Random Bits and Pieces from Munich

Hello from the land of yummy pastries, oversized pretzels and bike riders. Oh, I can't forget the beers. These Bavarians love their beers. They enjoy a quality drink as a way of life and as a social formality. The bakeries here also sell wonderful pastries, made from the freshest ingredients. Apparently, there is a law here which forbids the use of preservatives in food/drink. I like it!! And, back to the bike riders. Everywhere you go, you see men and women in suits, high heels, casual clothes, biking gear and everything inbetween riding their bikes. They ride without a care in the world, and the car driver's don't honk at the throngs of people on the road.

The potatoe picture, featured above, is one of the pictures used as a public sex education prograom in Germany. I am not sure the exact translation, but it says "Don't give AIDS a chance" and uses humour as a way of grabbing people's attention. Well, it certainly grabbed mine and I'm sure that most of you did a double take when you looked at that picture. Now, don't get offended now... AIDS is a serios problem and whispering about the problem behind closed doors or at lady's teas is not going to get the job done. People here don't have the same hang-up's about one's body. Ie: Public breastfeeding is commonplace, women sunbathe topless on the beaches, EVERYONE wears a bikini (regardless of whether they should be wearing one or not). I appreciate being straightforward and educating teenagers especially, because the naivite at that age could affect the rest of thier lives.

We brought a picnic to another Beer Garden (featured in the nice picnic basket on Erin's bike). We brought too many sandwhiches and tried to give some away to the people around us, but everyone was suspicious about our motives and thought we'd put something funny in there. They all politely declined our offer, but looked at each other with a bit of surprise at our attempts to be considerate. We met up with George there, a fantastic Greek fellow that seemed to like Stewart and I for whatever reason. He was great fun and we look forward to meeting up with him again!

The last picture shows Stewart foiling the BikeMeister (who continues to move the bikes around to his satisfaction and others displeasure)

Well, adios amigos!
Amanda & Stewart

Pictures from Erin's Story of our Round-a-Bout Route to Andechs

Just a couple notes to go with these pictures:

1. We rode about 50 km today. And we managed to keep up with Erin even though I have two gears and Stew only has one on his bike.

2. We navigated through hikingg designated trails on our bikes and even had the locals tell us we shouldn't be riding such old bikes on the trails -- coming from such hearty Bavarian folk I took what they said as a compliment

3. Beer Halls are not just for drinking -- they are places to sit for hours over a nic meal, and of course a beer, that has been mastered by specific breweries for centuries

4. Erin reads and speaks German like a pro -- she got us out of many jams on our way to Andechs as we were lost for parts of it and if it was left up to me I'd be wailing on a corner somewhere rather than speak German -- I loved the Italian and French languages, but I can't quite get my head around German.

5. We can't get money out of the ATM machines and we are streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetching what we've got and thinking about my mother and father who said we should consider some Travellor's Cheques as a back-up.

6. I will not be outdone by The BikeMeister -- the foiling continues

7. Bavarians like to eat meat -- a lot of it. Some of the women look like Claudia Schiffler, and eat all this hearty Bavarian food (???????) and some of them look like Rosie O'Donnell and eat all of this Bavarian food. All of the men look the same, except some of them still wear those snazzy little traditional leather shorts with suspenders

8. Germans make me look very relaxed and not particular about anything

9. Every second car here is a BMW, Porche, Mercedes or some other sports car that makes a lot of noise.

10. The bike system here is amazing -- you can go anywhere by bike safely. Just don't stop in the bike lane when there's a green light for your direction because people get upset and say rude things to you in German. That's the one time I have the bell rung at me. :)

Biking Around Munich & a Beer Garden at Chinese Tower

Hello -- Stewart and I have been using the bikes Erin found for us. She went to a great deal of trouble finding these bikes and for this, we are greatly appreciative. Mine is hot pink, and it has a little bell I like to ding all the time to irritate the Germans. Most of them don't care about the annoying foreigner, but you get your odd one that is rather uptight (Munich has a reputation for people being rather strict with the rules, formal and slightly snobby at times, or so I'm told by other Germans who DON'T live in Munich). There is apparently a BikeMeister (bike master) in the building, and he likes to reorganize the bikes if they are not put back perfectly into the racks. I have delighted in this and have managed to foil the BikeMeister's attempts to move my bike around (I found it tossed to the side two times last week) by locking it up in such a way as he can't move it. Stewart's mike requires a great deal of effort to turn those wheels, and he works hard to get from A to B. But not a complaint out of my Stewart. He's as brave as they get and he has ridden that bike like it has 18 gears, even though in reality he's working off of one.

We rode our bikes in the evening to the Chinese Tower Beer Hall. It's actually outside, and it holds approximately 5000 people. Once again, remarkable Eruope! The concept of that many people having beer(s) in Vancouver would mean the riot police would be standing by. Here in Germany, it's just a good night out. Some people bring their own blue checkered table cloths and a picnic, and then purchase abnormally large beers and drink them in quick succession. For 8 Euros, you can buy about 2 litres of beer in one giant mug. The mug alone weighs more than my arm weights at home and I enjoyed having one of these. The food is also nothing to put your nose up at -- here you can have all the fried potatoes, sausages, ribs, salads, fish, and beer you want without being asked any questions. Oh, and the chicken! This was my fave -- when you order a roast chicken, you don't just get a slice. You get half a chicken on your plate along with a whack of potatoes. Now that definitely beats out my Sunday dinner. We rode our bikes home through a pitch black park (our bikes have lights) and laughed hysterically all the way because... well I guess we all were having WAYYYY TO MUCH FUN! Well, love to you all, and thanks for all the responses on the blog -- we'll keep the information coming and the humour along with it!!! Love Amanda, Erin and Stewart :)

Guest Writer -- The One and ONLY Dr. Erin Drew, Live from Munich

All of the above pictures are from our Saturday at Neuschwanstein Castle near Fussen, Germany. Erin is writing about Sunday, our bike trip to Andechs brewery, monostary and beer garden! :)

Wow--me??? What you want me on your blog? After falling over from the shock of being asked, I had to start thinking--what would--should I write. And in the midst of my thinking, I confidently followed the wrong direction home and ended up realizing we were going the wrong way on the wrong side of the tracks. And then Amanda fell over on the bike and ended up on the ground...we needed to get home but I had never been in this area of town...it was getting dark and it had been a long day...

We rode and rode our bikes. Old bikes and all, stopping periodically to pump air in our leaking tires, we managed to travel through biking trails, down roads and strenuously walked ourselves and our bikes up the bumpy hiking path to the old monastary. That's right foks, those German monks were fasting, but beer didnt count as food, so they were able to work on their brew to the perfection it is now. But despite it all we had great views, great food, good times, but most importantly (as the Bavarians say) great beer!

The forecast was thunder and lightening for the whole afternoon and evening--but that wasnt going to stop us. We had a plan, a map book and and picnic packed. So we donned our raincoats and headed out for better or for worse. We headed down to the S-bahn train and travelled to the small village Weissling, just outside of Munich (no Stewart, not "weebling"--its "viessling"). We headed for Amersee, which is one of the biggest lakes nearby. On the way we passed lots of big houses and great lake views, the wind blew, but the rains stayed away. We took a round about route to get to the monastary at the top of a hill which is called Andechs. Stewart made some friends along the way by saying "Ich bin Kanada", which literally translates into "I am Canada" while extending a friendly hand to these surprised and taken aback normally reserved Germans. But, in Stewarts great way, despite the greeting diferences, had a way with the locals and ended charming them over.

We met up with some of my friends who were surprised to find Amanda and Stewart with their old bikes at the top of the mountain. I think It was actually utter disbelief that they had made it. Stewart made a comment that after this the bikes are going to geriatric ward. It was going to be their best last effort.

Yesterday we made another journey up to Neuschwanstein. It was a realized fantasy of the mad Bavarian King Ludwig II. As beautiful as it was it was hard to not feel like herded cattle going into locked gates at certain times for a certain language tour. And then fighting through the tonnes of Asian and American tourists who were frantically taking the pictures of themselves with the castle in the background to show their friends and families at home. It was amazing but also quite tacky despite the stunning scenery and the extravagance of the finished rooms. We met a Korean girl at the bus stop who came along with us in a taxi to get from the train station to the castle, who Amanda loved talking to about her experience there. And the taxi driver was a very Americanized, very funny German who made killer cash driving mainly Japanese tourists up and down the hill to the castle. It made me and Amanda wonder if we went into the right line of work.

So it has been a very full tiering but exhilirating weekend. I have loved having Amanda and Stewart here for so long. They are wonderful friends and I will think findly of our getting lost, the old bikes and the great food we enjoyed together.

Guest

Munich Days 2,3,4 Entries by Stewart & Amanda

Hold on tight folks here we go again. Beers, Brauts and Blow me up with a Knauk wurst Dr. Jones. The land of the 1 litre beer jug can only bring smiles to wayward nerds, corporate dweebs and awfully tired frugal travellers. like us...but i digress. Enjoying the timelessness of travelling can bring true joy to even the most seasoned oddball. So what does that say about wasting camera memory space on random self shots or the price of yak milk in north Van? Surprisingly little. Furthermore: these little German grocery marts(of which me er...or we have thouroughly enjoyed...including my editor and partner) have brought us nothing but good times! The quality and flavour of the goods has been amazing! Amanda(the editor & Chief) & i have relied on deli style menus...without losing our nerve or the winners share of the purse! Austia and Germany deliver the goods...while still maintaining their traditions. Give me some mo'!!

Peace and Blessings from Munich all you Bionic Cone heads!!


So, it's me now. Amanda and blog owner. Now to the details. We are so happy to visit with Erin. She has a fantastic place -- she's decorated it nicely and she has everything she needs to make it "hers". She knows all the cool spots to go for a beer and she also knows how to get the ever evasive waiter over to our table. German service redifines customer dissatisfaction. You actually have to wave, grab, stretch your hand out aggressively or raise your voice to even have them look your way. She has managed to get their attention within 5 minutes which is amazing in a Beer Garden.

The first day here we just relaxed. We walked to downtown Munich, about 14 km there and back. We looked for some shorts, but at this time in the season, a little difficult to find something both fashionable and practical. However, the search will go on. We are determined to find something to ease the heat and the heat rash. I've never seen heat rash before and apparently it's from too much heat not escaping. I'm not sure how the heat can't escape through my $70 MEC pants that I bought specifically for this trip but no matter. C'est la vie. We have seen a lot of Turkish women in full religious regalia, all but their eyes covered up. After having heat rash myself, I wonder if being covered up by robes like that would give them heat rash too? Just a curious question...

The next day we went to Olympic Park, near Erin's place. Stewart really really loved it. The architecture there was revolutionary for the 1972 Olympics. It's like being in a roofed stadium except you can see the sky because it's made of some kind of see-through material.

Today we rode our bides 14 km to Dachou (city near Municy), and 14 km back. We once again were a little wayward in finding Dachou, but we did it in the end. We saw the Concentration Camp Memorial there and it was rather profound and exceptionally disturbing. One can know all about the Holocaust, but to be there where so many people suffered and lost their lives is sobering. As once teacher at my school said, the problems we have with students, parents, or whatever, is just "a fart in a windstorm." Dachou reminded you of this general principle, but made you appreciate how small our problems really are. Legs? Check! Health? Check! Job? Check! Great family and friends? Check! Great city/country? Check. Freedom of speech? Check... Not getting your favorite pair of shoes because they ran out of your size shouldn't count as a problem. Well, "Good night, and good luck"

A & S

Innsbruck to Munich

We hiked around Innsbruck for our third day -- we made it to Patcherkoefel, the top of the mountain in about 5 hours. It was 1300 metres. I mean 1300 feet I think. Anyhow, it was really really high even if I don't have the correct metric measure. Straight up. The whole way. We were a little misguided in parts because when the various trails intersected there were never any signs. We did come across a sign saying ENTRY FORBIDDEN in German!! and knew we needed to recover our blunder. Apparently they take private property quite seriously here, as the happiness of the cows are essential to farms producing top class milk, and foreigners disturbing the cows decreases the quality and quantity of the milk. I think looking at Stewart and I in action would be enough to make any poor little cow stressed out. We have been kind to these creatures, especially because we like their milk and the chocolate that is a result of the milk. Actually, in Austria, we found a chocolate bar named MILKEE MUMM. You do the inferences there folks, but whoever came up with that one must have not done a literal translation for the Western world. I wonder why MILKEE MUMM hasn't made its way to shelves in Canada? We also went to Old Town in downtown Innsbruck. Stewart had a great sausage and some fried potatoes. We also had the best deal on ice-cream in all of Europe -- 2 scoops for 2 euros. It has been full of great people and great times. On our last night at the Hotel, we went down to the sauna room but you needed keys for everything to start it, and as it was 11:30 at night we didn't want to go upstairs and ask for the keys. Instead we filled up a tiled bathtub in the sauna area filled with cobwebs, dead spiders and moths. I made Stewart clean it out before we got into the tub but Stewart only wanted to fill up the tub halfway because he felt filling it up fuller was a waste of water. So I relented, and had a soak in half a tub full of lukewarm water.

The next day we went to Munich on the train, and we met ERIN DREW!!!!!! She brought us to her house and it has been wonderful seeing her. She is forging her own path here in Germany -- she speaks German like a local, rides a bike like a true European, skirts and all, and she also drinks wine like a local. We are so grateful for her hospitality, and as a lifelong friend, it's an honour to be here. Erin made us Thai Curry and it's the first homemade meal, in a real kitchen, we've had in three weeks. As Borat would say, NICE!!! While we were waiting for Erin, we sat down in Marienplatz. There, we watched Turkish children run around in their underwear in the fountain, a German boy run around in his speedo, a plethora of families speaking in every language known to man, and shoppers walking by with bags from PRADA, ESCADA, DIOR, ROLEX, THE GALLERIA, and it goes on and on and on. These women are definitely better dressers than Milan, Hard to believe. So, that was our first day... more to come later!
Amanda & Stewart :) :) :)