ONE DAY IN MUNICH WITH CHARLIE

I am a follower of the empirical theory by Francis Bacon. I believe that even though the world is only one, we all see it kind of differently. The only way how to uncover its real shape and colours is to forget the picture drawn by our surroundings and try to look at it one more time. Like we would know nothing about it before. Well… do we?

It’s usually me, appearing on places far away from those, I was the day before, visiting friends, old ones and those not yet known. I am usually the traveller in my posts. Not now. Right now I am living only 60 km away from Munich, so I suppose I can be no more counted as a visitor. Enjoyable change. And a nice feeling to know, that someone is willing to travel 8 hours from Czech Republic to Munich just to visit me.

„I wouldn’t leave you alone with those weird Germans there!“

 I have seen a lot in my life but I really didn´t believe it possible. Until he really came. Even though he came a little bit later and I had to find him at first, which took approximately half an hour.

None of us was in Munich before. I had a list of a few Google-recommended places, (because who knows better than Google) and a map drawn on a piece of paper. Who already tried to travel with me knows, that it’s never according to any rules, lists or a map. I always suffered from lack of orientation sense. And if that wouldn’t be enough…do you know that saying that women are able to do two things at once? It either doesn’t count in talking and reading the map at the same time or it is one more sense that I have broken. Well and even though Charlie is a little more skilled, he will probably never become a navigator. At least, I can say I know Munich now.

So few recommendations for those, who are planning to visit the capital of Bayern: The German’s museum is closing at 5 PM, so it’s really worthless to stand there 5:10. The island and a view from riverbank are mazing even if you didn’t manage to get to the museum and for not-German-speakers: the place which name ends with a 'platz' means it is a square. For example Marienplatz and Odeonplatz are really worth of visiting.

“Ok. I am turning on my GPS!”

I am pretty sure I have mentioned the advantages of solo travelling. It’s really rare that I have some co-traveller. Frankly speaking, despite the fact that to travel with someone means to let that someone change the direction, criticise your ‚arrows‘ on a map and chastise you for crossing the road while red sign is on, I am happy that he came. (not that I would always cross the road just like that, I know how to behave ! And we would find it even without GPS… it would just take more time, but we would!! )

Then I found out, the directions were not the only thing he changed. Also the way how I see the world, my opinions and approach. Great thank you!

Have you ever been trying to find a McDonald´s more because of the free Wi-Fi than because of the food. C'mon, everyone do that! Not that we wouldn’t be hungry. We zig-zagged whole city to find it, so Charlie could buy a bus ticket to get home. And then, McDonald´s is opened for quite a long time even here in south Germany and honestly, they close everything at 8PM!! I really know no better place to talk about religion than in a fast-food, while eating fries. Charlie is a perfect mate for talks like that. I found it out back in Denmark already. You know, I am always talking. With everyone, everywhere and about almost everything. It’s hard to find someone willing to cooperate though. I also like the people who make me think.

“What if I would tell you that… ”

People always think that they know the ones they like. People are often wrong. Sometimes, we are told things we don’t believe. Sometimes there are facts we don’t want to accept. Anyway, the fact are still facts. They can take our breath away for a moment, but then, after a while we just take it. Because even if it changes a lot it actually changes nothing at all. Because if we really like someone, than nothing really matters.

The best part of travelling is meeting new people. Others than the ones we were raised with. Of course, we have to appreciate those, they gave us our values. However we are too small to understand everything on the first try and even the genius is stupid if he thinks that what he knows is definite. The best thing about this world is, that if you are eager to listen, it has always something to tell you. And it will never be boring. This time life came up with Charlie. I think it knew that I believe in miracles. Well, we all need a friend that can reorganize our old opinions from time to time. Even unwillingly.

I wanted to end this post with this paragraph. I wanted to close it with words: Charlie´s bus to Prague left at 12 PM. I have to continue though. Because that bus left without Charlie. He accidentally bought a ticket for another day. (Well done :D )

So we came back to plan A- get a car to Landsberg where I am living right now and then get Charlie back to Munich the next day.

 „At least I can show you my boxers.“

Yes, that’s a great approach. Let’s see if this mood will last even after he finds out that it’s a little complicated to get to Landsberg at this hour. It’s not exactly a busy city.

Not a little complicated. I meant impossible.

We were walking from one petrol station to another whole night. Eating ice-cream, despite the freezing cold outside, driving in the shopping trolley and taking photos with a sign saying 'end of Munich‘. I believe it can be tiring for most people. But I really miss the nights spent on the road.

Charlie is weird. More than you can even imagine. More than I thought before. Although, normal is boring, I insist on that. However, I found out, that despite that I was always self-sufficient person, it’s nice to have a friend you can say everything to. (From time to time.)  Not that I would need to, only because I can.

I was sleeping exactly one hour. I have no idea why I even went to bed. I was never that tired in work. And that’s still nothing compared to the condition, in which I left Charlie. It was a great trip anyway. It was worth it. At least for me.

...

One day later, 16:12

„Yesterday I found myself thinking, that it’s too boring to sleep in a normal bed. I missed the adventure. :D „

CITY WITH AN ISLAND HEART

The position of my 'you-are-here´ dot is still a long distance from home on the map of the world and still in Germany. However, it is not moving anymore. I found myself stacked in a city called Landsberg am Lech. Nice one. Quite big, historical and cosy all at the same time.  I am not really into settling down though. It was a hard to leave my backpack in a corner and accept the everyday reality of a working person. I am not that sure if I already got used to it. I check the map every night. To find a nice places nearby. Close enough so I could visit them when I have a day off. I had one of these days recently. So I made myself a little hitch-hiking trip. I thought that maybe Lindau is worth of visiting.

I remember we learned about Lindau in school once. At least our German teacher mentioned it, talking about Lake Constance. Don’t you know which one is that?

 The Lake Constance lays on a borders of three countries. Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It’s not a big one. Actually, there are parts from which you are able to see the opposite shore. Nice view. It is a marvellous feeling to stand in Germany, looking across the water to Austria. I really like these border-things.

In this lake lays Lindau. Not whole city, only its historic centre. The oldest part of Lindau is an island.  The new part spreads itself on a land. I managed to get only to its edge by hitch-hiking. From there, I had to walk. I was told it would be approximately 3 miles.  I didn’t know how beautiful walk it is at that time.

I found first magic place before I even crossed the bridge and entered its centre. Beach. Or more likely - a resort. Unfortunately closed. No problem, I was always good at climbing. Anyway, this skill wouldn’t be that necessary, if I was thinking before taking action sometimes. There were other people walking the pier, and they were quite old so I suppose they didn’t climb the fence. There is an open path from the other side. It’s a completely legal way how to get in there, so if you ever stop by, I recommend rather using that one.

„Lindau. If I didn’t have to go to work I would go as well. There is a Cafeteria called 37°. Visit it! There is a great view. You’ll find it on a parade in a harbour, near a train station. Right on the corner. If nice weather holds, you can sit outside. I think you are lucky. It should be nice today.“

I found it. There are cafeterias standing one next to another along that parade, so it wasn’t that complicated. 37°is on its end, in a corner, exactly like the man told me.  Unarguably, there are some restaurants with a better position and with a better view as well. Except that, 37° it’s basically next to the railway. That can make your coffee jump in a cup with every coming train. Fortunately, trains are not that frequented. More often you can see a leaving ship. That is a nice look.

Despite my worries about the location of this café and my unwillingness to move away from centre of the harbour, where was one man just playing a guitar (I am really into street artists), I decided to do what this man in a car told me and visited 37°.

It’s a hipster place. Every chair has a different colour and shape and menu is written directly on a wooden wall. Yes and they have a vegan cake. If you like places like that, I recommend. If you know me, you know I do like them.

The buildings lean one to another in the streets.  They stay so tight together that you can recognize ones end only according to its colour. Due to the fact that they are not really straight, the whole street seems to be dancing. Each house has its personality, but together they make a big impressive whole. Here and there you would find a plant. Tree or a flower, hard to say. They are growing there unorganized, but fitting together somehow. I had an urge to sit down and draw, unfortunately, the only paper I possessed was my hitch-hikers notebook. (Really overused already) Well the photograph must be enough. I moved to see another parts. 

I found a tower with a roof made out of colourful stones, old city hall used as a library museum these days, square with a markets going on and a plenty of fountains.

There are only two ways how to get out of a Lindau. Using a bridge or a boat. I came by walking and leave exactly that way, but if I had had a more time, I would undoubtedly take one of the fairies leaving through narrow entrance in harbour. I spent few hours there, only watching. The entrance is guarded by two towers. One of them is a light house. On the second one sits sculpture. Bavarian Lion.  With its face turned to a lake and its back to a dock, it looks like protecting the city from the open water space. In a coat of arms of Lindau you can see a tree. Lime tree. In German called Lind. That’s how the city got its name. Although, this lion became an unofficial symbol for me. It seems as respectful and proud as a stone lion could. It’s a first thing you notice when coming through there. And the last one.  I could see its silhouette sitting there in motionless power when I turned around one more time before leaving.