Munich March 17th

As the train stopped at Munich's Hauptbahnhof, I couldn't get off soon enough. The previous night was the most uncomfortable sleep I've had in a long time. Pinned in one position, no room to toss and turn or stretch. Only slightly more room than an airplane. Didn't they know that people would try to sleep on this journey? I learned a lesson from this night, book overnight train travel accommodations early to get the type what you want.

I had some time to kill, so I stored my bag and did some geocaching. There were two right outside of the train station - I found one. The other was too obscure to understand what I was looking for. It was a cool and sunny day outside and after the short hunt, I went back in to set up my hotel, seat reservations for a Salzburg day trip and sleeping arrangements for the Lisbon to Madrid and Madrid to Paris train rides.

Typical German efficiency. I don't think it took 45 minutes to do all this. The hotel was tucked away a few blocks away and it was only 11am. I grabbed cash from a bank machine - I needed to start buying stuff in Germany, right away. I ate a bratwurst from the 'original bratwurst stand' and then had another, with a bavarian ale at the stand up counter behind the original. Both tasted great. I went to the hotel, to see if they could let me in my room now.

The room they gave me was small - I mean tiny. It did have a small balcony, but really - too small. I went back down and the sweetheart behind the counter knew what was on my mind. She asked, before I could say one word, "Is it too small?" "Yes" I replied. She asked me to wait one moment and disappeared into the breakfast room. A minute later she returned with a woman about my age and two other Rosy cheeked 20 something women.

After a short discussion, the older woman barked something at the first girl and the three younger ones giggled and looked at me. The woman said that she was the owner and that this weekend they were having a crafts fair at the hotel. "A very busy weekend." She said in near perfect english that since I had booked three nights, she was moving me to a more spacious room for my stay. I asked what was so funny. One of the younger women giggled again. The owner said that she had joked that one of the girls could stay with me to make better use of the big room. Something got lost in the translation. Nonetheless, all four watched me make my way back on the elevator, with big bright smiles.

The new room was much bigger and it had a huge terrace to relax on - if it wasn't winter. I unpacked and as I went through my stuff, I realized that I left a pair of pants in Amsterdam. Back downstairs I went. Just the original woman was there. She smiled at me as I approached the desk. "Is something wrong with the room?" I said, "Yes, its still too small." She looked shocked. I smiled and laughed and told her I was joking. I said that I needed to make a phone call to Amsterdam and needed to know what I have to dial make this call.

She was helpful and I was once again on my way back up the elevator. She watched me depart, smiling the whole time. I made my call to the Tulip Inn and they said they would look and if found they would hold my pants for my return at the end of the month. I knew I left them hanging in the closet.

I just remembered (as I write this) that I saw something weird in the streets of Amsterdam. While resting on the damrak, another large man passed me with a rolling bag. He was tall and wide with blond hair. He glanced at me and I saw his face. He looked like John Candy. I don't mean sort of or similar. It was him, or his doppelganger, or maybe a clone, possibly it was his son. I just looked it up and he does have a son. If it was his son, he looks just like John.

Anyway - back to Munich

I laid down to get a little real sleep before exploring the city. A knock at the door woke me around 5pm. It was the young woman from the front desk. She was holding my baseball cap. It was found in the small room as someone else got squeezed in.

We talked briefly and she showed me how the windows and door to terrace worked. They open regularly and you can open just the top, lean it in, for ventilation. I explained that the train ride had been terrible and this nap had helped a lot. After a few awkward moments, of me staring at her rosy cheeks, flowing brown hair and full lips, she excused herself. I wondered if the girls were hired for more than hotel help, if you know what I mean.

I took a shower, got dressed and headed out. One of the maps I brought along was a beer hall map. I got it from:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/munipubs.htm



The white 'H' is where my hotel was and as you can see #4 was the closest. Spaten Hof. Once again, I was surprised how easy it was to span the differences in languages. You would be amazed how easy it is to order a beer in Germany.

Since I've been to a great German restaurant in Springfield, the Student Prince, many times, I was a little familiar with the menu. Jaeger Schnitzel with a few large beers and I felt welcome in Munich. In fact I felt warm all over. Although they didn't advertise it, they had Spaten Optimator on tap, which I enjoyed as a desert.

I headed back out to the crisp air and a light snow was falling. I wandered into the old city and walked around admiring the shops and listening for fellow American tourists. This was one of those times I wish I had a girlfriend / wife to enjoy this moment together. I eventually made my way back to the hotel and stopped along the way at a snack store and for my third Donor KeBAP of my trip. That makes teh count three/

On my way in the hotel, yet another group of three gorgeous 20 something women, working the front desk. As I closed the elevator door I thought, "Where were all the craft show people?" I see lots of staff working but shouldn't I hear voices at some point?




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