Munich

Our last stop on the tour was Munich.  When we booked with Adventures By Disney, we did so primarily because of the stops in the smaller fairytale villages that would have been difficult to find without the help of a tour company.  We knew places such as Alsfeld and Rothenburg would introduce us to real medieval lifestyle and local historians.  I think we were both less enthused about the stop in Munich because it seemed like any other big city.  It was essentially a stopping point so that we could continue on to Neuschwanstein Castle on the last day.  Both of our opinions changed when we met Michael.

Michael is a history teacher and, for lack of a better word, a performer.  Michael made us both remember that learning can be fun, silly, and entertaining.  Michael met us upon our arrival in Munich and led us on a walking tour around the city.  Thankfully, Diana captured most of his "lecture" on film because he shared so much history that we couldn't possibly remember it all without a review.  As soon as we get the videos organized, we'll be posting them because seeing Michael is much better than us trying to describe him.  In a nutshell, we learned about the flags, the Bavarian heritage, and some of the oldest buildings in the city.  There is also a fountain dedicated to Little Red Riding Hood in Munich.  Most importantly, though, Michael inspired us as teachers to make learning fun.

Michael explains Bavarian history with visuals, props, and audience participation.