Europe: Munich
I spent a week or so in Germany in ’05 for work – convincing a bunch of journalists to write lots of nice things about my client – which mostly involved lots of football, beer and hangovers. So I can’t really remember much of Germany, except that I loved it. And when I arrived in Munich this time after a killer early morning flight from Athens, I remembered why.
Germany is so green, and clean, and beautiful. And I thought, maybe Sydney would be this green if we weren’t in such a drought. I thought this right before it started raining (nature explaining itself), which sucked beacuse you couldn’t even venture outside, it was a torrential downpour. Thankfully the rain lightened up somewhat, and I set out with my umbrella to see the city.
I had unintentionally arrived during Munich Festival, which was fortunate – there were street stalls, music, theatre and discounts to museums right around the city which added a great atmosphere. And I found a Starbucks, who don’t even flinch when you ask for a mocha. You know, like coffee and chocolate together? The Italians were horrified at the utter suggestion. So Munich was great.
I lay in the sun at the English Gardens, drooled over treasure at the Munich Residenz (Royal Palace) and ate Bratwurst whilst window shopping down the main streets running off Marienplatz and Odeonplatz. It was only a quick visit, a stopover, but a lovely place to spend two days, especially as the weather cleared up and it turned beautifully sunny and warm.
My final morning I caught a bus to the station and a train to Schaffhausen in Switzerland. Of which I had no idea where that was, or in which direction I was heading to get there, but my ticket said platform 13, and I thought that was a good start.
-Sarah
Sarah