Well, it only took 6 years, but my dad finally made it over to my neck of the woods!
I guess all of my nagging during the past 6 years finally paid off! My dad asked me in mid September if he could come visit at the end of that month. I was so shocked, and asked my boss if I could take 5 days off, to which he surprised me by saying, "Go ahead!". So, we changed the week so that he arrived in October, and ended up spending 3 days in Geneva, and 4 in Munich, Germany.
I realized quickly that it might be difficult to find a place to stay in Munich since we were arriving during the last week of Oktoberfest. It was hard, but we found a hotel that was set off the road, with a (raging) river running behind it. In fact, it was so loud in the room when we opened the door that I was under the impression that we had an air-conditioning unit in our room! I was so excited about that since it's hard to find hotels with A/C, but after 3 hours I realized that there was no box-looking-thing that could've passed as the unit! So I closed the window, and presto!, NO MORE A/C! It was actually the 'rapids'!! I am seriously posting a pic of that....
So, Munich is awesome! First, GREAT food! I think my dad was more impressed with that than most other things! Then, there was so much to see and do, either in Munich, or right around it. The first full day we were there, we went on 2 tours: 'Hitler's Munich' and 'Dachau'. I was really amazed with how much of a role Munich had in Hitler's rising. We went to many different places that were significant in his history, and the history of Nazi-ism. Then we grabbed something to eat, with one of those GIANT soft pretzels as a snack to share (which was a mistake...I told him we should've gotten 2!). Now, when I say GIANT, I mean gigantic! This thing is bigger than your face!
Afterwards, we met our next guide who took us to Dachau, where the first concentration camp was built. They've preserved it, for the most part, and we walked through the museum and then the barracks, gas chamber, and crematorium. It was really interesting to have a guide who was Israeli, and my dad had a lot of questions for her during the tour:) Afterwards, we went to eat at the Hofbrau House, but it was so packed that we decided to eat at a restaurant directly across from it. I think that is where all the Germans eat, actually! All the tourists go to Hofbrau:) Anywho, we had this amazing meal....so amazing, in fact, that my dad asked to eat there again the next night, which we did.
After that, we drove down to the Neuschwanstein Castle (or 'schloss' in German;) I am tempted to start learning German after 4 days there! Cool language.) We had to hike up this trail leading to the castle, which took us about 30 minutes. This was ok for my dad since he felt he had eaten too much since he arrived in Deutschland, and wanted to burn some calories! When we arrived at the top, we were reminded of just how organized the Germans are....everyone had their ticket, which had a number on it, as well as the time the tour started. If you didn't get in the correct lane, at the correct time (and I mean, EXACT time...not 3 minutes after!), you missed your opportunity! It was insane, so we felt stressed about this until we were in the castle. Our guide was part robot/part woman...no lie. She was so monotone and looked straight ahead, but at no one in particular...almost like she was looking at the top of someone's head. Then when she finished talking, at the end, everyone was making little comments about how robotic she was. Seriously, she must hate her job.
Anyway, we got back to Munich around 5.45 pm, and did some more souvenir shopping. I was so excited to see a ginormous Esprit store there, and I bought 2 suits for work. I think I might fly back again just for a shopping day!
We got back home on Saturday the 6th, and spent the rest of the time organizing bags for my dad's trip home the next day. I made a raclette dinner, and we watched a few episodes of The Office, which I think I finally got my dad hooked on!, and then crashed. We had to get up at 5.30 the next morning for the airport, and 3 hours later I was back in bed. It was a great trip, and I'm so happy that my dad finally came over to visit and see a bit of where and how I live. Now I'm waiting for other family and friends to make their way over the ocean;)
So, as far as work is concerned, I'm still waiting to hear about my next contract :S It's unsettling, but I know everything will work out the way it is meant to. I fly home to Abilene on December 13th, and will be there for 3 weeks....well, except for 5 days, when I'll be in Boston!
I hope everyone is doing great, and that I'll hear from you soon! Auf weidersehen!
I realized quickly that it might be difficult to find a place to stay in Munich since we were arriving during the last week of Oktoberfest. It was hard, but we found a hotel that was set off the road, with a (raging) river running behind it. In fact, it was so loud in the room when we opened the door that I was under the impression that we had an air-conditioning unit in our room! I was so excited about that since it's hard to find hotels with A/C, but after 3 hours I realized that there was no box-looking-thing that could've passed as the unit! So I closed the window, and presto!, NO MORE A/C! It was actually the 'rapids'!! I am seriously posting a pic of that....
So, Munich is awesome! First, GREAT food! I think my dad was more impressed with that than most other things! Then, there was so much to see and do, either in Munich, or right around it. The first full day we were there, we went on 2 tours: 'Hitler's Munich' and 'Dachau'. I was really amazed with how much of a role Munich had in Hitler's rising. We went to many different places that were significant in his history, and the history of Nazi-ism. Then we grabbed something to eat, with one of those GIANT soft pretzels as a snack to share (which was a mistake...I told him we should've gotten 2!). Now, when I say GIANT, I mean gigantic! This thing is bigger than your face!
Afterwards, we met our next guide who took us to Dachau, where the first concentration camp was built. They've preserved it, for the most part, and we walked through the museum and then the barracks, gas chamber, and crematorium. It was really interesting to have a guide who was Israeli, and my dad had a lot of questions for her during the tour:) Afterwards, we went to eat at the Hofbrau House, but it was so packed that we decided to eat at a restaurant directly across from it. I think that is where all the Germans eat, actually! All the tourists go to Hofbrau:) Anywho, we had this amazing meal....so amazing, in fact, that my dad asked to eat there again the next night, which we did. 
On our second full day there, we took another tour, but this one lasted all day. We drove down to Bavaria to see 2 of King Ludwig's castles, which are located in the southeast part of Germany, bordering Austria. This king definitely liked the gold color.....everything was covered in a thin layer of gold, so it was a bit much for the eyes at times! We also stopped in a little village inbetween castle visits, and my dad picked up some souvenirs. They are very well known for their wood-carving skills, and handmade crafts. And every 10 years, in this small village, there is a play that opens that brings in huge audiences. It's called 'Passion of the Christ', and the next play opens in 2010....it looks like it would be amazing.
After that, we drove down to the Neuschwanstein Castle (or 'schloss' in German;) I am tempted to start learning German after 4 days there! Cool language.) We had to hike up this trail leading to the castle, which took us about 30 minutes. This was ok for my dad since he felt he had eaten too much since he arrived in Deutschland, and wanted to burn some calories! When we arrived at the top, we were reminded of just how organized the Germans are....everyone had their ticket, which had a number on it, as well as the time the tour started. If you didn't get in the correct lane, at the correct time (and I mean, EXACT time...not 3 minutes after!), you missed your opportunity! It was insane, so we felt stressed about this until we were in the castle. Our guide was part robot/part woman...no lie. She was so monotone and looked straight ahead, but at no one in particular...almost like she was looking at the top of someone's head. Then when she finished talking, at the end, everyone was making little comments about how robotic she was. Seriously, she must hate her job.
Anyway, we got back to Munich around 5.45 pm, and did some more souvenir shopping. I was so excited to see a ginormous Esprit store there, and I bought 2 suits for work. I think I might fly back again just for a shopping day! We got back home on Saturday the 6th, and spent the rest of the time organizing bags for my dad's trip home the next day. I made a raclette dinner, and we watched a few episodes of The Office, which I think I finally got my dad hooked on!, and then crashed. We had to get up at 5.30 the next morning for the airport, and 3 hours later I was back in bed. It was a great trip, and I'm so happy that my dad finally came over to visit and see a bit of where and how I live. Now I'm waiting for other family and friends to make their way over the ocean;)
So, as far as work is concerned, I'm still waiting to hear about my next contract :S It's unsettling, but I know everything will work out the way it is meant to. I fly home to Abilene on December 13th, and will be there for 3 weeks....well, except for 5 days, when I'll be in Boston!
I hope everyone is doing great, and that I'll hear from you soon! Auf weidersehen!
