Sights to see: Neuschwanstein & Tour of King Ludwig II’s castles

You can find part one of the adventure at: Sights to see: Linderhof & Tour of King Ludwig II’s castles

In my earlier post, I mentioned how one of the main reasons I decided to take the bus tour to Neuschwanstein was due to jet lag. True to form, I fell asleep somewhere between Oberammergau and Schwangau. I regained consciousness in Schwangau and tumbled off the bus in a state of sleepiness and confusion. Thanks to the ticket in my hand, I saw my castle tour was at 3:25pm and set off looking for a place to lunch, heading towards the lake. It wasn’t until I turned around that I suddenly saw IT.

Little did I know, the castle was behind me the whole time

Schwangau is a town on the smaller side, with a significant amount of its stores and attractions tied in some way to one of the two castles. That’s right, this turned out to be a three castle tour (luckily, without the same fate as the three hour tour in Gilligan’s Island)! King Ludwig built his masterpiece castle near the site of one of his childhood homes, Hohenschwangau Castle. However, Hohenschwangau is fairly close to the town, while Neuschwanstein is quite the hike.

Proof I made it to the castle! My only picture that isn't a selfie

Fortified by an enormous sandwich (which I ordered in English and paid for with a credit card; traveling abroad isn’t so scary after all!), I made my way up the hill. By the end, I was a mess and sincerely wishing I had taken up one of the buses. There was also an option of taking a horse drawn carriage up the trail, but I can’t say that appealed to me personally. The walk took me much less time than the tour map had estimated, so I raced off to the gorge before my tour began.

I can’t say this enough: if you are at Neuschwanstein, leave plenty of time to see the gorge! It can get very crowded so you will need to over allocate time to visit. The time listed on the map is not enough! However, some of the best views of the castle are from the bridge spanning the gorge.

Gorgeous in the sun, moody in the clouds

As for the castle itself, it was surreal to see in person. Not only was it gorgeous, but the castle had a sense of humor. Just check out the gargoyles in the picture below! The tour was fairly fast paced, but I felt that the audio guide (no tour guides here) was just right. The information at each stop was relevant and informational, without feeling like you were drowning in knowledge.

These faces though!

I was a little underwhelmed in Neuschwanstein to be honest. After seeing Linderhof first, the castle had a lot to live up to. However, this doesn’t mean much. Coming in second place to Linderhof still places Neuschwanstein miles ahead of any other building I have seen. I was not allowed to take any pictures of the interior, similar to Linderhof. I would also have loved to see one of the unfinished rooms, as only 15 of the 200+ rooms were finished. While Linderhof had a more impressive interior, Neuschwanstein had the best views. You could see for miles from its windows.

I wouldn't mind waking up to this view

Bonus castle: I knew when I signed up for the tour, that I would see two castles so seeing Hohenschwangau Castle was quite a surprise! I managed to convince myself to climb up the stairs from town to see it, which is saying something after the hike to Neuschwanstein and the many, many stairs on the castle tour. I am so glad I did though; the castle was beautiful in its own way with lovely gardens and a great view of Neuschwanstein.

I didn't have a helicopter, so this was the best I could do to get both castles in one frame

Check out the final part of this series soon, with my stop in Oberammergau!

Sights to see: Linderhof & Tour of King Ludwig II’s castles

A terrible picture of Schloss Linderhof that does not do the castle justice

I originally intended this post to be a full account of my first full day in Germany. However, I have so much to say about each stop (and so many pictures I want to plaster all over this blog!) that I’ve decided to make it a multi-part series. I hope you enjoy it!

When I first learned I was going to Germany, one of the first things I did was plug into Google maps how close Neuschwanstein Castle was to Munich. I had wanted to see this castle in person since I was 13, so I guess you could say it’s a half-life long dream. Imagine my surprise to find Munich is perhaps the closest large major city in Germany! Without hesitation, I booked myself onto a day tour to see the castle.

On my tour bus in the Alps - this is where fears of the big bad wolf came to be, and I can see why

I’ll confess: I read a lot of travel blogs and reviews before I went abroad, and a common theme seemed to be that guided tours were evil. Alright, evil is perhaps too strong a word, but in a world that appears to emphasize how organic their explorations are, a guided tour was considered, well, touristy. Perhaps I’ll cover in a later post why I think guided tours have a valid place in this world. For now, I’ll just say that I chose to take the bus version of the tour (there is also a train version). Not only did it take me to two (!!!) castles, but I also appreciated that I could pass out from jet lag and still wake up at my desired location. I also had some fun trying to remember my high school Spanish, as the tour was conducted for both English and Spanish speakers. One thing I do want to mention, for anyone interested in taking the tour themselves, is that the cost of admission to the castles was not included in the tour. I still felt like I got my money’s worth though!

Gardens at Linderhof and the encroaching clouds

Our first stop on the trip was not Schloss Neuschwanstein, but Linderhof. I didn’t expect that Neuschwanstein could be supplanted in my dream castle list, but it was. Set high in the German Alps, Schloss Linderhof was that day surrounded by clouds and mist. The castle (or perhaps more accurately, palace) had a dramatic reveal because of the combination of this weather and the short walk from the parking lot. It is the smallest of King Ludwig II’s castles, despite it still being larger than my childhood home.

My golden ticket!

Because the castle is small, the tour inside focused mostly on seven rooms. This included the entry way, the King’s bedroom, the East and West tapestry chambers, the audience chamber and the dining room. The dining room is the home to the infamous disappearing dinner table. Also on the tour were the “cabinets”, small rooms that served almost as hallways between the rooms that were each painted in a different color and featured portraits of important people in Ludwig’s life (read: his many mistresses).

However, hands down, my favorite part of the tour was the hall of mirrors. Almost every inch of the walls are covered in mirrors, and what isn’t covered in mirrors is covered in gold. Scattered around the room are small vases but the show stealer was the giant chandelier. Through the windows, the view onto the front gardens was gorgeous. According to my tour guide, the room was one of Ludwig’s favorite places to read; I imagine he wasn’t distracted by the view through the windows though, as he apparently was a bit of a night person.

I would have been distracted from reading by this view

Photos were not allowed during the tour, so sadly I can’t add any of my own pictures of the interior. Suffice it to say, opulence doesn’t even begin to describe this castle!

Up next: Schloss Neuschwanstein

Why Travel?

Source

Disclaimer: this post ended up being a bit disjointed, as I wrote it from multiple perspectives. Being a typical full-time employee as well as a business student makes for an interesting stream of consciousness!

Everyone has their own reasons for traveling, and I thought I’d include some of mine in this post.

The world is becoming more and more integrated over time, both in terms of communication/information and trade. By traveling, you learn more about different areas of the world and different cultures, which allows you to perform at a higher level in your professional roles. Also, if you work for a global company, your “why travel?” may be that it is a requirement for your job. If I could only be so lucky...

Not only does global knowledge have a positive impact on your work performance, it can have a benefit on other areas of your life. Are you a creative person? Travel can provide you with inspiration for years to come (as evidence, you can see how many blog posts I have written from a single two-week trip). I also dare you to go on a trip where everything goes according to plan. This is near impossible, and the problem solving skills you learn while traveling are invaluable when you return home. My first day in Munich and experience getting lost straight out of the train station are a perfect example of this.

Another great part about traveling is that it allows you to put a lot of your daily stress behind you, and learn a bit more about who you are as a person. Perhaps you take more risks when you travel, and bring some of that fearlessness home with you. Perhaps you figure out what your priorities in life are based on which sights you end up visiting. Or maybe, with some distance (both mental and physical), it’s easier to determine what your next career goals are. Traveling is a wonderful time for reflection on your life in general.

Personally, I also travel for a couple reasons that don’t have any clear long term benefits. I consider myself to be a fairly curious person, and traveling allows me to learn more about the world and satisfy that curiosity. So many places come with rich histories attached and it’s fun to learn a bit about the culture from monuments, museums, and any related podcasts I dig up to set the tone for the trip. In addition, I love seeing all the different kinds of natural beauty in the world. The United States, while also gorgeous, doesn’t have a monopoly on scenic views and travel allows me to see as many as possible.

My final thoughts on traveling are directed specifically towards people who, like me, are balancing both part-time school and full-time work. Often it seems impossible to fit in everything to your schedule, and you feel the need to refresh with a vacation. This itself causes more stress: when do you fit in a vacation? Will you get behind on class? Will the world come to a screeching halt if you dare relax?? Ok, that last one is just me… Enter short term study abroad opportunities, where you can combine both a vacation AND class. In my recent experience, I took just one class. I was able to add 3 credits to my workload while also taking some time off work and exploring several new locations. Other classmates took several classes; while this does reduce your amount of time as a tourist, it can significantly reduce the duration of the program. My point is, while travel can seem daunting to a part-time MBA student, I really think that studying abroad can be a great way to add balance to your life in a way that won’t impede your progress through the program (quite the opposite!).

Help me out: what are your reasons for traveling?

My 2015 Travel Goals

There are less than four months left in 2015, but I wanted to take a minute to outline some travel goals. I recognize that I am not the most traveled person to ever pen a travel blog, but when I start to lose confidence in myself, I consider two things. 1) This is a relatable situation. Many people struggle to balance their full time stationary jobs with a desire to see more of the world. 2) This is a situation that can be changed, hence my travel goals.

• Plan an early 2016 Europe trip including visiting 3 new countries – as of right now, I’m planning to do another study abroad opportunity in Europe. Due to the timing of this opportunity, I can use up to an extra 10 days to travel without going over my vacation at work. It will take some careful planning though! I’ve estimated I can visit 2-3 new countries and 1 “old” country in this time.
• Visit 5 new local sights – I’ve lived in southern California for the last four years, and it’s about time I visit some more of the local historical sights. I plan to visit 5 places on the California HistoricLandmarks list.
• Obtain a new role at work with the potential for travel – This is currently in the works, so listing it here may not quite be in the spirit of this list. However, if for some reason it falls through, I plan to continue to pursue roles with travel opportunities.
• Learn more about business culture – I’d like to write about business culture for at least one country on the following continents: Asia, Europe, South America, and Australia. If I can’t travel to these countries this year, I can at least start to prepare!

Doing Business in Germany

Source

Let’s get a bit more serious, shall we? This blog is for business professionals as well as business students, and I’d like to talk a bit more about doing business in different countries in addition to visiting them. I thought I’d start with my favorite blog topic: Germany.

A bit of background: Germany is located centrally to Western Europe and is highly influential throughout Europe. In fact, West Germany wasone of the founding countries in the precursor to the European Union (the ECSC,then the EEC). As of 2013, Germany had a population of 80.62 million people and a GDP per capita of USD 47,627.40 in 2014. To give you an idea of how this compares, the U.S. GDP per capita was USD 54,629.50 in 2014.

German culture is associated with many positive, but strict values. They place an emphasis on structure, privacy, and punctuality. Hard work and organization is appreciated and rewarded (if any of my friends or family are reading this, they may wonder why I haven’t yet moved to Germany…). On the whole, the country is process driven and a great follower of rules and regulations. People in Germany may come across as perfectionists, not seem highly complimentary, and might appear unfriendly to those of us raised in the United States or similar countries. Don't take it personally! On a more positive note, Germany is also known for fairly high levels of social rights and equality.

If you are going to Germany specifically for business reasons, you will want to keep some additional things in mind. When you first meet with your German colleagues, a handshake is the standard form of greeting, just like in the U.S. I’ve also heard that titles and last names should be used until given permission otherwise, and I hope to report back on this at a later date. Until then, better safe than sorry! Similar to the general culture, there is an emphasis placed on planning and decisiveness; it’s unusual for change to occur after you reach agreement with your German counterparts. A couple things did strike me as quite different from business culture in the United States. First, Germany has a high regard for technical experts, so if you are working at the executive level, do not be surprised if your meetings are full of people with technical and engineering backgrounds. Second, hard work and merit are what get people ahead in Germany, whereas social intelligence is also strongly considered in the U.S.

So if you are going to work in Germany, what does this mean for you? I’d suggest:

• Following the greetings laid out above
• Arrive to any meetings on time, fully prepared, and visibly organized
• Keep to your schedule; don’t go past the planned meeting duration!
• Expect direct, formal communication from your German colleagues and respond in kind
• You may be from out of town, but don’t expect a lot of overlap between work life and personal life

Perhaps this should have been at the beginning of this post, but I have not yet been to Germany for business reasons myself. However, I plan to remedy that soon and wanted to share my research on doing business in Germany. For anyone who has been to Germany for business, what were your experiences? Do you have any corrections/additions to my notes above? Comment below!

Want to learn more? Source 1; Source 2; Source 3; Source 4

My Travel Non-Necessities

An accurate, yet unflattering, picture of my luggage. Instagrammer, I am not

When traveling, the holy grail is to reduce your amount of luggage and somehow find the perfect set of items that allow for endless outfits and cover your bases for any mini-emergencies that might pop up. 

This list is not that list. 

This list (which I admit, is completely based on my own personal preferences) is all the items that you can forgo from your luggage to make room for the travel necessities.

1. Straightener/curling iron – this especially applies to general travel and study abroad for classes only when there is no one you are trying to impress. Depending on your hair type, I could see one or the other being useful for looking professional when working abroad.
2. Hairdryer – if you are staying in a hotel, check the amenities ahead of time. They may have you covered with a hairdryer that already meets the voltage requirements.
3. Travelers checks – some cash and a credit/debit card will do just fine.
4. iPad – this item is completely a personal preference. Confession: I don’t own an iPad! Perhaps my opinion on the necessity of this item would be different if I actually had one, but right now it just seems like an extra item to charge. I may also be cheating since I own a Kindle.
5. Neck pillow – I cannot for the life of me figure out how to sleep with one of these pillows comfortably. If anyone knows the secret, please let me know! If this is one of your personal necessities, might I suggest this one? I was able to roll it up so tightly in a ball, that I -almost- didn’t regret giving up valuable carry-on real estate for it.
6. Extensive jewelry/make-up – Guys, I know you will find this one extremely difficult. Joking aside, I find that I am always over-optimistic in how much jewelry and make-up I will need when abroad. I’ve discovered I’d rather leave most of it at home than risk leaving it in a hotel room thousands of miles away. Choose wisely what you bring, and you will be just as happy!
7. A money belt – I’m never sure how a money belt is supposed to work. In theory, I understand it: keep your valuables hidden under clothes and close to your person to prevent pickpockets. However, money and passports have bulk; do money belts magically make the items decrease in volume so that they lie completely flat against my body? How do I retrieve money from the money belt without giving away its existence and location, not to mention the awkward moment when I appear to begin to remove my clothes in front of a cashier? Fellow travels, please, if you can explain this mystery please do so in the comments!

What are your travel non-necessities?

Sights to see in Athens

Not on this list: the coolest flower shop in Athens

Hi fellow travelers! Forgive me as I take a pause from my business school reading to reminisce about my adventure in Athens. Once again, I plan to go into more detail on some of these sites at a later time so I’ve tried to keep it short and sweet.

• Acropolis and the Parthenon – seen from almost anywhere throughout Athens, I’d strongly suggest that you take a couple hours to get a closer look.
• Temple of Zeus – while the Temple of Zeus is not as prominent as the Parthenon, it is worth a visit and only costs a couple of Euros. Also located at the site is the Arch of Hadrion, tying in some Roman history as well.
• The beach – it might take a while to reach the beach using Athens public transportation, but I promise you it is well worth it. Swimming in the Mediterranean was on my bucket list and I am glad I took an afternoon to cross it off.
• Monastiraki Flea Market – street vendors galore! Come to the flea market to find souvenirs for your friends and family back home, regardless of whether you are looking for a traditional souvenir or something more along the lines of handmade jewelry. For yourself, stop by the poet sandal maker of Athens and get a pair of sandals custom fit for your feet.
• Mount Lycabettus – for the majority of my trip, I wondered what this hill was. At the top is the Chapel of St. George and an amazing place to watch an Athens sunset.
• Panathenaic Stadium – the stadium hosted the first modern Olympic games in 1896. Personally, this was the closest I will ever get to being on an Olympic medal stand.
• A for Athens – as I mentioned in my Welcome to Athens post, I recommend stopping by A for Athens in the evening for the great view of the Acropolis.
• Delphi – Delphi is famous for its oracle of ancient times. I’m sad to say I wasn’t able to fit in a trip while I was in Athens, but I heard amazing things. If you get the chance, try go early in the day to avoid the crowds!
• Islands – if you can’t make it to the better known islands during your trip to Greece, you could perhaps fit in a day trip to Poros, Hydra, or Aegina.

What are your favorite stops in Athens?

Is learning a language necessary to go abroad?

Luckily, UPS is the same in any language apparently

Short answer: kind of. My recent study abroad in business school was in two countries, one of which I learned some of the language beforehand and one of which I entered completely unprepared. Prior to landing in Germany, I’d spent several weeks using the Duolingo app on my phone. I was able to recognize a few words and conduct the most simple of conversations as a result (I didn’t make it very far into the app in only a few weeks!). For Greece, I wasn’t able to find the language on Duolingo, so I decided to wing it. I couldn’t understand a word people said to me as a result.

In hindsight, I think the approach I took to Germany was the best. I didn’t need to know the entire language, but having a few words up my sleeve gave me the extra confidence I needed in a strange country. You can’t put a price on being able to say “excuse me” in the official language of whatever country you happen to be in, and not instantly outing yourself as a tourist. Knowing some of the language is also an easy way to communicate the respect you have for a country and its culture, giving you an advantage both in business and everyday interactions. Equally important, if you can decipher some of the menus, you will never be hungry! I’d recommend stocking up on words for food, hello, goodbye, excuse me, please, and thank you. Also, being able to say “I do not speak [language]” will prevent a lot of misunderstandings. I spent at least five minutes in Greece trying to communicate that I didn’t speak Greek with a cashier, which could have been avoided if I’d taken the simple courtesy to learn some of the language! So on that note, how does one even go about learning some of a language in preparation for studying or working abroad?

• Duolingo – despite not having Greek as a language option (you can take this as a challenge, folks at Duolingo!), I love the app. I’m a visual learner, so being able to see the words written down as well as spoken through the app was incredibly helpful. The game format makes the app fun and easy to fit into a busy day. Just do a lesson in the 5 minutes before class or between meetings!
• Coffee Break podcasts – perhaps you are not a visual learner and are able to pick up languages just from hearing them spoken. If so, the Coffee Break podcasts are for you! Put them on while you exercise, and fit learning a language into a busy schedule. As I mentioned above, I am a visual learner, but I also used the Coffee Break German podcast to improve my pronunciation and accustom myself to hearing the language spoken.
• Rosetta Stone – a now well established language learning tool! This software comes highly recommended by many people. For business students, I’d recommend asking your study abroad center if they have access or discounts to the software. For business professionals, I’d try asking your manager or HR if they have any of the software available. You might even be able to convince them to purchase it for you, for a language whose country you do business in often!
• Other resources – without going into too much detail, other resources for language learning include multiple apps (just search the language you wish to learn, the no-longer-updated BBC Languages page, Livemocha, and Google (just google a word you wish to learn and the language you wish to learn it in). For those brave, extroverted few, I recommend reaching out to the locals in the country. Showing an open mind and willingness to learn is usually well received, and I saw a fellow student traveler learn a lot of Greek this way.

I’m curious, what are your experiences like with learning a language? Any entertaining language stories?

Note: none of the links above are affiliate links. I am just trying to make life a bit easier for any readers!

Welcome to Athens!

Athens at dusk

Athens… such an interesting city, both for its past and its present. Don’t let the current economic climate stop you from visiting, nor other peoples' negative reviews of the city. Athens is a great place to spend a week!

General Info

• Currency – As of this post, Greece uses the Euro as currency. I suspect this will be true for some time into the future, but I am not an expert.
• Time zone – Athens is 10 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Luckily, the city of Athens is a night owl, so you can likely still Skype with family and friends for a short window of time.
• Language – The official language is Greek. Greek language tools are harder to find, but looking up a few phrases before you go would be a great idea! If you are there in the summer, I suggest “νερό”, pronounced “nero” (water, in Greek). Not only is the language different, but so is the alphabet; be prepared for some culture shock.
• Electricity – voltages will be between 220 and 240. You will need a standard European plug adapter, which looks like two round prongs in a horizontal line. As I said in my Munich introduction, check before you plug!

Not-So General Info

• Airport – Athens’s airport is a bit out of the city and on the smaller side. Taxis run for a flat rate from the airport, so grab a couple friends and split the cost. Likely, the limiting factor will not be seats, but how much space the taxi has for luggage. You can also get to and from the airport using the bus or the metro.
• Transportation – Great news: Athens has Uber! You can also walk (I hear it’s good for you…), take the metro, catch a bus, etc. Word of caution: always be sure to have a valid metro pass, and do not attempt to use a student pass if you are over the age of 25.
• Safety – I visited Athens after being in Munich and was with friends the entire time, which may affect my perception of safety. While Athens can look a bit scary on the surface (think narrow streets and graffiti), I actually felt very safe personally. Belongings are a different story; watch your belongings closely, especially while out to dinner or on the metro!

Athens: a city that wears some of its works of art

• Food – I found it hard to eat unhealthily in Athens. Believe me, I tried! Hands down, Greek food is amazing. My favorites were Greek salads (can I add a block of feta to every meal from now on? Thanks) and souvlaki. Try some Greek wine too, as it comes with an extensive history.
• Nightlife – Again, I did not live it up too wild and crazy in Athens. As I mentioned earlier though, the city is a night owl (there has to be an Athena/owl reference in there somewhere) so you will find yourself staying out late regardless. Enjoy views of the Parthenon – I dare you to find a restaurant in the city center that doesn’t feature it in the background. Also, have a meal or drink at A for Athens and toast your good fortune to visit this amazing city.

As always, I’ll continue to update this post as I think of more tips. Have a great time in Greece!

Money in Europe: Munich vs Athens

Source

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a two-week study abroad session in Munich and Athens. Given the (then) current situation with the Euro and the possibility of a Greek default/Grexit, it was a fascinating study in the two different ends of the Euro spectrum. For example, our guest lecturers in Germany focused on entrepreneurship, while our Greek guest lecturers spoke at length on the crisis and the effects of the black economy in Greece. I am not an expert on the topic at all, but I thought I’d talk a little about my on-the-ground observations with regards to money and the euro in both countries (for reference, the exchange rate at the time was approximately $1.12/€.

I could have easily mistaken Munich for the U.S., just with slightly more colorful money. However, I had great success in using my credit card in Germany, so for the most part I didn’t need hard currency. Price levels of goods seemed relatively on par with what I experience in the U.S. in general, and a bit cheaper than what I experience in southern California.

In Athens, I felt like I lived like a king. Granted, I did not feel like a modern day king, as my credit card did not seem to be accepted anywhere. Instead I relied purely on cash, and that cash went far. A large bottle of water (imagine approximately twice the volume of a standard bottle of water in the States) on average cost less than €0.50. Often, I wondered if it would be cost effective to ship water back to California given the current drought. Delicious, multi-course meals typically cost about €20.

When comparing the two, the differences were not surprising given the economic climate. Germany, being more affluent and stable, resembled similar economies such as the US. Greece, on the other hand, preferred cash given the uncertainty involving the banks at the time.

If you have traveled around Europe (particularly in cities/countries not mentioned above), what have been your experiences with money and pricing?

Sights to see in Munich

River surfing in Englischer Garten (English Garden) in Munich

Hi everyone! It’s Labor Day weekend, which has got me thinking about what I was doing over Memorial Day weekend this year… and that was exploring Munich! I know this blog has been a bit Munich heavy to date, but I promise to branch out soon.

Below is my list of some of the cool sites to see in and around Munich. It’s a brief list, because I plan to write in more detail about some of the suggestions soon! Without further ado, I highly suggest checking out:

• Neuschwanstein Castle – highly recommended! You can reach the castle by train from Munich or take a planned day tour
• Linderhof Palace  – similar to Neuschwanstein, Linderhof was built by King Ludwig II in the mid 1800's (you can find my recap here!)
• Dachau Concentration Camp – Not all history is pleasant, and Dachau is a prime example. Visiting a concentration camp may not be right for everyone, but definitely consider it while you are in the area. I personally did not make it to Dachau while in Munich
• Glockenspiel – while this may considered one of the more overrated tourist traps of Munich, I suggest making that judgement for yourself! If you are staying in central Munich, stop by at mid-day and enjoy the show
• English Garden – Beer gardens! River surfing! Nudists…?!? Grab a bike and take a quick ride through this park in Munich
• Hofbrauhaus – Please, please don’t leave Germany without trying a beer. Hofbrauhaus is famous, but be warned: any beer you order will be incredibly large!
• BMW World – I am an engineer by trade and may be biased, but visiting BMW world (and our factory tour, not included in BMW world) was amazing! No, they don’t give out free cars at the end of the tour…
• Munich Residenz – I didn’t have a chance to personally visit this museum, but after seeing my friends’ pictures, I wish I had! Easy to reach from central Munich, I suggest checking out this museum if you have a few extra hours
• Ammersee and Starnberger See – if you need to get out of the city for a bit and back to nature, check out these lakes outside of Munich. The Alps in the background make for an idyllic view
• Train to: Innsbruck/Salzburg/Insert destination here – maybe you have a free day while in Munich and want to take advantage of its central location. If so, there are a couple of easy day trips you can take; I recommend Innsbruck and Salzburg. Check out the train schedule for ideas and tickets!

What is on your list of must see sites in Munich?

My Travel Necessities

In Salzburg, rocking items 4 and 6

This list is a mix of the practical and personal. Check it out and feel free to disagree. However, I am hoping it may help some of you remember key items for your trip!

1. Battery back-up – this would be my absolute number one recommendation for anyone traveling. Nothing is worse that experiencing an amazing new place, taking out your phone for a picture… and your phone dies. Well, except for being lost in a new city with a dead phone and no way to access Google maps! Don’t let this happen to you: bring a battery back-up (or two).
2. A high quality plug adapter – I speak from personal experience here. Buy a decent plug adapter; you won’t regret it.
3. Headphones – you will have a lot of down time when you travel. There is the plane, the train, the plane, airports, and the plane. Use the time to catch up on podcasts, listen to music, or books on tape. I know a lot of people advocate noise cancelling headphones, but I love earbuds because they take up less space.
4. Scarf – how do you instantly look like you fit in, especially in Europe? Wear a scarf. Added bonus: if you get cold on the many planes mentioned above, it’s a well-known trick to use your scarf as a blanket.
5. Stylish rain jacket – I love me some North Face, don’t get me wrong. I grew up in the Midwest after all. However, I don’t recommend bringing your North Face fleece jacket with you when you travel. One, fleeces are not waterproof or windproof and encountering either water or wind in a fleece will put a damper on your travelling experience. Two, there are so many cute options (yes, I’m specifically talking to the women here) other than your fleece that there is no reason to declare “Why yes, I am American!” with your clothes. This is a personal preference of course, but I like to try blend in when I travel. I got a Helly Hansen Welsey Trench before I went to Munich and it was perfect.
6. Crossbody bag – again, speaking to the women here. I didn’t go for a money purse (I’m not Rick Steves), but I did get a cheap crossbody bag prior to studying abroad last spring. Find one with a leather/chain strap and a zip closure and you will feel fairly safe.
7. Kindle – this is a personal addition to the list. I am a huge reader and can’t imagine going anywhere without my Kindle! If you are a reader too, make sure item #6 is big enough to hold your wallet AND your Kindle :)

What are your travel necessities? Comment below, especially the guys!

Welcome to Munich!

The Glockenspiel in Marienplatz

So you are going to Munich… which is awesome because I loved that city! Before I get into all the fun things you can check out while in Munich (or München, if you want to sound local), I wanted to cover some of the basics in this post.

General Info

• Currency – Germany is one of 19 countries that uses the Euro, and unlike some other countries, the currency is working fairly well for them. This is handy for you if you plan to travel to other countries while in Europe: fewer currency exchanges!
• Time zone – Munich is 9 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. It will still be possible to talk with family and friends, but it will take some planning.
• Language – This will likely come as no surprise, but Germans speak German. Hallo, bitte and Tschüss should be on your list of phrases to learn.
• Electricity – voltages will be between 220 and 240. You will need a standard European plug adapter, which looks like two round prongs in a horizontal line (imagine a smiley face emoji, but with no smile). I found that most computers and phone chargers can handle up to 250 volts, but definitely check before you plug!

Not-So General Info

• Airport – The Munich airport was not at all overwhelming after a long flight from the Western US. Customs was a breeze, although it may take a while to get your bags. It’s fairly easy to take a train or a taxi from the airport to your lodging. Make sure to buy your train ticket at the airport level before descending to the tracks!  I imagine the bus is fairly easy as well, but can’t speak from experience.
• Transportation – Walking, bus, taxi, train, bike… you name it, Munich has it! Well, except for Uber. Germany does not have Uber. I’ll let that sink in for a bit…
• Safety – Overall, I felt fairly safe in Munich. The one time I was a bit concerned about my surroundings was soon after I had landed, so I believe that jet lag contributed more than any actual threat to my well-being. All the same, be smart about your surroundings and you will be fine.
• Food – You can find just about anything to eat in Germany. I am sad to admit that my first night there I ate… a quesadilla. I had a genuine German beer with it though, so I am hoping that helps make up for it! Speaking of genuine German food, pace yourself: German food is fairly rich, and between the bratwurst, the pretzels, and the spaetzle (do NOT leave Germany without at least trying the spaetzle!) you will get fatigued fast.
• Nightlife – ha! Who am I kidding, I spent most of my nights in Munich being victim to jet lag induced narcolepsy. I’ll see if I can find a guest poster in the future to cover Munich’s nightlife.

That’s all for now! I’ll try to update this post in the future as I think of more information I’d want to know prior to landing in Munich.