Neuschwanstein and Munich!

Hello to those in the U.S.

Today we started out by going on a three hour bus ride to the most southern part of Germany and going to Neuschwanstein Castle. It lies right next to the Austrian - German border. It was built by King Ludwig II but he unfortunately died as soon as he built. Im guessing that would be my luck too. As soon as I would build some nice castle, something bad would happen. It was a very impressive because of where it was in the Alps and to see how they built it is still a marvel to me. We started off by taking a 30 minutes hike up the mountain to get to the castle and then we had a tour of the castle. Inside the castle, it was as amazing on the inside as it was on the outside. Every little detail of the castle was perfect. But we had to be reminded several times (in mean German accent) not to take pictures or to touch the statues.

Next, we went back to Munich and picked up a tour guide for our bus. She guided us around the city and showed us all of the cool places around Germany. After the tour, we went to the mall and ate at a german "buffet." After dinner, we were able to walk around the town for a little bit and shop and get some souvenirs.

Finally we ended the night by going back to the hotel and hanging around before finally going to sleep.

I have to say so far, this trip has been a blast. Sorry mom, but I'm not quite ready to come home just yet.

Landen Crews

Hello to you all,

Today was more of a relaxing day than other days. We started out by having breakfast at the hotel. Most of the us were excited because it had eggs and sausage and gave them a reminder of a breakfast we were used too. We then got on the bus and went to Nuremburg. I really like Dresden yesterday, but to be honest, I though Nuremberg was like Dresden on steroids. It had very similar architecture but there was a lot more then activity in the whole town. Once we got there, our tour guide took us on a quick tour of the city. After that, we then had some free time on our own. There we were able to shop around at the markets and look at the beautiful city. We spent a couple of hours there just hanging out in the city. After that, we went to Zeppelin Field. Which was where Hitler would have his famous Nuremburg rallies. At these rallies, 200,000 people would come to hear Hitler speak. Even though this place stood for something bad, it was a sobering feeling being where one the world's most powerful people gave his speeches to his followers.

After this, we hopped back on a bus and went to Munich. We ate dinner at a restaurant in Munich and had sausages, sour kraut, and potatoes. I think for most part, everyone only ate the sausage and potatoes. We then went back to the hotel and hung out for the night. We went on a walk and then came back to watch the soccer game of Munich playing Manchester United. Which was being played in Munich at the time. We watched the game with a couple of very devoted German soccer fans and they nonetheless were excited when they won.

Landen Crews

Pictures from Day 3

Dresden (Day 3)

First of all sorry about not being able to post last night. We did not have access to internet. But don't worry, all is good with us here. Yesterday we left Berlin and headed straight to Dresden. It was nice to get out of the city and see a little bit more of the German country side. We started out by getting on the Autobahn. But don't worry, we were going normal speeds. Once we got to Dresden, also referred to as the "Florence on the Elbe" we stopped off in the center of the city to get a quick bite to eat and refresh a little bit before we started a guided bus tour of the city. We were then led around the city with our guide Heidi who lived in Dresden. The city is really beautiful with lots of really awesome German architecture. Most of the city was destroyed in World War II. But most of the city is being rebuilt and the old church has been refurbished in the town's center which was definitely a highlight of the city. We saw some of the more historic buildings, castles and churches of the city. Next we went to the Neues Grunes Gewolbe (New Green Vault) which housed many of the treasures of King August the Strong (King of Poland.)

Afterwards we had some free time to do whatever we wanted. Some of us went to a local bakery and others went to restaurants and an ice cream shop. Finally after the day was over we went to the hotel in Freital and settled down for the night. Some of the students and parents sat down and played a little black jack. We even played a few games with a German student who worked there. Mrs. Weir also said it was her first time playing Blackjack but she was a little too good for it to be her first time. . . how do you say hustler in German?

Tuesday we are heading to Nuremburg and then Munich.

More later,
Landen Crews

Day 2!

Today was our first full day in Berlin. The day started out with many of us setting our clocks to the wrong time because of day light savings time and then getting up an hour earlier. First, we started out with a traditional German breakfast of lunch meats, different kinds of breads, hard rolls, and cereal. To top it off we had some very strong coffee and apple juice. It was very different then the kind of breakfasts we are used to of pancakes, eggs, biscuits and gravy and coffee. We then went to Museum Island that has different museums all in the same square. But some of us were able to walk around the city a little bit to see it a bit more. We also saw the beginning of the Berlin Mini-Marathon. After we got a quick lunch at a little street market, we went to the Check Point Charlie Museum. Which was where the American sector from the Cold War met East Berlin. Then after that we went on a city tour and saw many interesting parts of the city. Most of the tour was about the separation and the unification of the city and its people. We also saw the Holocaust memorial and Hitler's secret bunker. After the tour, we then went to a Russian restaurant but, we had traditional German food. Even though it was a first for most people, I would say they enjoyed it for the most part. Also many times during the day, we took the cities public transportation system. Which was also interesting for some. (You'll have to ask about it) After the meal we took the subway back to the main terminal where some of the group went back to the hotel while the rest of us went up into the TV Tower. Day 2 was a blast. Tomorrow we take off and head to Dresden.

P.S. Im having some difficulties uploading photos. More to come soon!

Day One Complete!

It was just over 500 hundred days ago that we started planning this trip and I cannot believe how quickly it has come. Day one is now complete. We first started out in Indianapolis, then traveling to Chicago where we then took a very cramped 4000 mile flight across the atlantic. Myself and a couple of other travelers were fortunate enough to where we were able to have some leg room. But I think other then that, it was a pretty miserable 7 hour trip for the students and parents. In London, we were soon put right onto a plane to Berlin. Once we landed on the ground in Deutschland, it was straight into a charter bus were we started touring the city. I used to think my mother was a bad driver, but now I have a new found respect for her ability once we started driving around the city in this new country.

After we went to the hotel to change and shower, it was then that we went to Alexanderplatz and visited a market and then had dinner in the shopping center right next to the market. After we ate, some of the students decided they wanted to call it a night and head back to the hotel to get some much needed sleep. But the rest of the students hopped on a bus and then went to the Righstag and then the Brandenburg Gate to view it at nighttime and get a few photos before heading back to the hotel.

Needless to say, the first day was very tiring. But so far it has been a blast. I plan on writing as much as I can, but some hotels are not fond of offering "free" wifi.

See you soon,
Landen Crews







posted at 9:25 P.M. (Berlin Time) 3:25 P.M. (Marshall Time) March 27, 2010

For all those nervous parents!

Here is a website where you can go and check the status of our flights. This way, you don't have to worry about if your baby is okay. Just go to flightstats.com to view the gate times and departure times to make sure we got off okay. For those parents who are even a little more worried about their kids, just go to flightview.com and view the progess of the plane over the atlantic. On this website you will need to enter American Airlines and also the flight # - 86. If any of you are like my mother, you will probably check this website very frequently.

Hopefully the next time I write, we will be in Deutschland!

Landen Crews