Nott What You'd Expected...

Beer Gardens, Swiss Chriss, and other Snuff

So.... our 16 hours in Munich were worth ever minute of obnoxious travel and confusion.... first of all, thanks to Thor for some great suggestions. In the end, the gang decided to cut Munich short one day in order to arrive here in Geneva, my home for Christmas, a day early.

Currently, iàm rocking out at an internet cafe in the bowels of the Geneva underground, belly full of McDonalds (gourmet MacDo to be more precise- since when can you order a Ciabatta Grande Fromage at a fast food place?)... After purchasing a two hour internet card, itàs safe to say that iàll have pictures of Munich and early Geneva loaded sometime in the next day or two...

Our train from Prague to Munich was long and involved, but we managed to arrive unscathed in Munich by around 4 (or 1600 for European readers). Iàm still unable to get used to how early it gets dark, and we checked in to Wombats (best hostel ever), hit up the Christmas market, hit the beer garden, and were stumbling around city streets by 10pm.

Munich was amazing. So far, every town weàve been to has attempted to recreate a Christmas market in the town square. All pale in comparison to the Munich Christmas market, held in front of the huge Glokenschpeil (sorry on the spelling, Thor and Dan). The streets were lit up, the Christmas tree was enormous, and aside from the 4 (literally 4) H&Ms and other huge conglomorized stores that dominated the main walk, it had a timeless feel to it. I will never forget the smell of mulled wine that seems to encompass all that is the German Christmas Market.....I had a huge brautwurst smothered in mustard, but my stomach was lacking something quintisentially German. Enter the Haufbrauhaus.

Known as being the most touristy, blatently drunk beer house-gardens in operation, the Haufbrauhaus is a huge open room filled with noisy, smokey, thawing tourists aching to get a piece of the Tourist Jigsaw Puzzle that is German Beer Garden drinking. Safe to say that after 3 solid Litres of beer, one pretzle, and a very close encounter with a German bachelor party and some Bavarian snuff-peddlers later, we got what we came to Munich for...

Chosing to party (party by our semi-lame standards) and leave at 6am in order to catch our train to Geneva wasnt the best idea, but snuff-filled loogeys aside, the waking up and stumbling to the station was fine. Thanks to a starbucks and a Carmel Macchiato (that was for you, megs)...

Our train was a straight shot to Zurich, followed by a doubledecker bohemoth of a train to Geneva. Views of lakes, orchards, the Alps, vinyards, and small villages dominated the landscape, but Geneva couldnt come soon enough. I love the idea that we can travel across a continent in a few days (consider the fact that iàve been in Munich, Prague, and Salsburg in the last 5 days), but spending entire days on trains starts to wear on you....

Geneva has a nice feel to it. Tons of shopping, a huge business/banking district, and an ice skating rink. So far our plans are to relax, enjoy the lack of travel, and wander aimlessly. Iàm thinking Bond movie on Christmas, maybe ice skating, and hopefully hit up the IOC headquarters and the International Olympic Museum. I am my fathers son.

Homesickness hasnt set in at all. I love home traditions, family, shopping at Jordan Creek, driving around aimlessly, listening to the Lite 1041 and the endless christmas songs, working at Quiznos (ok, take back that last bit), but after visiting Starbucks today and being overwhelmed with their 'traditions' campagin, it makes you wonder whats really important.

Is it the same routine every year? Is it family, or as the republicans insist, the very Christian ideals that our country is founded on? I'm starting to wonder. I love family, and miss them to death, but for some reason, without the hooplah and buildup that the season and finals and jterm and vacations brings it just doesnt feel like Christmas. To put a positive spin on what hopefully isnt coming off as too negative, it means family and friends back home are doing something right. If being away on my own in a foreign city doesnt have the same schmaltzy feeling or warm fuzzies inside that Christmas with the fam brings, then three cheers for the homeland.

Looking forward, aside from the fact that i'll be without a cell phone that can send text messages until i return to the UK, I'm as optimistic as ever about the trip upcoming. Chill time in Geneva, up to Koln for more chillage, PARIS IN 6 DAYS, and then off to the 'dam, Berlin, and back to London.

I just hope i dont run out of pictures on my 2GB memory card first.....

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THE WESTERN TIP OF SWITZERLAND. EMAIL, TEXT, FACEBOOK- after buying this internet card, i still have 1 hour and 28 minutes to waste.....

LOVE from Europa,
Kevin

PS- mom and dad, i'll call on Christmas, so dont tie up the line.....

posted by Kevin @ 5:19 PM