Yes, despite the name, I did not see a single munchkin in Munich (auf Deutsch, Muenchen). Not to despair, though, it was quite a wonderful trip nonetheless!
My adventures began before I even got to Munich, thanks to the fact that trains can be absurdly expensive here. So instead of taking a train, I did a ride share with 4 lovely Austrians. I rode with them both there and back, and was pretty lucky with the group; they all made for interesting conversation and seemed quite willing to put up with my haphazard German.
Once I was in Munich, I met up with Alex, whom I was there to visit afterall. He took me to a fabulous vegetarian restaurant, where we filled up on very tasty and beautifully presented food. Yum. Thanks,Alex, for putting up with yet another veggie meal involving tofu for me. :-)
We had a great donation-only tour of the city the next day. Bingo. It's a pretty interesting city since it incurred so much destruction during WWII. Therefore, a lot of the buildings that seem ancient are (relatively) newly restored. You would never guess that this city was about 90% destroyed not even 100 years ago.
After the tour, we met up with Celil, who I've had plenty of contact with over skype since he dated Julie (BFF4EVR!!!) while she was abroad, but I've never actually met in the flesh. What a cool dude. Together, we romped around a gigantic Christmas market, which was admittedly overwhelming for me, and later went to a bar where we met up with a friend from California who is also back in Germany now.
I have to admit, my favorite part of the weekend probably took place in the cafe where Alex and I met Celil, before Celil arrived. I got my fill of exactly what I've been missing since coming to Europe... To our benefit, the wait staff was being quite slow, and thus left an almost completely untouched piece of topfen cake sitting at the next table. Being hungry and also low on funds, I suggested to Alex we snag it. He laughed, I laughed, I asked again. We went back and fourth like this a few times, until I finally just got up and took it. We both scarffed a few delicious, free bites, and returned the mostly eaten cake back to its rightful table before the waitress caught us.
It seems like a pretty simple, and perhaps disgusting story. But that's just it: I feel like people here play by the rules more often than not. Everything runs on time, everyone stays within their limits. Of course this is a generalization, and I've met several people who don't fit this description here, but it's the overarching feeling I get from the culture. And that's why, even though I had to stuff the few giant bites down in big gulps, that cake may be the best I've ever eaten. Now, I can also go back to appreciating the benefits of the more rigid lifestyle I've found in Austria.
Disclaimer: I did not contract Hepatitis in the course of this trip.
bird houses at the overwhelming Christmas market
Rathaus in Munich
Celil and me (at the cafe where the cake stealing took place)
I guess my food habits might not be that hygienic...
Yes, there were people surfing in the river. In winter.
Memorial at Geschwister Scholl Platz.
