TURKS ARE FRIENDS

It was a day of at 5.6. in Germany. Pfingsmontag. It is a Monday of Holy Spirit according to Google. However, it ment a day without lorries for me. Or at least it was supposed to be.

One of the lorries had its engines running and a guy was walking a round, probably the driver. It was 8 AM and completely silence on a Berlin circle. It was worth of a try at least.

„Are you driving today?“ I asked a control question in German.

„Heute, heute.“ Guy nodded and repeated the word today. Obviously, it was the only one he understood from my sentence.

„Are you driving somewhere near Hamburg?“ I tryed in English.

„Hamburg, Hamburg.“ Ok, English neither. At least I knew he was driving that day and his destination was Hamburg.

Using hands and all my language skills I managed to make an agreement with him.

„Turkey.“ He told me when saw that I was trying to read his  evidence number on a lorry.

„I am from Slovakia.“

„Slovakia ja! I go Slovakia. Hamburg load up, tomorrow back Berlin, Czech republic, Slovakia, Hungaria, Romenia und Turkey. You go Slovakia?“

„No. I need to get only to Hamburg.“

„Ok Hamburg.“ He smiled and went back to his pots and food. He was evidently cooking something. I decided to wait away.  

There is a tiny flipping platform at the side of the lorry, which can be used as a table. Behind this platform, there is a place for a gas burner, pots and a boxes full of food. He was sitting on a small wooden chair and cooking soup and a tee. All of a sudden he put out a newspaper, open it on the floor and sit down on it, inviting me to sit on his wooden chair. I refused so he came and took me.

He put one more spoon in his plate with soup and ask me to try it.

„I have eaten already, thank you.“ I thought it was a solid argument. He eider did not understand me or he did not want to understand.

„Turkish. Turkish.“ He keep repeating and waving with the spoon.  

In a little while I had bread in my hand, of course Turkish.

This mystery soup was spicy and really tasty. Anyway, I did not succeed in finding out it’s consistence. All of my questions were answered by „ja“ and a huge smile.

I started an easier conversation.

„Marta“ I pointed at myself.

„You?“

„Ayhan“

„Can I selfie?“ he asked me after a while.  

„Sure.“ I made few myself.  

We have finished with the soup. Ayhan’s tee was ready for drinking. It does not seems like I have a choice. It was delicious. Black. Exactly like the one Ahmed once made me. I was only starting to be nervous because I was not sure anymore, that he’s leaving today. It was almost 11 AM.

„Familia, familia. Son. He come here. Son from Berlin. I give something to him and go Hamburg.“

His son has really came. Ayhan gave him some boxes with sherries and had a little talk with him. Then we finally started to prepare ourselves for the journey. I was given some cherries too. When I was not able to eat anymore, he put the rest in my bag. Cherry is kiras in Turkish.

Degustation continued in a car. First some Turkish mineral water, than some red juice. Approximately 5 minutes later I really needed to pee. How should I translate that to a Turkish guy? He get it in a very last moment.

The rest of our journey went easy. I learned that he has a daughter, who is 16 (we’ve been writing the numers with finger) also that he’s living in a city called Antalia. (firstly I thought that it’s a name of his daughter) I gave him some wafer bars HORALKA, as a typical Slovak sweet for exchange.

Did you know that freedom taste like a Turkish soup, looks like a highway from Berlin and feels like shoulders burned from sun?

I hitch-hiked another Turkish guy, one young German women and a family of Jehovists on my way from Hamburg. All of them were great. All of them were friends.

IT’S ABOUT THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION (ESPECIALLY, WHEN YOU LOOSE THE DESTINATION ON THE ROAD)

What is so funny about it Maja?

Another fit of laughter came instead of an answer. We were standing beside the exit road of Landsberg, freezing cold outside. I was trying to get us a ride at least somewhere to A17 highway and Maja was still laughing. Just because we’re hitch-hiking. I thought it would pass after a while. It didn’t. She was laughing almost all day long, only making little breaks for breathing. But let’s go back to that road out of Landsberg. Did I mention that we were standing there with a paper saying A17. Why is it so important? A17 is not even close to Landsberg. One man stopped just to tell us. So we rewrite it to B17. Actually, it was much easier then. Thank you unknown man!

I would like to introduce my co-hitchhiker. Her name is Marianna (never forget the double n- it drives her crazy) She is short. Even smaller than me. She’s an owner of a long brown hair and a huge blue eyes. Well yeah and she’s confused most of her life. Nothing that you couldn’t get used to after a few hours. Right after getting over it, you will find her really kind and appreciate her ability to make every place feel like home.  

Unfortunately, none of these skills can be used on the road. They are useless as well as her talent to answer every question with „ALLES CLAR“ or „KEINE AHNUNG“, no matter what are you asking to. So I thought I should have be the one to handle the situation. I failed. Nothing bad happened to anyone, I mean, no-one was kidnapped or so. We just lost the destination somewhere on the road.

 „Can you google to which German city belongs the short DLG?  

I have never heard about it before, however I hate it by now. It will be four hours already, that we’re standing in front of some flower shop, trying to get to Donnaworth, just because someone told us to do so. With no luck. There’s no-one to blame so we keep blaming every poor owner of a car with DLG sign, instead of DON (the one we need) and exactly three drivers that have got a right one but don’t drive there right now. I have no idea where we are and how far is our goal. Man, I don’t even know if we are still in a good direction! Maja starts to be nervous. She’s still laughing though. That’s a good sign isn’t it?

The goal we were trying to reach was a city called Ansbach. Not that far from Landsberg. The only problem seems to be that there’s no direct highway leading to it. You have to drive through a few little towns in which is amazingly easy to get stacked. Except that, we were in a rush. Our mission was to see Maja’s boyfriend, who was in that city only until 4 PM. He didn’t know about our attempt of course. We lost the fight with time. Mission uncompleted. Status: Destination lost by the road.

It was three PM and we were in a city called ALsbach instead of ANsbach. It was probably my fault I confess. Partly! I should not jumped into that car so cheerfully when the man told us that the goal is only 5 minutes away. I should have trust the GPS clearly claiming one hour. But who would ever say that there’s even something like ALsbach?!

 “I told you it’s worthless. I knew it. I always fail in everything I try to do. Told you that I have a bad luck.”

Yeah I probably haven’t mentioned that our Maja suffer from extreme change of moods and enjoy herself falling in a deep sadness. Not a big problem at home. When it comes, you just have to leave her walk the house with her headphones on and try not to cross her route. From time to time check on her if she haven’t make anything stupid of course. Anyway, it could be a problem while lost in a Donnauworth. By the way, we finally got there! Unfortunately, it’s a step back from Alsbach. We are not trying to go to Ansbach anymore. The mission lost its point hour ago. We’re hitch-hiking back.

I am on the road again. No reason to complain, if I would be alone. However I am not. I am responsible for hyperactive and now a little irritated Maja and for getting us home.

Would you believe that a drive in a lorry can fix her mood? When I saw her picking up the phone and really secretly taking a picture of her view from the cabin, I knew it’s alight. The lorry driver took us to Augsburg. That’s only something like hour and half from Landsberg. Not bad at all.  

 “It have to be this way! Can we just walk it for a while and see if we can find a better spot?”

“As you wish Maja.”

No, it was not a good idea. We should have stay right there, on a petrol station, where the lorry driver left us. It was not a perfect place but the only one that could have work. Despite that, I followed the tactic: Leave Maja to lead the team for a while, otherwise you will be to blame for everything.

It’s a little egocentric, I know, but trust me, she would never calm herself without it. It was so worthless to run around in attempts to find another spot. Well what should I did? We started to run around. Me, Maja and our misunderstood friend GPS

 “It’s a Czechish guy! Look at that plate number!!!”  

I really don’t know what came to my mind at that point. Czechia was not even the direction that we needed. It’s a nice feeling to see the lorry with a Czech sign, parked in the middle of Augsburg though. Czech is almost Slovak. That’s a friend! We started to run toward him. Step, two, three… we realized the senselessness of this idea. He had got a window down. Great! So he not just saw our raid, he even heard it. Another fit of laughter. Until now, he still haven’t escaped, so we asked him for direction at least.

Guess where we went than! Back to that petrol station I wanted to stay at. We get a car from there. Not directly to Landsberg, I have to admit. We only get to another petrol. Anyway, it was a success because we met one nice guy there. Good looking. Actually two good looking guys if we count with the young salesman as well. From that moment we realise this trip is pointless, we decided to cheer up the waiting a little by admiring the male population on the petrols. I went to ask our nice guy if he drives right direction. His response was no. However, he stood there for a little more, looking at us. He didn’t seem to be scared even though we were laughing, singing and being creepy. After  a few minutes he came and offer us a ride. Not far, but it still helped. We get to another petrol. That’s something new! The only light thing about all that was, that they have a coffee with a great foam.

I think it doesn’t really matter in which city or at what place are you waiting, you can be sure that there’s no-one driving to Landsberg from there. No-one’s never driving to Landsberg from anywhere!

“Where do you need to get?”

“Landsberg.”

“Nope, don’t drive there.”

These two guys told us already twice. Do we really look like we didn’t get it at a first time?!

“Noone’s drivig to Landsberg.”

Thanx man. I haven’t noticed by now.

“Don’t you want to try another transport? Bus or so? It’s dangerous! And useless trust me.”

He was truly annoying me.

 “Don’t worry I know what I’m doing!”

I made a few steps ahead while speaking.

“Landsberg…”

Are you kidding me?! He drives the car closer to us. I really get it!!! I know you are not driving there and that you do not like that we are hitch-hiking. Can you not to tell us one more time?!

“We would give you a ride for 10 Euro just to get some petrol for that road.”

“No.”

They were annoying, I was sure I can hitch-hike another car and… THEY WERE ANNOING.   

“O.K.”

What are you doing Maja?!

“I have 10 Euro. That’s 5 for each of us. That’s not bad! Let’s drive with them.”

I would send her in a package by post in that moment! This two guys were already getting that petrol and Maja was exploring the inside of her wallet. I couldn’t let her to go alone and she didn’t look like she could handle it any longer here. OK. I am giving up.

At the end, they weren’t that annoying. We had a quite nice talk. When they left us in front of a hospital in Lansberg, I suddenly felt a little calmer. I haven’t realised I was tired by now. It was just one day. Nothing I wouldn’t survive before. The only thing I cannot handle is being responsible for someone else. I am not even responsible for myself.

It’s a nice feeling to reach the destination, but the feeling when you get home is also nice. Even nicer if you lost that destination somewhere beside the road. We made ourselves an eggnog coffee and went to sleep.   

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.