(continued)...
After Ansbach in Franconia, I went further south in Bavaria to Munich. I have a friend from Capernwray who lives there, and two other women from Capernwray were visiting her. So it was the four of us for a couple days near the end of March. I remember Elizabeth (my munich friend) showing us all a ton of churches the first day I got there, probably because I expressed some interest, but my interest in old european churches (as well as any european museums) has dwindled away over the month. However, there was a very disturbing church of note. What happens when one is German and survives a frightening ship wreck and sees many die, and, wishing to thank God for his rescue using his architecture design skills, builds a house of God? A dark spirally church, with spiky gilded doors, black boat frescoes and lots of skulls, some with swords stabbing creepy looking angels. But it was interesting to think about what it would be like to go to some of the nicer looking churches. I think that would be really cool. That day playing Deutsch monopoly (which is very different, although I couldn't resist saying things like GIVE ME NEW YORK...FREE PARKING! the whole time. by the by, i won...having taken possession of my dad's favorite, the green ones). After that we went to an excellent restaurant where I had more sauerkraut and pork schnitzel. It was great to see more Capernwray friends and we stayed there a long time talking and sharing really good desert. It was the best when this clear American showed up and said, "I hear you talkin' English..Where're y'all frooommm?" And I was so excited I answered, "WE'RE FROM AMERICA!!" but then looked around the table at my friends who were: English, Canadian, and German (the start of a joke maybe) and after some recalculation added, "Actually, just me, but it's SOO great to see another American in this country." For as much as I like Germans and Bavaria, I do feel pretty homesick these days. There is nothing like northern california...more on that later.
I stayed at a German couples' house who spoke little English. The last night they dressed me up in Bavarian clothes, took pictures of me, and invited me back for Octoberfest...I'd love to go, just don't know when the next time I'll be free to go to Germany in September. I also went to Salzburg, Austria for a day, but it was a cold, rainy Sunday and very uneventful. my favorite part was the famous horse statue closed off with a giant box around it. I think their rebuilding it. typical. However, I ate the most gorgeous apple streudel and got a good picture of me eating a mozart ball chocolate in mozartplaße in front of his statue.

Amsterdam: I spent two days in Amsterdam before heading up to Denmark. Mixed feelings. It was a beautiful city, with canals and cool architecture (i knew nothing about amsterdam before). However, the city was also very gross. My dutch friends at capernwray laugh at me when i tell them i didn't know my hostel would be in the red light district...that was weird. I met up with my cousin Bethany the second day, but for the first night it was a bit weird walking to and from my hostel, being beckoned by ethereal dutch ladies from storefront windows in the gathering shadows...luckily food was the only thing I indulged in (and not food from "coffee shops") We did one of the new europe free tours the second day...not as good as the one we did in Scotland earlier this year...for the same reason. There is a lot of good history to amsterdam i'm sure, beyond "look at the smallest house in the city, "here's the biggest bridge" and "this cafe has the BEST cannibus." I did take a really informative canal tour the first night...with all the bridges nicely lit and some cool history. By far the best part of my time in Amsterdam was the Van Gogh museum. (this was when I still liked museums.) I just really enjoyed what i saw of his work and it was cool to hear his story. I'd like to learn more about him.