The Residenz

On our last day in Munich we went to a place called the Residenz, where the Wittelsbach family lived. They were the rulers of Bavaria for a long time, but now their house (which is a huge sprawling labyrinth of a mansion) is a museum. It was really amazing, but we didn't take any pictures inside for two reasons: 1) we weren't allowed to use a flash, and 2), photographs just don't seem to be capable of capturing the impressive beauty of these places. Even capturing outdoor buildings in a way that reflects their size and craftsmanship seems impossible. You're just crossing the street, looking out for cars or other pedestrians, and all of a sudden you see a huge amazing building that makes you stop in your tracks. Even the postcard pictures taken by professional photographers do not come close to reflecting the reality of seeing these places in person. So we're definitely glad we came, to say the least, and I certainly recommend Bavaria to anyone that wants to see some of the nicest stuff in Europe and especially in Germany.

After Munich we stayed in Berging, a farming village composed of roughly ten houses and surrounding fields. We stayed with the Loidl family (pronounced like 'ladle' but with they vowel from 'boy'), who Alberta knows from her student exchange during high school. Berging is 4 km from Isen, a town of 3,000 or so, and Alberta and I rode borrowed bikes there to check out the local church and shops. When we rode back a thick fog had rolled in, and we couldn't see much more than 10 feet in front of us. It was really cool.

Last night we took the overnight train from Munich to Berlin, and now we're going to check out the capital. We also have some toys and a book to deliver to the wife and daughters of one of Alberta's German friends who is currently living in Calgary. I think we'll all be happy when the goods get delivered; the girls will get their toys and we'll have a little more room in our luggage. But we still have a special delivery for Alberta's friend Holli in Newcastle.