Laowai

Brian and I took a trip to Munich to see how Bea is settling in. She’s been in her apartment going to classes and getting to know Munich for about three weeks. It was a great trip and we feel really proud of her.

We arrived on Thursday and got to see her neighborhood which is really nice. It’s densely populated but so pleasant and filled with lots of green spaces. She is super close to all the nice public transport – the underground train, trams and buses. And also she bikes everywhere on the organized bike lanes. Brian and I got some curry wurst and fries at a great outdoor market while we waited for her to get done with her classes.

We went to her grocery store and then checked out her apartment.

Here are Brian and Bea talking about coffee in her kitchen.

Here’s a view from the top of her apartment building.

Then we hopped on the underground train so she could show us Octoberfest.

I’ve only been to a couple smaller Oktoberfests in Switzerland. The Munich fest is huge and the way it’s run is so impressive.

Bea took us to the one raclette stand so Brian was very happy.

I had to ask Bea to go talk to this nice lady with me because she had the best purse! As you walk around Munich during Oktoberfest you see people dressed up in their leather pants and dirndles everywhere. So I quickly formed lots of opinions. There is a huge variety on the same theme – from the cheap thin fabric and shorty short skirts to nice heavy pleated skirts with beautiful smocking details and fine white shirts underneath. All the details to take in – so fun!

So the next day it was nice to do something without crowds – we went for a little hike just outside the city. Saw mountains in the distance, and cows and horses up close. And we had lunch at a nice beer garden.

We spent some time in the city center and Bea, being a local now, lamented all the tourists. Ha. She took us to her favorite sandwich place at an outdoor market and we just enjoyed the beautiful Fall day.

Feed the fish.

Window shopping the beautiful, expensive dirndles (almost a thousand dollars for just he dress part!).

The next day Bea took us to the English Garden – it’s a huge park really and she rides through it on her way around town. It was beautiful!

We continued on and did some shopping and then she took us to the Olympia Park – site of the 1972 Olympics. Another really cool spot.

After all that my feet were tired!

It was so good to see Bea in her city. At one point she talked about all the traveling she wants to do. She said she really wants to visit a friend in Italy but she can’t. Until her Visa application is processed and accepted it’s recommended she not leave the country. I told her, Bea! This is exactly what you wanted – to be confined to Germany!

She’s got some hurdles but she’s on her way to doing what she dreamed of and Brian and I couldn’t be happier for her.