What a wonderful treat it was to spend the past weekend back in Munich, and to get to have a European rendezvous with my parents! When they found out back in April that they got invited to a convention through my dad's work in Germany, I immediately booked my travel to join them. A great perk of being in London is that I can hop on a flight Friday after work and find myself in Germany an hour and twenty minutes later. Any chance I get to see my parents, and to eat a brezen - I take it!
I was in Munich earlier this year with my sister-frau, Amanda. We had a blast paling around Bavaria on a budget with our braids - and I left absolutely loving Germany and feeling sad that I may never make it back to Bavaria! Well it's funny how things work out.
What made my second trip here extra exciting was that I was catching on the tail end of this convention my parents were attending. So I got to move into their 5 star hotel, and happened to be just in time for the final night's "goodbye" private party at BMW world. After spending the day biking around the city and enjoying the 80 degree sunshine, we got to get all dressed up and go to a fun soiree!
After a private tour of the BMW Museum we were escorted next door to BMW World, where the drinking, dining, and dancing began. It was all extremely cool - vintage BMWs everywhere, clips of old bond films playing, everything very sleek and chic, and stunt men riding motorcycles up and down the enormous, steep staircases in the venue. And of course - more food and drinks than one could ever dream of consuming in one nights' time.
With an Aperol in hand, I was visibly the youngest person in the crowd of 800 people by 30 years, and everyone seemed to know who I was.
"Oh - you must be the daughter from London! We heard you were coming," a complete stranger would say to me!
"Yeah, that's me - I'd reply," embracing them because they were also from the midwest, and that's what we do. After learning about their kids, and pets, and hometown for a bit, we'd hit the bar and the dance floor.
I admit I find it slightly concerning that I have more fun partying with people 30 years my senior than people within my own age bracket - but it's true.
Take me to a club in central london with pounding techno music and drunken 20-somethings and after about an hour I'm ready to go. But give me dance floor with a live band singing Earth, Wind, and Fire and drunken 50-somethings, and you're gonna to have drag me out of there - kicking and screaming.
My dad used to quiz me on oldies music on the way to church Sunday morning. We had about a 20 minute drive across town, which included a stop at Mary Ann's for coffee and chocolate frosted cake donuts. As each song came on, my dad would start to drum along to the beat on his steering wheel and say,
"I'll give ya five dollars if you can tell me who sings this song."
Now I was no dummy as a kid. Five dollars could buy me 5 vanilla cones at Dairy Queen, or some assorted Wet n' Wild Nailpolishes at Rite Aid, or maybe even that giant Troll at the neighbor's garage sale that I'd been eyeing....
I learned what I needed to do excel at this game quickly.
So it's due to those Sunday morning church rides with my dad that I came to learn an extensive knowledge of, and develop a love for the golden oldies.
The dancing - that I inherited from Moe.
Just put on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," and watch us go.
Moe was actually out-dancing everyone, including me. People kept coming up to me and saying "your mom can really twirl!"
Yes, yes she can.
Moe kept saying she was going to pass out and needed a rest, but then a good song would come on and she'd keep twirling with me. I think it's important to note that this was not drunken dancing from the Kloots' - and not barefoot dancing either. It's our own little rule: we stay in our heels - no matter how much it hurts, and no matter how high they are. And they are always high.
We had a couple drinks each, but ate enough dessert to cancel it out, so we were far from drunk. I can't say the same for anyone else there though...
The crowd was shockingly rowdy - getting progressively drunker and funnier until a noticed a woman dancing to "Lola the Showgirl" in a way that no one ever should ever be dancing in a public place. Somewhere between "September" and "Stand By Me" I went to take a breather and realized it was past midnight! Mind you, we arrived at 6pm. Holy bavarian cream!! At least I burned off a brezen or two!
The bus home was hilarious - the driver had to ask if everyone could please quite down a bit, there was a group in the back singing "Edelweiss," and a woman had to evacuate right before we took off because she realized her husband wasn't on the bus.
Back in our suite, we all passed out when our heads hit our pillows.
When my mom woke up the next morning, she opened her eyes in bed and said,
"I'm paralyzed."
Like a knight in shining armor - Freddy came to the rescue with a croissants, coffee, and fresh fruit - all delivered bedside!
You see why my parents are my favorite people to hang out with?
We found another gorgeous, clear blue-sky day waiting outside, so we picked up some bikes and hit the paths for a day of exploration. I had my map in one hand as I biked and kept pulling over to consult it as I was trying to navigate us towards the river-side path.
I've found throughout my travels in Europe that all I have to do is pull out a map and instantly some friendly local is at my side offering help. So I was not surprised at all as I pulled over to find a friendly, white-haired German man by my side on his bike asking me in German what I could only assume was "where are you trying to go?"
He spoke no English - at all. But I pointed to where I thought we were, and were we wanted to end up - and after surveying my map, my parents, and myself the nice German herre let out a series of little laughs and strange words that could have been in German or could have been in his own, made up Elf-ish language by the sound of it, hopped on his bicycle and gestured, follow me!
And so that's how Freddy, Moe, and I ended up biking through Munich with an adorable, old German man for 20 minutes - all of us laughing for the duration of the ride to the river. The only way it could have been better was if he'd been wearing Lederhosen.
We biked all day! From the river into the English Garten, stopping for a delicious lunch at the Seehaus, past the meadow of sunbathing nudes - which to my surprise Moe found extremely interesting, into the Schwabing, and eventually down by the University to Ballabeni, Munich's best ice cream shop - which was beyond worth waiting in the enormous line on the strasse for.
After more biking and biergartening, we ended up in the Marienplatz at the Ratskeller for a final German feast: veal sausage, spaetzle and cheese, german potato pancakes with applesauce, and of course - biere and brezen. We ended the night on the rooftop bar of the our hotel, enjoying the stunning view of the city lit up before us.
Our wonderful weekend in Bavaria confirmed that Munich is on my shortlist for top cities in Europe! It has such a unique vibe, it's so easy to get around and well laid out, it's full of gorgeous architecture, it's got the enormous Englischen Garten, there are so many fabulous things nearby for fun daytrips, and German cuisine - aside from pork knuckle - is so different and delicious. I know I'll be back again, because I must experience Oktoberfest.
But I must say Auf Wiedersehen for now and start practicing my French, because this Friday I leave for Belgium! So I will trade pretzels for waffles and Hofbrau brew for Lambic, and likely consume unthinkable amounts of chocolate and pommes frites.
And though I'll be there alone - I know all I need to do to make a fun, Flemish friend is pull out my map and look a bit lost.
I was in Munich earlier this year with my sister-frau, Amanda. We had a blast paling around Bavaria on a budget with our braids - and I left absolutely loving Germany and feeling sad that I may never make it back to Bavaria! Well it's funny how things work out.
What made my second trip here extra exciting was that I was catching on the tail end of this convention my parents were attending. So I got to move into their 5 star hotel, and happened to be just in time for the final night's "goodbye" private party at BMW world. After spending the day biking around the city and enjoying the 80 degree sunshine, we got to get all dressed up and go to a fun soiree!
After a private tour of the BMW Museum we were escorted next door to BMW World, where the drinking, dining, and dancing began. It was all extremely cool - vintage BMWs everywhere, clips of old bond films playing, everything very sleek and chic, and stunt men riding motorcycles up and down the enormous, steep staircases in the venue. And of course - more food and drinks than one could ever dream of consuming in one nights' time.
 |
| BMW Museum, Munich |
 |
| 1955 Istetta! |
 |
| Drinking what the locals drink - when they're not drinking beer. |
With an Aperol in hand, I was visibly the youngest person in the crowd of 800 people by 30 years, and everyone seemed to know who I was.
"Oh - you must be the daughter from London! We heard you were coming," a complete stranger would say to me!
"Yeah, that's me - I'd reply," embracing them because they were also from the midwest, and that's what we do. After learning about their kids, and pets, and hometown for a bit, we'd hit the bar and the dance floor.
I admit I find it slightly concerning that I have more fun partying with people 30 years my senior than people within my own age bracket - but it's true.
Take me to a club in central london with pounding techno music and drunken 20-somethings and after about an hour I'm ready to go. But give me dance floor with a live band singing Earth, Wind, and Fire and drunken 50-somethings, and you're gonna to have drag me out of there - kicking and screaming.
My dad used to quiz me on oldies music on the way to church Sunday morning. We had about a 20 minute drive across town, which included a stop at Mary Ann's for coffee and chocolate frosted cake donuts. As each song came on, my dad would start to drum along to the beat on his steering wheel and say,
"I'll give ya five dollars if you can tell me who sings this song."
Now I was no dummy as a kid. Five dollars could buy me 5 vanilla cones at Dairy Queen, or some assorted Wet n' Wild Nailpolishes at Rite Aid, or maybe even that giant Troll at the neighbor's garage sale that I'd been eyeing....
I learned what I needed to do excel at this game quickly.
So it's due to those Sunday morning church rides with my dad that I came to learn an extensive knowledge of, and develop a love for the golden oldies.
The dancing - that I inherited from Moe.
Just put on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," and watch us go.
Moe was actually out-dancing everyone, including me. People kept coming up to me and saying "your mom can really twirl!"
Yes, yes she can.
Moe kept saying she was going to pass out and needed a rest, but then a good song would come on and she'd keep twirling with me. I think it's important to note that this was not drunken dancing from the Kloots' - and not barefoot dancing either. It's our own little rule: we stay in our heels - no matter how much it hurts, and no matter how high they are. And they are always high.
We had a couple drinks each, but ate enough dessert to cancel it out, so we were far from drunk. I can't say the same for anyone else there though...
The crowd was shockingly rowdy - getting progressively drunker and funnier until a noticed a woman dancing to "Lola the Showgirl" in a way that no one ever should ever be dancing in a public place. Somewhere between "September" and "Stand By Me" I went to take a breather and realized it was past midnight! Mind you, we arrived at 6pm. Holy bavarian cream!! At least I burned off a brezen or two!
The bus home was hilarious - the driver had to ask if everyone could please quite down a bit, there was a group in the back singing "Edelweiss," and a woman had to evacuate right before we took off because she realized her husband wasn't on the bus.
Back in our suite, we all passed out when our heads hit our pillows.
When my mom woke up the next morning, she opened her eyes in bed and said,
"I'm paralyzed."
Like a knight in shining armor - Freddy came to the rescue with a croissants, coffee, and fresh fruit - all delivered bedside!
You see why my parents are my favorite people to hang out with?
We found another gorgeous, clear blue-sky day waiting outside, so we picked up some bikes and hit the paths for a day of exploration. I had my map in one hand as I biked and kept pulling over to consult it as I was trying to navigate us towards the river-side path.
I've found throughout my travels in Europe that all I have to do is pull out a map and instantly some friendly local is at my side offering help. So I was not surprised at all as I pulled over to find a friendly, white-haired German man by my side on his bike asking me in German what I could only assume was "where are you trying to go?"
He spoke no English - at all. But I pointed to where I thought we were, and were we wanted to end up - and after surveying my map, my parents, and myself the nice German herre let out a series of little laughs and strange words that could have been in German or could have been in his own, made up Elf-ish language by the sound of it, hopped on his bicycle and gestured, follow me!
And so that's how Freddy, Moe, and I ended up biking through Munich with an adorable, old German man for 20 minutes - all of us laughing for the duration of the ride to the river. The only way it could have been better was if he'd been wearing Lederhosen.
We biked all day! From the river into the English Garten, stopping for a delicious lunch at the Seehaus, past the meadow of sunbathing nudes - which to my surprise Moe found extremely interesting, into the Schwabing, and eventually down by the University to Ballabeni, Munich's best ice cream shop - which was beyond worth waiting in the enormous line on the strasse for.
 |
| Dessert at the Seehaus! |
 |
| Frau Moe |
After more biking and biergartening, we ended up in the Marienplatz at the Ratskeller for a final German feast: veal sausage, spaetzle and cheese, german potato pancakes with applesauce, and of course - biere and brezen. We ended the night on the rooftop bar of the our hotel, enjoying the stunning view of the city lit up before us.
Our wonderful weekend in Bavaria confirmed that Munich is on my shortlist for top cities in Europe! It has such a unique vibe, it's so easy to get around and well laid out, it's full of gorgeous architecture, it's got the enormous Englischen Garten, there are so many fabulous things nearby for fun daytrips, and German cuisine - aside from pork knuckle - is so different and delicious. I know I'll be back again, because I must experience Oktoberfest.
But I must say Auf Wiedersehen for now and start practicing my French, because this Friday I leave for Belgium! So I will trade pretzels for waffles and Hofbrau brew for Lambic, and likely consume unthinkable amounts of chocolate and pommes frites.
And though I'll be there alone - I know all I need to do to make a fun, Flemish friend is pull out my map and look a bit lost.
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