Greetings from Germany!!!!!

Greetings to all at Wartburg College from Deutschland! We have now been in Germany over a week and are having a blast. We spend most of our time in Marburg, a university city in the German state of Hesse. Each weekday morning we attend classes at a language institute from 8:30 am to 12:50 pm. There are students at the institute from many different cultures and nations. It has been very interesting to hear their perspectives on the world and Germany. We are all learning lots of German, through the institute and in everyday passing. I have learned quickly when simple everyday tasks like buying laundry soap or ordering food suddenly needs to be done in Germany.
As a group we visited Köln (Cologne) on the first Sunday we were here. We toured the Kölner Dom, which is an enormous cathedral, the largest in the world. Its huge presense in the middle of the city could be felt even as we left the city. The Kölner Dom was started in the 1200s, but took several hundred years to build. It features beautiful Gothic architecture. We took a boat ride down the Rhine River and toured a chocolate museum. I have never eaten better chocolate. Even with a few rain showers, we had a great time in Köln.
This last weekend we spend in München (Munich). München, located in Bavaria, is one of the three largest cities in Germany. We visited many different museums in München, including the Deutches Museum (Science), Residenze Museum (History), and the Alte Pinakothek (Art). I especially enjoyed the Residence Museum, which included the crowned jewels of Bavarian monarchy and their palace in München. It was breathtaking. We also visited the Hofbräuhaus, where we were entertained with traditional Bavarian food, drink, and dance. We happened to be in München right after their soccer team won the league championship and took part in a city celebration. The Germans certainly love their soccer. On Sunday morning we attended services at the Theatiner Kirche (church), which was built with Baroque architecture. It was very interesting to hear a service in German. Some of us also visited the Frauenkirche, one of the many symbols of Müchen. It features two high towers and was built with using Gothic architecture.
We also took a day to see Neu Schwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace, built under the direction of King Ludwig II. The Walt Disney Castle was modeled after Neu Schwanstein. The Alps on the horizon made for one of the most beautiful places in the world. München has been my favorite part of the trip thus far. This weekend we head to Berlin. Well its lunch time. Time for some wonderful food!! Bis später!!! Dan