On a brighter note (*sarcastically*), let's talk Munich! As you may know, I did not have the best of times when I visited Munich for 4 days last week. I was alone for most of it and had a freakout about my poor navigating abilities and essentially kept myself confined to work, my hotel, and the walk between. Not so fun. So what did I notice while I was there? Not much. But here goes...
- The rudest cab driver on the face of the planet lives in Munich, and he picked me up from the train station when I arrived. According to him, stupid Americans like me (not his words) need to know to always give a street address while in Europe and not the name of the destination, like your hotel name. (Apparently I've never been to Europe before.) After I told him the name of the hotel and went to pull up the street address on my phone, he freaked out at me so much for not having it straight away that I nearly got in another cab (and I wish I had). I was almost crying by the time I reached the hotel because he kept going on and on (and I was afraid to talk back for fear that he'd kick me out, in the dark, at night, in BFE Germany). Long story short, Munich did not get off to a good start.
- But it did get better! The office I worked at was nice (in the PwC building, of course...!), and the conference room had the most amazing windows I've ever seen. We were sitting there when the sun came out from behind the clouds. All of a sudden, the window blinds on 2 sides (we were in a corner of the building) started automatically descending. When they got to the bottom, they did a quick FLIP and turned just the right amount to keep the sun from being too bright. And the light in the room adjusted based on brightness as well as movement in the room. I think this is what the future is like, friends!
- In the office, it's not all work and no play. Behold the world's tiniest ping pong table! We attempted to play but could only go back and forth about 3 times before overhitting.
Care to volley?
- My colleague and I went to lunch at a nearby burger restaurant, where every single person (minus me) proceeded to eat their burgers with a knife and fork. No picking it up with their hands like this crazy American! But what is the point of the bun if you're not going to use it as a burger handle, I wonder...?
- And speaking of food, I went to a Thai place for lunch the next day by myself, where every single other person proceeded to eat with (you guessed it!) a knife and fork. I was literally the only person in the place to use the chopsticks that were supplied on every table. It was a proud moment for me. :)
- When you arrive somewhere in the morning (like an office, for example), everyone that you walk past greets you enthusiastically with "Morgen!" (or "morning" in German). Even people you've never met before! So friendly. I felt very welcome.
- In Munich they like their steaks COOKED. And by that, I mean well done. I ordered a steak at the hotel restaurant for dinner and asked for it medium. It was totally well done. The following night, I heard someone else order the same steak, and the server goes, "Well done?" It seems as thought that might be the only option.
- We went to dinner the first night at the Augustiner beer hall, just down the street from the hotel. I had a delicious radler (half beer, half lemon-lime soda) and tried the wienerschnitzel... which was delicious! That traditional German food isn't half bad.
Prost!
Aaaand... that's all I've got. Like I said, I didn't really "do" much while in Munich, unfortunately. But I did have a fantastic time there a year and a half ago for Oktoberfest, so I definitely don't have a bad taste in my mouth for the city.
Slightly more fun in Munich, with Syd and the gang: September 2010
Nighty night! Let's hope that my sinuses are happier in the morning...
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