Dachau and the Dutch

Dachau was the most powerful experience so far on the trip. We opted
to do the guided tour instead of the audioguide to get a more vivid
presentation. Seeing the grounds, memorials, crematorium, and
recreated barracks was moving but as a personal FU Hitler I leisurely
ate some challah(ish) bread on the camp grounds.

It started to rain so we headed back into town to see the art museum.
Rick gave alte pinakothek two triangles out of three while the other
art museums got one so we decided to do that (even though I knew it
was a period of art that did not intrest me). It was cool for the fact
that it had a lot of giant paintings and pieces by Raphael, Leonardo,
and Botticelli. Although these painters are famous it is not the kind
of art that gets me going, so luckily the exhibit was short and we
rushed through the rain to the modern art museum for the last half
hour it was open. This is some place I will def have to come back to
because it is exactly what I love. We rushed through the design and
painting galleries so fast that I read all the signs too fast and
thought the title was the painter. I was getting really confused and
frustrated by all the paintings that screamed picasso but were by
other people. haha! Oops!

When we got kicked out of the museum we went back to the train station
to find dinner. We ended up walking all the way back to marienplatz,
the main square, and just having some pasta/pizza.

At 10:30 we boarded the train for the overnight ride to Amsterdam. We
were in a "couchette", basically a TINY little room with two three-
level bunk beds. Of course, kevan and I ended up in the two top beds.
I slept great (though Kevan could not sleep well b/c it got hot).

We arrived to Amsterdam gross and grumpy and had a hard time finding
our hostel. We got spoiled by the amazing public transportation in
Munich because it sucks here. Although not at the most convenient
location, our hostel is very nice. We checked in but could not get to
the room until two so we had to manage with a bird bath.

At this point it was 12:30 and we had not had anything to eat since
dinner the night before. We discovered Febo, the Dutch fast food
place. We had Dutch crochets and French fries with mayonnaise. Then we
went on the free tour with the same company as we did in Munich. Our
guide was crazy but again, it was a nice first taste of the city.
Afterwards we wandered around then got some carry out Thai food to eat
by the canal.

Amsterdam is gorgeous! I have never been to a canal city before so it
is a new kind of pretty for me. I really like it so far and I have
been very impressed with the live and let live attitude and the
historical events that demonstrate that (like the strike in 1941 when
ten thousand workers protested against the Nazis' decision to send 450
of their fellow Amsterdamers (Jews) to concentration camps) I'm really
looking forward to our next few days here!

Our hostel does not have free wifi so unfortunatly I can't update the
blog so easily but I'll do my best.