Germany - Friday night

What a DAY! I haven't laughed this much in a year. A few highlights, because I could never recall all the moments.

Emily and Johannes both had to work today so we were on our own. Late breakfast at the apt then Vikki and I walked to the center of the city. Four hours on our own with Mama alone in the apt, kind of trapped - across the river, by the museum, a few shops, the 'vi twa lian mart' (outdoor market), the marianplatz (town hall), then back to the house. A FUN route because I made the effort to orient myself so I could get to and from the city center.

Home to rest our feet until Johannes came in and took us to dinner outside of town in the lake district south of Munich where we caught a vista of the Alps for the first time. Breathtaking! He rented a Mercedes for a business trip tomorrow to Frankfurt and made it a two dramamine trip for Mama by speeding along curvy two lane roads, through tiny hamlets, and even on the autobahn at 100mph. Mom said she hoped to live to tell her friends about it.

We do a LOT of eating and then talking about what and where to eat next. I can't even describe the food I've eaten so far without pictures, but it has all been good.

Germany - Friday morning

It seems unreal that less than 3 days ago I was in Spartanburg until noon. We have traveled so far and done so much since then, it seems impossible that it is still the same week.

Thursday was a busy day for us. We slept in a bit (Mama and I are staying at the Holiday Inn just up from Emily's apt) but managed to meet Vikki and Emily just after 10:30 to take the S-ban train from the station under our hotel to the main station in Munich and then a 1.5 hr trip by train to Salzburg, Austria. The weather was overcast and pleasant for the day. First we enjoyed the Mirabell Gardens before
taking The Sound of Music bus tour of the sites around town used in the movie. A four hour tour (I just wanted to tzpe that because of the repetition) that ended at the main train station, where we made the most of a 30 minute delay by sharing the pictures on our cameras and modeling the scarfs and hats Em brought along for when it turned cooler, as it had by then.

Johannes picked us up at the train station in Munich in the Frog, their cute, all green VW Golf. And then straight to dinner at 9pm at the beerhall closest to their house. I had premium 'mac and cheese', enjoyed my second beer of the trip (a wheat with lemonade that Em traded me because it was better than the radler i had ordered. So far I've had a beer, an expresso, and a latte (milchkaffe) every day. I am eating a LOT, often, frequently, whenever offered, seen or even thought of. (:

Mama and I hit the bed at midnight and slept until 9:15. What a vacation!

Germany - Day 1

Did zou know the z is in the y's place on the keyboard in Germany? This is so confusing.

Completely uneventful flight from Charlotte over night on Tuesday. Didn't sleep much. Rested a bit at Emily's flat this morning while Mama slept. Then out for ice cream near Hofbrauhaus (I got a scoop of Leechee and of Eggnog), a short driving tour of the neighborhood, shopping in a children's shop
and an early evening meal at a sidewalk cafe. Then Johannes met us at the hotel 2 blocks from their flat. Germany is playing Turkey in some soccer match on TV tonight so he and I went to Aldi and HIT groceries under the hotel to pick up dinner food. All over the city friends are gathered to watch the game, many in beer gardens outside. When Germany just scored, I ran out on to the balcony at their place to hear the cheers rise up around the city. It was COOL to hear.

First beer todaz - with lemon. Tasty. Eating and drinking anything offered. All delicious so far. FABU cafe with milk this afternoon. Having a great time!

Germany wins! Tons of fun with Dirk and Claudia.

I häve been awake two straight daze with 1 hour sleep. Whoo Hoo Whoo Hoo Hoo Hoo