Some of our oldest family friends moved to Munich when I was about 9. Although we go years between seeing each other, somehow when were all together it seems like not much has changed between us from 2002 to 2017. Grant and I had the pleasure of staying in their home outside of Munich and taking in this beautiful region with the comfort of having family just a call away.
Quick Hits:
- trains can get you anywhere in Europe it seems
- stamps are only $1 in Germany (postcard anyone?)
- tap water dosent cost anything in Munich (finally)
- Koingsee is the most beautiful place I have ever been
- i am sleeping on a king sized bed (there is no position I can sleep in where I will be off the bed)
- I realized I have seen nighttime only a handful of times in the past month…
- German pretzels remain king
Details
Some of my oldest childhood friends live in Munich. My brother and I played with Arno and Thomas from the age of two or three, and in fourth grade they moved back to Europe. They have been in Munich ever since. To stop and stay here was an obvious choice.
Tuesday Grant and I ventured out into the city and explored some museums in Munich. By far the coolest we saw was the Egypt museum. We grabbed some drinks with Arno and headed home.
Wednesday Grant and I went shopping, and I remembered how much I hate shopping. I went into a Zara and almost lost an arm. It was wild. I got some sweet postcards (shocker) and some earrings. We did the stereotypical Hoffbrau house dinner and I got my fill of german pretzel, which I will dearly miss in Denmark.
Thursday Grant and I ventured out to Koingsee. We took a bus, then a train, then a train, then another train, then a bus, and then a boat but IT WAS ALL SO WORTH IT. Because we messed up one of our connections we didn’t have much time once we got there but honestly, koingsee is the most beautiful place I have ever seen on this earth, and I will be back. To make it back home in time Grant and I had to run to our bus, and barely had time to grab some dinner before getting on the train. We got Burger King and it was awful but a very triumphant moment in our lives having seen all we did in one day.
Friday we were pooped. We hung out and Grant planned the rest of his time in Europe. After dinner we got “predrinks” (how cute is that?) with Thomas’ friends before heading to a club. I have to admit, I am incredibly proud that I, Paige Hoel, managed to stay up till 6am dancing. I never thought I could do it, I considered faking sick, I thought of ways out, but at the end of the day (or the beginning of the next day) I fought to the finish, and actually had a really amazing time. Rest assured, if I did not have such a fun group, that would not have happened.
Saturday I went to Nymphenburg Palace, and Grant and Arno met up with me to watch me get my ear pierced (so metal) We grabbed dinner and went into this cool part of the city where you’re allowed to spray art all over storage containers. We didn’t get there till it was starting to get kind of dark so we couldn’t stay long, but what we did see was so cool (unfortunate day for me to wear a dress)
And today I am on a train from Munich to Copenhagen (12 hours) so I have some time to work on my Etsy store, read, listen to albums front to back, spill my life into my diary, write some postcards. I brought a LOT of food, some people might say too much (but I’m not some people) Honestly, I think I am starting to get pretty good at train travel.
I am bummed to be leaving Germany. I forgot how much fun it is hanging out with our old gang. Although we have all arguably changed a lot, sometimes it felt like we never skipped a beat between being ten years old and now in our twenties.
It is so awesome and funny to see the transformation of such old friends over time. I remember thinking Thomas and Arno were way too into insects and constantly picking on each other, and now both of them are killing it in their respective schools and jobs. I feel very thankful to have had them in my life and to still be able to tag along as the girl of the group, constantly talking, wearing a dress and slowing everyone down.
Paige Hoel 