Deutschland! Part 1 - Munchen and Nurnberg

just as I expected, France and Germany will be competing for top spot in my favourite country list.. 3rd place will go to the lovely Czech Republic who showed that cheap doesn't usually have to mean nasty, followed by the Austrians, Hungarians and Brits.. Germany comes up trumps with wonderful public transport, whether its the ICE or the good old U-Bahn from Frosit wherever to Marienplatz.. it's efficient even during a strike, even if the trains seem to be as old as Henry Winkler..

Germany somehow seems to be cheaper than the rest of Western Europe even though the technology in the country seems much more advanced than the rest of Western Europe - although surprisingly u cant use ur phone on the trains unlike in Paris but that may have more to do with the depth of the subways ala London.. the people are more obliged to learn English unlike many other people in Europe.. ok the food maybe wurst or schnitzel but it's still recognisable as food and good too..

so 2 weeks to decide.. once i leave Bavaria/Bayern it's no longer quite the stereotype Germany and u see places like Baden-Wattenburg or the Ruhr Valley which people don't usually associate with Germany even though they play a huge part..

Nurnberg... best experience was walking the former Nazi rally grounds.. that was a terrifically educational experience from Dokuzentrium, Great Road, Stadium to the old Zeppelin grounds.. the Dokuzentrium is the best thing in Nurnberg.. u need at least 3 hours there.. beyond that it's a lovely city with a market in the middle of the old city although it is a bit small and most certainly a 1 day city..

Munich.. ah well.. beer halls and all that.. been to two already and have finally found a new level of intoxication.. but good beer.. v good beer.. my favourite so far is the Hofbierhaus.. fantastic atmosphere and the beer is good.. also went to Augustiner.. the highlights have not been delving into Munich's past but rather its present and future, i.e. the wonderful Deutsche Museum's vehicle museum which if u are really just interested in cars and trains, just visit that wing of the museum in Theressienstraße rather than the traditional museum near Isartor.. the BMW Velt is another different world.. it's rather like a big BMW showroom which u enter for free and u look at all these BMW cars.. u can even see other lucky people pick up their BMWs fresh from the BMW factory next door.. and there's the museum too which will definitely be better than the one i saw when the new one opens in 2008.. even then, it's just mind blowing..

still to come.. Dachau hopefully, see some art galleries, the Glockenspiel performance at 11 or 12.. Munich is the place to be! and will get some photos up eventually!