, RyanAir. We arrived to Barcelona at about 1:30-2am and had to try to find our hostel. I became very thankful that I spoke Spanish.

Day 1: Thursday.
We awoke early and joined a free walking tour, provided by Travel Bound. Our tour guide Chris was really enthusiastic and really knew a lot about the city and its history. We got a 2.5 hour tour of the Old City (Ciutat Vella) and became better acquainted with it for our later adventures. I really loved learning about the Catalan culture and the current separatist movement. (It's possible I visited Barcelona the last year it would be a part of Spain).

Jessica and I found ourselves in the Travel Bar (owned by the touring company) and bought two tapas dishes: patatas bravas (potatoes with a spicy sauce) and tortilla española (Spanish omelette). These were fairly cheap and wonderfully delicious.  We then bought some groceries to cook at the hostel, in order to keep saving some money.

After relaxing, napping and cooking dinner, we decided to explore the city some more in the evening. We were aware that Barcelona nightlife can be very popular and expensive (15-20 euros cover), so we were grateful that we aren't big on clubbing. Instead, we strolled east toward the coast and walked along the Egyptian-sandy beaches and saw the clubs from the outside. The water was beautiful and the air was fresh. I love the coast and I loved seeing the Mediterranean sea for the first time.

Highlights from day 1 (pictures in order)

• Seeing the steps where Christopher Columbus presented his findings (after his famous 1492 voyage) to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I.
• The Cathedral of Sant Eulalia (Barcelona's co-patron saint)
• The art school where Picasso perfected his craft
• A beautiful archway in the ancient castle of Ferdinand and Isabella
• Gaudí's lamppost in Plaça Reial (he won a competition at his art school -- one of his first professional pieces)
• Standing in a plaça where a battle was fought during the Spanish Civil War (seeing the bullet holes on the wall near what is presently a school)

Day 2: Friday.
We spent this morning exploring the city ourselves. We set out to see every single Gaudí structure/building in the city. My favorite was Casa Battló, made to look like a dragon. But of course, the Sagrada Familia was breath-taking. It was definitely much larger than I imagined it would be -- also considering the sizes of his other buildings. The final Gaudí find would be in Ciutadella (a gorgeous park!) and it would be incredible. He made a fountain that, on its own, looks like an entire resort. I wanted to swim in it with the ducks, but refrained due to the weather. It was outstanding.

After finding every Gaudí, we ate lunch and then visited the Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum!). The ticket was 5 euros, but that is not the best part, it was a chocolate bar! The museum itself was fairly small and did not take much time to get through, but it was pretty cool to learn the history of it. Especially because I love bragging about where the beans come from (like Venezuela, of course!). There were also a number of different, incredibly impressive chocolate sculptures. Gosh, I love chocolate.

Later that afternoon, we made our way to La Boqueria market, where we drank freshly squeezed juices and took in the aromas of different fruits, vegetables, spices, meats and fish.

That evening, we went to a Flamenco show on Plaça Reial and later enjoyed a tapas dinner with unlimited sangria! This entire evening cost us 24 euros through Travel Bound. They provide many different services to visitors, including bar crawls, cooking classes, and bike tours. It was a wonderful evening and the sangria was delicious, to say the least.

Highlights from day 2 (again, in order)

• Gaudí, La Pedrera
• Gaudí, Casa Battló
• Gaudí, Sagrada Familia
• Gaudí Fountain at Ciutadella
• Chocolate Museum
• La Boqueria

Day 3: Saturday.
We would fly out that evening and we had already done everything we had wanted, so we spent a leisure morning and afternoon in the city. 

We ate fresh fruit for breakfast in Plaça Nova that we bought at La Boqueria, drank hot chocolate at La Granja (a very cute, alternative cafe) and watched an impromptu break-dance performance by very short, but talented Catalonians.

Overall, this trip was amazing and I loved every second of it. I spoke enough Spanish to be pleased and learned a lot about Barcelona's history, which is always a plus for me. I don't need to say this, but you should try to visit! Barcelona is a gorgeous city. There is just something about how metropolitan it is, while also keeping such strong ties to its ancient history with the preservation of the Old City that makes it so splendid. Visiting Barcelona is getting a taste of all of Europe in one -- modern, but also ancient.

I must say, I loved how Gaudí buildings stood out like sore thumbs next to the other buildings. For me, it was like seeing little pieces of Disney World around the city. It was like a fairy tale. Barcelona is beautiful.

Hasta luego, amigos <3

Pisa

Ciao everyone,

This was exciting trip for me because I have wanted to go to Pisa for as long as I can remember. It had become difficult for me to find someone last semester who hadn't already been to this tiny city during a previous trip to Europe, so I had not yet gone. Luckily, my friend Jessica (my traveling partner) and her boyfriend (who is visiting from the U.S. for his spring break) shared their interest in going and so, about 3 days ago, I found out I was finally going to Pisa!

Blurb about train travel: 
Italian trains are incredible because you can go on the day that you'd like to travel, walk up to a kiosk and just purchase a super affordable regional train that leaves every hour. This was something that would have come in handy last semester, but I am glad that we learned this with time this time around. So, we paid 14,35 each way for our trip to Pisa. It cost a little more than most regional trains because there were 2 connections and you are paying for each individual train you ride. There are no direct trains to Pisa from Bologna, but being in the Tuscany region, it is not that difficult to get there.
We caught a train at 8:10am and made it Pisa by 11:30am. It was a long trip and a connection may have been missed, but thankfully, another train to our next connection would arrive in 20 minutes. This is another advantage to buying tickets from the kiosk and not having something printed out from home. You can catch any R/RV train headed toward your destination for the day that you validated it. Also, the ticket from the kiosk (without validation) can be used up to 3 months from the time it was purchased. So, you can buy a ticket today and take that trip anytime you'd like within 90 days. It's very efficient! These regional tickets also never change price. It's really great.

Now, how was Pisa?
Pisa was such a beautiful little city. And when I say little, I mean tiny. It did not take us long to make it from the train station to the other side of the city where the famous leaning tower stands. La Torre pendente di Pisa, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa (literal translation) is an incredible sight to be seen. This trip to Pisa was always a dream of mine, as previously stated, so I knew I'd be excited to see it, but I was amazed by how thrilled I really became.

While walking toward Piazza dei Miracoli, where the tower stands alongside the Duomo and battistero (baptistery), you could see the tower peaking from the top of another building. I turned to Jessica at that moment and said: "Oh my gosh, is that it?!" and her lovely response was: "It's leaning, so I am going to go with YES!" We were so excited and our anticipation only grew stronger as we reached the pleasantly grassy piazza and stood completely still in admiration. From the south (picture on the right), the direction you're walking from, the tower is leaning toward you, so it is clear that it is not straight, but the degree of its leaning is not quite clear. But if you look at it from the west (picture on the left), it is quite dramatic. 

Once again, we were blessed with a beautiful sky during our trip and we spent the next hour or so lying in the grass in the piazza. It was so incredibly soft and cool under the burning sun, that my friends even said it was fake grass. It was obviously not, but we relaxed, tanned our faces and people-watched. While lying there, we heard numerous different languages and witnessed the funniest photoshoots with the tower as the protagonist of all of them, of course.

Unfortunately, there is not much else to do in Pisa than this tower and the Duomo and baptistery had a fee to enter, so we merely dealt with lunch, gelato, snacks and leisure strolls through the residential and commercial parts of the city.

One of my favorite sights, aside from the tower of course, was this little church: 

Chiesa Santa Maria della Spina is standing right by the river Arno. It is kind of oddly situated, but it has been standing much longer than those roads or apartment buildings, that is for sure. Built in 1230, this little church has such incredible detailing that I probably stood by it for far longer than necessary. I cannot imagine very many people could fit inside this small structure or if they even hold masses here, but it is an excellent representation of the quaintly pleasant, yet extravagant city it stands in. This little church was also just another structure with striped-marble detailing. Something found also in Florence, for example the very famous Duomo, and so seeing it here in Pisa as well, was a lovely surprise. I suppose it must be tied back to architectural history of the Tuscan region. All I could find was that it type of architecture is known as "Romanesque." 

If you take a look at the photo to the right, you will see the incredible detailing in the tiny church from above. To think of how long it takes to make one statue, imagine making dozens of them to place on the face of a church that also has detailed windows, columns, walls, etc. Sometimes I wonder how long these structures must have taken to make and that on its own is enough to appreciate it for what it was and is, whether you are religious or not.

Finally, because Pisa is on the coast, I had a sea food risotto, called a risotto alla marinara (which should not be confused for marinara sauce found in southern Italy. Marinara in this context is for marine or fish! It was quite delicious. I always take advantage to eat fish whenever I am in a coastal area/region/city because Bologna is land-locked.

Overall, Pisa was beautiful and I doubt I need to recommend it because I feel like it is an obvious one. It is a tourist destination for even other Europeans and Italians. It is definitely a half-day trip, but keep in mind that it might take up your whole day if you include travel time. Luckily, it all works out well.

Here are a few more photos of the city:

Fiume Arno

Piazza dei Miracoli: my view while laying in the grass 

Il Duomo

Il Battistero

Ciao for now!

München

Freunden, 

I left Italy for the weekend and visited the country of my maternal ancestry. I was extremely excited, as a 20th century history major to visit the birthplace of the Nazi regime. Truly, the birthplace of Hitler's reign.

Marienplatz in Munich, Bayern

Day 1: Jessica and I flew Lufthansa on a non-stop one-hour flight from Bologna to Munich. It was nice to not have to fly Ryan Air, but of course, that meant it was much more expensive. Thankfully, we were staying with her college friend Kelly, so we were saving money on a hostel. The flight was delayed for an hour because both Bologna and Munich were getting heavy amounts of snow, but we eventually reached Munich at about 3pm and were ready to begin our adventure.

Upon arrival, we had to buy a metro pass (20-something euros for 2-5 people) that would allow total access to all modes of transportation. This expensive ticket would only be necessary 2/3 days because it allowed us to take the S-BAHN to the airport. Within the city itself, you only needed to take U-BAHN trains, which had convenient stops all over.

Setting of Hitlerputsch (November 8-9, 1923)

We dropped off our things in Kelly's apartment in the Studentenstadt (literally meaning "student city") and it being already about 4pm (it was a long S-BAHN trip from the airport), we decided to get right to the sight-seeing. Shaunna, Kelly's friend took us to Marienplatz, which is currently the center of shopping and cuisine for Munich, but was the setting of Hitler's first attempted coup in 1923 (known in America as the Beer Hall Putsch, but referred to as the Hitlerputsch in German). This was pretty exciting for me, who has studied Hitler's rise to power numerous times.

See the bronze? (...and my camera strap?)

We did plenty of sight-seeing that evening, but my favorite spot would have to be the bronze stones on the path once used by those who resisted walking on the main road. The main road (photo above) was always guarded by Nazis who expected citizens to perform the Hitler salute upon passing them. I seriously love learning about the resistance movements and I love that Munich honors them so dearly. Basically, standing there gave me goosebumps.

 We were finally hungry and extremely cold because it was snowing very hard at this point, so we decided to head to a Bierhalle (Beer Hall) to have an authentic German dinner. Unfortunately, it seemed as though all Germans were hungry and out at the same time, so we weren't able to finally sit down to eat until about 8 at the fourth restaurant we attempted. It was a scavenger hunt that resulted in a delicious Wiener schnitzel and a half-liter of Franziskaner weissbier. It was probably the best beer I have ever tasted, but that is not in the least bit surprising.

The rest of the evening consisted of a German bar, where I witnessed the lack of German rhythm and coordination first-hand and then the inflation of an air mattress that would slowly deflate as I slept through the night.

Day 2: We did not wake up very early, but we did eat breakfast and finally make it out of the apartment in time to enjoy Marienplatz during the afternoon. The snow had finally ceased, but the cold remained. We ate a typical German pretzel, which was incredibly delicious and then visited Milka Welt (Milka World) where I bought more chocolate than I care to admit. Let's just say, Hershey's ain't got nothing on chocolate from the Alps.

Schweinebraten (an authentic Bavarian pork roast)

We then made our way to an early dinner where I tried Schweinebraten, another pork dish that proved to be quite heavy, but delicious. German cuisine is very heavy and intense, I was always very overwhelmed by how filling a pretty simple dish made me. I actually did not eat the skin of the pork, but enjoyed how soft and moist the meat itself was. Also, that bit that looks like mashed potatoes is actually called Semmelknödel, which can be made of bread or potato. This particular one was a bread dumpling and was so compact, I could barely make a dent before feeling like I'd explode! Of course, I was excited to eat something traditional and I was not at all disappointed. That being said, I preferred the Wiener schnitzel and ate that again on Sunday evening.

That evening, we simply watched movies in the apartment and slept early enough for Jessica and me to get an early start for our final day in Munich.

Day 3: This day will probably be one of the most memorable days of my entire life. It is one of those days where every second that passed will be remembered as though they had only just happened. On this day, Jessica and I visited the Dachau memorial -- the incredibly well-preserved concentration camp where Hitler imprisoned (to say the least) political criminals. This camp was opened a mere 51 days after Hitler took power of Germany in 1933 and would stand until its liberation in 1945.

Here is something I wrote in my Munich photo album on Facebook, I could not say it any better today than I did a week ago: 

"It was an unforgettable experience, but I couldn't take pictures. It was allowed, but it just didn't feel right. I am glad it has been preserved and that it is open for the public. I am glad there is proof that these events occurred. I hope it ensures that this history will never repeat itself and that we never become desensitized."

I honestly believe that visiting memorials like this one and Auschwitz, though difficult to fathom and overwhelmingly depressing, are undeniably crucial for the sake of our humanity. Studying something in a textbook is one thing, but to tangibly witness the horrors of the Holocaust are crucial elements for fully understanding what happened. Though, I don't believe humanity can ever truly fathom how something of this degree could have actually happened. But, the thing is, it did happen and it cannot happen again. 

Furthermore, my trip to Munich was unforgettable, enjoyable and life-changing. I will always remember the people I met, the beers I drank, the landmarks I saw and the tears I shed.

Resistance pamphlets preserved near the University

I'm grateful to the German government for so gracefully accepting its history and displaying both sides of that horrific time by honoring the resistance and commemorating the lost lives in the camp.

For example, the university in Munich has honored the students involved in the resistance by preserving their pamphlets right outside the main building. Even after a day of heavy snow, this area is always cleared. I find it so inspiring to see how young people stood up and died for what they believed in. I hope, wherever they are, that they know that they did actually make a difference and will be immortal to the city of Munich and to the citizens of Germany.

Finally, I also saw some pretty spectacular churches. They were very different than your typical Duomo in Italy. I found them to be very elegant and graceful.

New Town Hall in Marienplatz

I was very excited about this trip and it did not disappoint. I'd also LOVE to visit Berlin! I touched on WWII, now I'd love to see some of Cold War Germany, as well.

Meet Shaunna, Munich's best unofficial tour guide!

Cheers, freunden (friends)! xoxo