The night before last, I researched a bunch of stuff so my day in Munich would be as complete and easy as possible. Everything went flawlessly. I am slightly proud of myself and, of course, attribute partial credit for my ingenuity to my new pair of boots..
After making it through the grueling customs line and picking up my luggage, I ventured outside the airport.
The area right outside the doors was sort of like a hub for transportation terminals as well as a mall and social area. It was pretty. I actually kinda wanted to hang out there just cause it was cool-looking. Here's a video I took right outside it:
In this courtyard area, I sat outside McDonalds trying to get a wifi connection to contact the padres but it didn't work with my ipod. I include that so that said parents are aware that I did make an immediate effort to contact them and alert them of my safe landing.
From there, I walked over to the train terminal and caught a train into the central station in Munich. It was about a 45 minute ride and my body decided to take it as an inconvenient and pathetically resisted nap-time. Why it couldn't do so on the quiet, dark, smooth-riding plane for eight hours last night, I have no idea, but so be it..
When I got into the station, I found the luggage lockers. Five euros for the day was more than worth it so I didn't have to lug my fifty pound rolly bag around the city in the rain. Ironically, I only had two euro coins and the locker didn't give change, so after transfering stuff I didn't need from my backpack into the big bag, I chased a couple people around asking for change and a nice couple helped me out.
Getting change was easy. It was transfering my now seventy-five pound bag from the floor to the eye-level locker that was challenging. The security camera to my left, combined with sleep deprivation and minor malnourishment, painted an image in my brain of a military-grade defense nucleus full of computer screens and stoic-looking German agents. I laugh-sighed and shook my head as I bent down and grabbed the handles.
Dad taught me to bend my knees when I lift heavy things. This reminder flashing into my head at that particular point in time made the situation more humorous. I lifted, and the two of us slam-toppled into the closed locker below mine, subsequently crumbling to the floor.
Attempt number two was more effective and, if possible, less graceful. Leaning back, I hoisted the bag to shoulder-level and balanced it between the wall of lockers, my left hip bone, and my face. I bent my knees (back-health points for me), heaved it from my hip-bone to a precarious chest-left-hand-locker-wall balance, simultaneously re-opening the locker door which had, of course, shut, ghost-like, during my pulley-like lifting.
Anyways. Yes. I got my bag into the locker. I imagine that the men in black behind the camera lens thoroughly enjoyed the process. When I had figured out how to put in the coins and get my key, I gave them a little smile and bow, pushed the hair out of my now-perspiring face, and marched away with my purse and backpack to find something healthy to eat.
<I enjoyed writing that. If you didn't enjoy reading my four hefty paragraphs on luggage lockers, I really am sorry. I guess I'm doing this sort of selfishly..>
It's interesting how every single Middle Eastern man I've met here has acted oddly. It's either an uncomfortable leering or an intimidating and uninterpretable mix between frustration and teasing. The men at the "organic food" stand at Munich's Central Train Station chose option B as they filled my take-away box with bleached white rice and a pathetic scoop of red chicken curry.
I ate sitting at the most uncomfortable table I've ever seen. Its seat looked like a short padded bar counter foot rest and was slightly higher than hip level to make getting up onto it with a cup of coffee in one hand and curry in the other a next to impossible feat. My legs dangled precariously as I tried to balance, but soon went numb, ceasing their nuisancehood. I again tried to get an internet connection, but was soon convinced that my ipod isn't designed for that type of signal.
Once in awhile, I would catch a strange look from one of the airport workers as I ate. Usually, my rule is to just assume that I'm stinking gorgeous when I catch people looking at me. It makes things more fun that way. In this situation, however, I had recently looked at myself in a mirror and knew beauty wasn't a factor.
Because what I was sitting on to eat was humorously uncomfortable, I wondered if that wasn't the purpose it was meant to serve, and burst out several times at various intervals in audible laughter imagining what its true purpose could possibly be, and what people might be thinking of me for using it differently. Ultimately though, I really haven't a clue why they were really looking at me weird, and I finished my curry successfully before going outside and catching the next tram headed toward Nymphenburg Palace.
Transportation is highly convenient everywhere I've been in Europe. Admitedly, this doesn't cover a whole lot of territory, but I like what I've seen and love the fact that I tend to get lucky when it comes to timing in that way. I found out where the trams were, walked accross the street, and stepped on to the exact one I needed that just happened to have stopped just as I walked up. It was almost too perfect.
Fifteen minutes later, I got off and made the half mile walk to the palace. As a student, I got into all exhibits free. I walked through the living area, and wished I was born a princess.
This is the entrance area. It's hard to capture the whole room, but you can see the detail behind the chandelier:
Hallway with bedrooms:
Bed. I was impressed by it because it looks like the king's bed in Cinderella. I didn't realize that my brain was so heavily influenced by Disney movies, even at this age..
This is the ceiling of one of the bedrooms. It is a scene depicting demon warfare. Sweet dreams!
Next, I went over and looked at the sleigh and carriage museum.
That's a sleigh. Can you imagine?!
Another sleigh:
Carriages:
King Ludwig's favorite horse. Stuffed:
I took the tram back into the main city area, but only had about an hour to look around.
Since churches are always the most obviously magnificent buildings you see, I walked through two:
And this is the main square area where the famous Glockenspiel clock is. I missed it going off by just ten minutes! I even knew what time it was supposed to go off and forgot. It's just one of those things though, you know? :/
Even though I really enjoyed my time, I was lonely travelling by myself. God has really been softening my heart and I'm so thankful for that answered prayer. One of the side effects of that is a consciousness of my own loneliness when it comes. It's new for me to know that I feel like that sometimes, but it's good. I don't know..it's hard to try to explain, but even though it's not a great feeling, it's still exciting to feel. It did remind me that I'd better hop to it and find a group to travel with for after school though!
Anxious not to miss my bus home, I headed back to Central Station, grabbed my luggage, and took a train to the right station where I went up and down the same elevator three times before figuring out what I was supposed to do to find my bus. Megan, a girl from Bode, just happened to have been taking the same bus as I was and we sat together and talked and caught up on travels until we fell asleep.
When I got to school, I had three exuberant reunions with Steph, Annelie, and Autumn, and it was good to see all the other old faces too. Everyone was excited and telling about their trips.
When I got to my new room, I started to unpack. My new roommates are Miranda, the girl I've taken several walks with, Emma, a girl from Minesota who's sort of spunky and fun to be around, and Louisa, a German girl who reminds me a lot of myself, even though I've only really known her as an acquaintance. I'm excited to get to know all three of them and watch the atmosphere grow and change through the next three months.
Mrs. Herron will be here for the next few days and she, Steph, Annelie and I had a well-appreciated hot dinner together tonight.
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
