Berlusalzvienich

So this is definitely my last entry, as I plan to head over to the airport in about 12 hours! A lot has happened in the last week or so, but internet access is not so easy in the little Bavarian towns of Schwand and Mantel!

I started my stay in Bavaria in Munich, though I can hardly say I've experienced the city. As it was Sunday, absolutely everything was closed. My experience was limited to a really fantastic dinner with two friends I made at my hostel.

Familie Witt picked me up from Weiden the next day, and I spent only one night with them; I think we all wished it could have been more! It was so nice to spend time with some really wonderful people. And of course, I didn't complain about having my own room and some privacy in the shower! We spent my first afternoon swimming and eating and watching a movie. The next day, Steffi and I were about to leave to do some shopping in Weiden, when óne of the cows went into labor! I got to watch the birth of a little calf. It was really amazing. The best part is that because it happened while I was visiting, the Witts have named her Clair and promised not to sell her! Now I just have to come back and visit.

The next two days I spent with the Bocks in Mantel, where I received only the finest in German cooking. I know my whole family will be jealous to hear that on my first night, I had Sauerbraten! We spent the one full day we had in Eger (in Czech, Cheb), which has a really beautiful market square. Herr Bock explained that ten or twenty years ago, all the buildings were grey and drab. Now it is all bright colors. The Bocks also took me to see two churches, which were really beautiful as well.

Nothing surpasses Bavaria in beauty and charm, but the dialect is almost as difficult as Schweizer Deutsch! Though I couldn't understand a lot of what was said in 'Bayerisch,' I'm afraid I might have developed a bit of their accent.

Now I am back in Berlin, and so happy to be here. I only wish I had my apartment back, instead of my bed in this hostel! Today I am going to try to have some last minute experiences that I will miss in the States. There is no place like Berlin...