Jocelyn, David, Wesley, Tommy, Anna and I drove to the train station in Gröbenzell at 11am. We parked along a hedge row with brick parking spots and walked to the train deck. We knew we needed to purchase an XXL München ticket (a day-group ticket for €12,80). I was having trouble with the ticket machine and asked a woman for help. She fussed around with the buttons and then suggested we go to the store below for a ticket. Sure enough, that was where to buy it.
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| The train station in Groebenzell |
The train to München departs x:02, x.22 and x:42. We had to be sure to stand on the correct side of the platform. Richtung (direction) München. The train rides smooth and fast. The total trip took about 20 min. We had planned to meet Hiltrud at the Hauptbahnhof station, but realized the Marienplatz station was just two more stops further on, so that is where we alighted and rode up one or two escalators (by the time we were near to München our train had gone underground). Up above, on Kaufingstrasse, tourists packed the plaza. The noon time music and display was about to begin in the tower of the Rathaus. As time ticked away the crowd grew and grew. In all directions down the radiating pedestrianized streets were people, people, people. More people than I'd seen in Paris or Rome or London! This was more like Asia in its crowdedness.
We watched and listened to the 15 minute display, then found a great food shop for baguette sandwiches and drinks. We managed to grab a table for eating on the go, since going further inside the shop to sit down and be waited on cost more money. Jocelyn has realized over the years that if the kids don't sit down to eat that they don't consume enough food to keep them going.
We still had some time left until Hillu arrived, also by train (the U bahn) so we walked to a white hofbräu house, hoping to see the locked steins. It was not the right spot, but we found the real one later on. It was starting to rain, so we kept under the eaves of shops and the walking tunnel of the old Rathaus (which was shrouded in construction cloth).
We decided to wait by a water fountain near the Ludwig Beck store, left a voicemail on Hillu's phone to that effect and waited for nearly an hour before she showed up. Turns out we were waiting in the most famous location for this very task. It is the fountain that everyone uses to meet their friends. I scanned the faces of people for Hillu's face for some time, when at one point I turned, turned back, and there she was, coming to us! Oh happy reunion!
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| Hiltrud and me |
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| Kaffee und Kuchen at the Hofgarten |
After introductions and discussion Hillu led us to the famous market area where permanent shops sell food, vegetables, fruit and crafts. Sort of the Pike's Place Market of München. I took photos of garland festooned statues, these are statues of München's beloved comedians, poets and entertainers. We walked on to see the Altes Tor on the I....river, around toward the older areas of the city, the government offices, the old baroque and bright golden church where the kings were crowned. The last grandchild of the last king died recently and that funeral was held in this church. We stopped in this church, and I was shocked to see the entire interior was ornately decorated in baroque sculpture, but completely white. Every surface was white. This treatment created a light and shadow effect that felt artificial and cold to me.
We sat outside for a coffee and kuchen break and enjoyed the sun and breeze for a long time. It was shady and private back there, compared to the other side of the building where people sat under umbrellas, all facing the same direction, like they were about to watch a movie! Hillu said this is where people come to be seen, but that in winter it is a nice place to sit because the building blocks the wind and also radiates the warmth of the sun. We talked about the state of the economy, of job availability, of the raising of retirement age in Germany, of the fact that no one wants to hire someone older than 55, yet one can't collect retirement until the official retirement age is reached. Hillu has been a pychologist for institutions for about 10 years, but has not worked in the last seven years. Her job and her husband's job (for a large reinsurance company) were not compatible, though they made it work for years by having residences in two places.
In this video we have finished a leisurely coffee and kuchen time in the garden area behind this plaza. I pan the camera around from the jazz musicians and take Hillu by surprise.
Walking back toward the Marienplatz we stopped at the Frauenkirchen, the famous skyline monument of Munich. One of the towers was covered in cloth while being renovated. Hillu said that within the circular old part of Munich no building can be taller than the towers of the Frauenkirchen. The inside of the church again surprised me. This time the walls were smooth and plastered a warm white, only the groins of the vaults were
darker colored. It gave a simple, minimal warm feeling. Not austere at all. A mass was in progress so we could only explore this entrance end of the church.
After saying heartfelt goodbyes we located the correct platform for our journey home. The day ticket had only needed one validation at the beginning of the trip, at a blue ticket machine. The ticket was valid until 6am this morning! We did get asked to show our proof of ticket on our way into Munich, but not on our way home.
Back in Gröbenzell we stopped at a Netto market for some food. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality, price and selection of food. It was not a 7-11 type of snack food store at all. I found a red wine for €1,39 from Macedonia and bought it. It was smooth and delicious. It was the least expensive wine the store offered and it was of good quality.
After dinner of pasta salad and beef stroganoff we watched German tv. It was especially fun to watch two episodes of Glee auf deutsch! The voice talents were very talented indeed, each voice captured the character and their speaking did not overrun the mouth movements.
We are packing up this morning and driving three hours back to Dielheim. Tommy has a gymnastic lesson at 5pm we want to be back for.
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