Exploring Munich

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Germany! What. An. Adventure. I was in Munich from Friday November 12 until the 14th. Here goes my adventures.

Wake up call. Alarm goes off at 4:59, because my flight is at 8:55 and via the metro it takes just over an hour to get to the terminal and the first metro opens at 6:00am. I figured that would give me enough time to get there and at least get through security. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I get to the metro on time. 6:05 rolls around...BUENO...where's the metro...here and announcment with all the rukus can't make it out. BUENO. 6:10. Gotta wait 5 more minutes..then another 5 minutes. So by the time I get on the metro, it is about 6:25. it takes about an hour and 15 to get to this terminal and that is before finding your check in and gate. boarding is at 8:35. it was looking like I would just be making this baby when....the metro stops INBETWEEN the first two stop for a segement of time. You have got to be kidding me. I call my dad (sorry dad for the early wake up call!) to figure out what to do. Taxi. I taxied my way to the airport and got there by about 6:40. I could now breath and relax even though my pocket was 35 Euros lighter, but then again my flight was by far more expensive. So at least I am at the airport figuring out where I am going, and I get to do a little bit of homework and try not to fall asleep.

The plane ride wasn't too long only about 2.5 hours. I got to Munich and it was all rainy but not to put a damper on the day I was excited for what was coming next. Despite all the confusing German writing and signs, the lady I was staying with had written out great instructions about what colored signs to follow. So I follow the signs to the end and ended up needed to go to the service desk to buy a day pass to get to my destination from the airport. The train ride in all was about 1 and 15 minutes, and boy was it interesting. It was so funny to hear everyone speaking such a rough yet suave language. And it was hilarious because these two guys were sitting in front of me and you just hear the German and then out of no wheres you hear ANDROID. I guess they were talking about cell phones haha

So i get off at my station, Rotkruzplatz, and I am told to meet in the square. I'm not sure exactly where that was, but I didn't mind exploring a little bit until Nan met me. As it turns out, my texts had not gone through but not to worry she hopped on her bike, everyone there rides bikes, and came to pick me up. It was really nice to walk through the area, and they were just preparing for Christmas so it was wonderful to see all the decorations. So after a few minutes of walking, we got to the apartment across from the Audi dealership, did i mention they also love their cars too?, and hung out for a short time. I headed out and embarked on the start of my 3 day adventure in Germany.

My first adventure was to go to Sendlinger Tor and walk up to Odeonsplatz ( i understand it is difficult to understand the whereabouts of where i was going but again, its funny to see these words, and imagine me trying to ask Germans how exactly to say them!). But I find my way no problems. And luckily for me, my friend Kristine happened to also be in Munich too and saw me in the crowd. I was so happy I would have someone to do things with here now! So we walked through the main square of Sendligner Tor, and saw some really neat buildings. The main building in this square was the giant town hall, that looks like a church, and has a steple that chimes on certain hours and has the little people dancing inside of it like a kukoo clock! It was so pretty! As clearly we were tourists a guy comes up to us, Lenny was his name, and starts talking to us about the history of Munich and places to see and go. He's a tour guide in Munich and gives tours on bikes that he invited us to go to which we were greatly looking forward to but unfortunately it got canceled. Anyways he told us of some really cool places to see, so shortly after I embarked on hitting some of them up. As Kristine was visiting a friend we went our separate ways but decided to meet up tomorrow. Adter this I got to see some really cool churches, and of course I lit many candles. I also went into several shops and saw loads of nutcrackers and kukoo clocks and things of the liking. It was getting kind of rainy and damp so i did a lot of store hoping and jumping into buildings that looked really cool. Of course the names fail my mind, and trying to spell them wouldn't do them justice but I will say that Munich is a beautiful city to walk around in. After a good chunk of hours I went back to the apartment to talk with Nan and her husband over dinner. It was very nice and after a while we all went to bed.

I decided on Saturday that instead of checking out a concentration camp, i would go to the Deuschess Museum, that was situated right in the middle of the river. And it was a good choice. So, i took the metro from Rotkreuzplatz to Fraunhoferstr and decided to explore a bit around the area. The air was clear and the sky was blue as ever so it was perfect for walking around the streets and seeing things. I came across a beautiful trail and an incredible church just around the museum. After checking this out I walked along the river to the museum that was HUGE! The museum was all about technology, ranging from old power tools and steam engines, to airplanes and spaceships, to paper and glass making, to pharmaceutics to boats and robots. I really liked it! and spent quite a bit of time there. At this point I didn't realize that the bike tour had been cancled so i Headed back into the city square and went to an old church in hopes of climbing to the top to see the Alps but of course with my luck it was closed for the winter. And actually I almost forgot! I ran out of "saldo" or money on my prepaid phone because as I was particularly homesick that weekend and talking with Kristine I used it quite a bit and of course ran out. So i ran to the apartment really quick to put more money on it which was a nice break from being on the go all day. After this Kristine her friend and I had plans to go to Hotbrauhaus, one of the 5 biggest breweries in Germany to grab a beer and get some food. And it was so much fun and delicious. Because the beers came in liters, Kristine and I shared the best dark beer i've ever had in my entire life (not that I have much experience to speak from anyways) and then I had my first bratwurst ever in Germany. I think that's a really cool thing to say if you ask me. After this it was pretty late and I wanted to wake up early to see some last minute things so I returned to the apartment and crash.

The following day I went back into the square to do some last minute shopping but everything was closed so I decided to go to the Olympic Park, that was closer to the airport anyways (trust me this is where it gets good). So I head up to the metro stop Olympiazentrum to check out the park and ended up going to the BMW museum as well because again i was really close to the airport,( or so my metro map told me) and it looked really cool. Inside you saw every kind of BMW car possible in funky colors, in different edition, future cars, temporary exhibits, they even had a touch screen table that you could slid and swip and choose your story in english or german and hear about such and such a thing. WICKED cool. but after this i made my way back. I knew I had to go from my stop to Scheidplatz, about 2 stops over, and then from there to Feldmoching, about 5 stops (but relatively close) and ten from there in the direction of Flughafen-the airport. Well, before I left I just assumed everything was going to be direct and clear and if it weren't for the English Speaking Germans i wouldn't known what to do. Basically, with every line change it took over 10 minutes for the metro to come, and then of course i got on the wrong platform because i can't read German to get to the airport and missed the train and had to wait 20 minutes. luckily i had more saldo on my phone and called home to calm myself down because if this train is on time and i can find my terminal without problems, i would JUST make this flight. I was a mess, and all the Germans thought I was crazy, but the nice English speaking one assured me I was on the right platform now and directed me to which cars would be going to the airport. Finally breathing, aside from the minor train stopping on the way to the airport, i was breathing. I get to the airport and SPRINT to the check in desk because I have to print out my tickets, practically stripping on the way their to get ready for security...I wanted to avoid all possible conflicts. but BUENO. i get their print out my ticket find my terminal, can finally find a bathroom and then bam, time to board. and thank god i made it. They allowed us to board. So I am walking down the stairs thinking I am going to be boarding a plane......nope. a bus. and the bus takes us to the plane which is also outside. Very relieved that I had made the bus I was ready to go back to a second home in Madrid to my Senora and my warm bed and familiarity.

So, this sums up my craziness in Germany. It was truly a beautiful place that I wish I had more time in to explore. I would have to say that between France and Germany though, I would much rather go back and see Germany. The people are so incredibly friendly and helpful and it reminds me the most of home. But next time I need at least one person to go with, any takers?

And as always thanks to my family and friends at home. you do more for me than you know 😊

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