Munchen
Well, we did get to the Arabia museum/shop in Helsinki and it was fun using their trams. We couldn't work out how to pay on the trip out, so had a free ride! The Arabia factory was huge and incorporated a Design University of some sort on its 5th floor. The bottom floor was a shop that sold much more than Arabia things and there were other shops as well selling fabrics, pots etc. It was OK to look around in, but basically just shopping!
The museum on the 9th floor was very well laid out with examples of Arabia design of their plates etc as well as artworks of their designers. It really highlighted the relationship of art and functional design. I saw an example of the sunflower Arabia plate we have but we didn't stay too long as it was SO hot. We concluded that Helsinki is not hot for very long and so they don't have air con anywhere!
We went back into town and did some more last minute shopping and looking at design places and got the bus to the airport. The airport. What a crazy place that was! There was a queue of about 50m long of people to check in, and it was moving so slowly that I was sure we wouldn't make our flight. Eva went to go back to the queue and I went to look for other alternatives. I was amazed that Eva was actually at about the 100m mark in the queue and was not moving forward very fast! Fortuneately I found a Finnair Club queue that the lady said we could go in, so we checked in OK - otherwise I'm sure we'd still be in Helsinki. The fun of air-travel!
The 3 hour flight to Munich was as OK as flights can be, and it was great to see Hedi and Werner waving German and Australian flags to greet us. Much fun and laughter. Eva has been fantastic in her speaking and translating German - she is so good at it and so thoughtful, keeping everyone informed.
We arranged to meet Chris and Kadty at Hedi and Werner's place and had txt'ed them the directions. It was raining when we got the call from them that they were nearby but lost, so Werner and I set out to find them. It was joyous hugs from wet Chris and Kadty when we finally found each other. We all had a great time together, with everyone making a great effort to speak in Genrman and English! Werner drove them back to their hostel, and I went along to keep him company, and we managed to "talk" OK on the way home.
Next day we walked for a few hours from Hedi and Werner's place all through the Englishe Garten into the city. Werner explained how high the floods on the Isar had come, and had nearly flooded Munich City. It was a long and beautiful walk, and we had a break at the Chinesishe Turm beer garden for a beer and pretzel. Werner took us to show us many things in the city, from a cannon ball still stuck in the side of a church, fired by Austrians in some conflict. We also saw the very modern Synagogue and Jewish centre being built, which is a lot of glass and does not look like a synagogue to me, but it is not finished yet. We bought some fish and veggies for me to cook slamon for dinner for us all in the evening, and then we went to visit Max and Traudl (Inge's brother) and had a really nice afternoon tea at their place. Max is not well, but talked and joked with us, and even got up to wave to us from the balcony when we left. It was so good to see them. I think the best part of holidays is meeting with people!
Dinner was great fun cooking in Hedi's kitchen, she was very generous in allowing me to, and we ate and drank a lot! I was very tired by the end of the day, but we watched some soccer and went to bed quite late (again). We saw Australia play Brasil, and although we lost 2-0, we played really well.
Next day (Friday) was shopping day for Eva, and I walked about and bought some things as well as updating my diary. We met Chris at his hostel near Hauptbahnhof and went to the markets behind Marienplatz for lunch. I had sausages and sauerkraut (have to have that at least once in Munchen!) and we chatted with people at our table about football and life. It was crowded, noisy and fun!
After that, Eva went shopping, Chris went off to look for friends and I stayed behind to write up my diary. I had another beer and pretzel to help my creative juices, and was treated to a Bavarian band and whip cracking display. It was a lot of fun, but after writing several pages the beer was taking its toll and I became drowsy! So, what else could I do, but go and have coffee and cake! Ah, what a life.....:-)
Met up with Eva and we headed back to Fritz Meyer Weg to Hedi and Werner's house for dinner, soccer and bed.
On Saturday we were invited to a weisswurst party at the neighbours place, and there we met a number of the neighbours, who were really very nice. Some spoke English and it was really a lot of fun. Of course much talk was about the Germany vs Sweden game at 5pm. We went for a walk to the Englishe Garten at around 4pm and we saw many people sunbaking (it was hot hot hot) and some paddling. We paddled for a bit, and then, as there were some nude people about, I stripped off and went for a quick dip. The water was fast moving and quite cold, but very refreshing.
We passed a beer garden at about 5:10 and the huge roar told us that Germany had scored a goal. We watched the remainder of the match at Hedi and Werner's place and then went for a walk to the local shops to buy some washing liquid and have an ice-cream.
On the way back there were so many poeple ya-hoo'ing and tooting horns, waving huge German flags and laughing, chanting, singing. Its so good to see sport have such positive effects!
We watched the Mexico-Argentina game (which I thought was much better) but I was hoping that Mexico would win, just 'cos Ben was there!
Another late night. Although I am so tired at the end of each day, I am happy that I am trying to get so much out of each day.
So, our last full day in Munich - hard to believe time goes so fast. The day started out really well, with emails from a number of people, including Miri, Eve, Leah and Ben - so I answered them and then it was time for brunch. Hedi had organised for Monika, Jurgen, Christianne, Peter, Nina to come over for brunch. It was so good to be together, eating a breakfest feast! We ate, drank and chatted till about 4:30pm when Jurgen and Monika cycled home in the 32 degree heat. Peter didn't come as he had hurt his back, and I hope he gets better soon. We'll see him next time.
Although we were a little tired, we decided to go and see the Allianz Arena in Munich as Eva had seen a show about it and we had seen a number of soccer games played there. I write this just before we leave. I may or may not get to update this post before we leave Munchen for New York at 5pm Monday Local time. If not then more form the US of A!!
The museum on the 9th floor was very well laid out with examples of Arabia design of their plates etc as well as artworks of their designers. It really highlighted the relationship of art and functional design. I saw an example of the sunflower Arabia plate we have but we didn't stay too long as it was SO hot. We concluded that Helsinki is not hot for very long and so they don't have air con anywhere!
We went back into town and did some more last minute shopping and looking at design places and got the bus to the airport. The airport. What a crazy place that was! There was a queue of about 50m long of people to check in, and it was moving so slowly that I was sure we wouldn't make our flight. Eva went to go back to the queue and I went to look for other alternatives. I was amazed that Eva was actually at about the 100m mark in the queue and was not moving forward very fast! Fortuneately I found a Finnair Club queue that the lady said we could go in, so we checked in OK - otherwise I'm sure we'd still be in Helsinki. The fun of air-travel!
The 3 hour flight to Munich was as OK as flights can be, and it was great to see Hedi and Werner waving German and Australian flags to greet us. Much fun and laughter. Eva has been fantastic in her speaking and translating German - she is so good at it and so thoughtful, keeping everyone informed.
We arranged to meet Chris and Kadty at Hedi and Werner's place and had txt'ed them the directions. It was raining when we got the call from them that they were nearby but lost, so Werner and I set out to find them. It was joyous hugs from wet Chris and Kadty when we finally found each other. We all had a great time together, with everyone making a great effort to speak in Genrman and English! Werner drove them back to their hostel, and I went along to keep him company, and we managed to "talk" OK on the way home.
Next day we walked for a few hours from Hedi and Werner's place all through the Englishe Garten into the city. Werner explained how high the floods on the Isar had come, and had nearly flooded Munich City. It was a long and beautiful walk, and we had a break at the Chinesishe Turm beer garden for a beer and pretzel. Werner took us to show us many things in the city, from a cannon ball still stuck in the side of a church, fired by Austrians in some conflict. We also saw the very modern Synagogue and Jewish centre being built, which is a lot of glass and does not look like a synagogue to me, but it is not finished yet. We bought some fish and veggies for me to cook slamon for dinner for us all in the evening, and then we went to visit Max and Traudl (Inge's brother) and had a really nice afternoon tea at their place. Max is not well, but talked and joked with us, and even got up to wave to us from the balcony when we left. It was so good to see them. I think the best part of holidays is meeting with people!
Dinner was great fun cooking in Hedi's kitchen, she was very generous in allowing me to, and we ate and drank a lot! I was very tired by the end of the day, but we watched some soccer and went to bed quite late (again). We saw Australia play Brasil, and although we lost 2-0, we played really well.
Next day (Friday) was shopping day for Eva, and I walked about and bought some things as well as updating my diary. We met Chris at his hostel near Hauptbahnhof and went to the markets behind Marienplatz for lunch. I had sausages and sauerkraut (have to have that at least once in Munchen!) and we chatted with people at our table about football and life. It was crowded, noisy and fun!
After that, Eva went shopping, Chris went off to look for friends and I stayed behind to write up my diary. I had another beer and pretzel to help my creative juices, and was treated to a Bavarian band and whip cracking display. It was a lot of fun, but after writing several pages the beer was taking its toll and I became drowsy! So, what else could I do, but go and have coffee and cake! Ah, what a life.....:-)
Met up with Eva and we headed back to Fritz Meyer Weg to Hedi and Werner's house for dinner, soccer and bed.
On Saturday we were invited to a weisswurst party at the neighbours place, and there we met a number of the neighbours, who were really very nice. Some spoke English and it was really a lot of fun. Of course much talk was about the Germany vs Sweden game at 5pm. We went for a walk to the Englishe Garten at around 4pm and we saw many people sunbaking (it was hot hot hot) and some paddling. We paddled for a bit, and then, as there were some nude people about, I stripped off and went for a quick dip. The water was fast moving and quite cold, but very refreshing.
We passed a beer garden at about 5:10 and the huge roar told us that Germany had scored a goal. We watched the remainder of the match at Hedi and Werner's place and then went for a walk to the local shops to buy some washing liquid and have an ice-cream.
On the way back there were so many poeple ya-hoo'ing and tooting horns, waving huge German flags and laughing, chanting, singing. Its so good to see sport have such positive effects!
We watched the Mexico-Argentina game (which I thought was much better) but I was hoping that Mexico would win, just 'cos Ben was there!
Another late night. Although I am so tired at the end of each day, I am happy that I am trying to get so much out of each day.
So, our last full day in Munich - hard to believe time goes so fast. The day started out really well, with emails from a number of people, including Miri, Eve, Leah and Ben - so I answered them and then it was time for brunch. Hedi had organised for Monika, Jurgen, Christianne, Peter, Nina to come over for brunch. It was so good to be together, eating a breakfest feast! We ate, drank and chatted till about 4:30pm when Jurgen and Monika cycled home in the 32 degree heat. Peter didn't come as he had hurt his back, and I hope he gets better soon. We'll see him next time.
Although we were a little tired, we decided to go and see the Allianz Arena in Munich as Eva had seen a show about it and we had seen a number of soccer games played there. I write this just before we leave. I may or may not get to update this post before we leave Munchen for New York at 5pm Monday Local time. If not then more form the US of A!!
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