Leaving California is not easy. You leave gorgeous weather, perfect temperatures, crisp ocean water, and a lot of happy people, because the weather does affect your mood, in case you didn’t know!
Leaving California is also great for your wallet: nowhere else are prices so ridiculous, over the top and beyond, nowhere else they expect tips for services not performed, and nowhere else those tips are expected to be 30% [[additionally to a $790 dinner at Justin – I almost had to postpone my trip 😬! But I have to admit that we did receive a gift bag, a special goody bag, filled with a tiny micro jar of seasalt (1/2 teaspoon) and a small bottle of Fiji water, I’m talking plain drinking water]]. So I’m glad to go to „anywhere-is-cheaper-than-California“ country now! Good bye!!!
Anticipation is a mixture between expectation and prediction. Expectation leans more to wishes, predictions more to the known. Maybe it is a right side vs left side of the brain thing? Who knows???
I know anticipation really well, I’m in the middle of an overdose right now: the next trip awaits me and it’s packed with predictions (high school reunion in the heart of Bavaria! Cruise through the Caribbean! Broadway shows in New York City! etc) and expectations (will I recognize those people I went to school with? Will the hurricane season be in full swing? Will my non-profit loose momentum during those 6 weeks while I’m gone?, etc) All those hard facts, the predictions have a „!“, whereas the expectations end up with a „?“. What’s more exciting?
We shall see and I’ll make sure to keep you posted. Let the journey begin…
Every time I leave Munich it is tough. It is tough to leave my family, my friends, it is tough to leave all those hugs & kisses, all those tears.
But then there is the good- bye treat at the airport, which are white sausages, pretzel and sweet mustard. It is the ultimate Bavarian comfort food that makes it a little easier to leave – kind of like a band aid with a Mickey Mouse print…
There are a few rules how to eat them though:
You cannot eat them after 12pm! The saying is: a white sausage shouldn’t hear the 12 o‘clock church bell ringing! They are made fresh every day in the morning and they have to be eaten immediately. Therefore white sausages are eaten for breakfast. And yes, traditionally you have to drink Wheat beer with them. And yes, beer for breakfast – it is Bavaria for heaven’s sake! 🍺
You should never cut the white sausage like you’d cut any other sausage: they have to be peeled, but lengthwise! Or alternatively you can grab them with your hands and suck them out of the skin…
White sausage, cut and peeled lengthwise
You have to eat sweet mustard with white sausages, any other mustard would be a crime. Similar to eating French fries with honey instead of ketchup. The combination of white sausages with a salty pretzel (which is actually called a Brezn), and sweet mustard is the ultimate taste combination made in heaven. In the Bavarian heaven. In the Italian heaven, the ultimate combination is tomatoes and basil, in the French heaven it is butter. Butter with everything and anything…
And here I am, on my way into the airport, via the Bavarian heaven
You might wonder by all the food posting I do (and therefore all the food I am eating), that I must have gained weight like never before! Infact, I wonder myself 🤣
But would you say no if somebody – like my sister Petra – invited you for breakfast and it looks like this?
Or you meet your friend Wendl from highschool to cook dinner together, and you create this Bavarian classic: bread dumplings with chanterelle cream sauce and endive salad, would you say no to this?
As Wendl says: cooking is the sex of old age
Wendl and I have a history together, it’s kind of a love affair, but not with each other: we share the love of cooking and eating. So every time I am in Germany, Wendl and I cook something delicious 🥬🍲🌶️🥗🫒🍷 And did I mention that we know each other for 40+ years?
Or would you refuse to eat those spinach and cheese dumplings I ate today for lunch? Would you? Followed by Kaiserschmarrn, a dessert classic in Bavaria 🥰
My good bye dinner party two days ago was not only lots of fun – 15 family members showed up with fun stories, good mood and big appetites – we also had delicious food!
My sister asked me a few days ago what I’d like to do if I had the chance to try something totally different. My answer: something food related, not being a chef, but a taster (if there is such a thing). Somebody trying, tasting, combining, presenting food to perfection. That’s what I would do! No wonder that I like to eat and drink…..
Every year in October, the Farm Museum in Ingolstadt let the past come alive by inviting art and craft, food and music vendors to keep old traditions alive.
With my sister and my niece we spent a few hours there, we admired a photo exhibit, we bought some handmade craft and enjoyed the permanent exhibition of the museum.
Petra, Edith and Stephanie (from left to right)Stephanie and Petra at the photo exhibition❤️Sisters❤️I bought some hand dyed wool 🧶 but since I’m not sure what to knit, I’ll just wear it as a turban in the meantime…
Unfortunately – fortunately the weather goddess is already sad that I’m leaving soon. She’s crying and so we have to deal with rain. It looks like she’s very sad: the prediction is rain until I’ll leave!
The good thing is that there are plenty of indoor activities (cooking, eating and drinking as a last resort 🤣🥗🍷)
Petra and I visited a Salt cave today and spent 45 min relaxing inside this grotto, breathing saline air, listening to a waterfall, soft background music and being lulled in warm light shining through thick rocks of pink salt. Having a warm blanket wrapped around – it was challenging not to fall asleep…
And what else to do? Walk, talk, party!
Erwin & PetraIf there is such a thing like a great-aunt, that’s me. With my great-nephew NiklasGood-bye party with my mom & Helmut, Erwin, Stephanie, Jürgen & Anja, Tamara, Saskia, Roberto & Kira, David, Jessica & Maxi and Niklas. Age range: between 2 month and 85 years! Winner of the cuteness contest: Niklas
About a month ago I bought Jonas. I mean I bought a Vespa scooter from a guy named Jonas, so that’s why the Vespa is called Jonas now.
And today, my brother Jürgen and I took a whole day driving around with our Vespas, enjoying another beautiful fall day here in Bavaria. We drove along fields with corn, cabbage and potatoes, piles of sugar beets along the way, sunflowers and poppies still in bloom. The smell of wet soil, fresh cut grass and moist fall leaves. The sun partly hidden behind the clouds, occasional rainbows inbetween. We drove through many little villages, we stopped at a few ferry crossings along the Altmühl river, it couldn’t be more perfect, romantic or beautiful!
Jonas is 20 years old; quite a senior Vespa, but he is a great scooter with some age related issues…
The tubing connecting the gasoline pump and the gasoline filter was so old and brittle, it broke, and all the gasoline was gone in a matter of just a few minutes. Gas tank empty, that means:
Fortunately Jürgen is an expert: he repaired the broken tubing and we were back on the road again in an hours or so. And so we continued and enjoyed our ride.
Then, another part of the old tubing decided to claim retirement a few hours later, so Jürgen, still an expert, repaired the second issue, and we were back on the road again in 45min or so. I guess if we would have continued a little longer, and if a 3rd issue came up, he would have needed only 30min, right?!? 🛵🛵🛵
Many more villages later, Altmühl River, Schambach River, the Main-Danube channel and the Danube, we crossed many bridges, we drove through forests and fields – it was a gorgeous day and Jonas and I were very happy (I guess Jürgen too 🤩)
It is the middle of October and fall is in full swing! Night temperatures reach down to the freezing point, the days are barely warmer. Rain showers shake hands with sunshine, hail knocks down some leftover flowers and heavy wind gusts blow the colorful leaves off the trees. And then it starts over again. You never know what to expect and/or what to wear.
Citymap of Ingolstadt from 1810. It is surrounded by protection buildings and a citiwall that is still intact. Nowadays the Danube on the south side of town has 3 bridges for traffic crossing over, 2 pedestrian bridges and 1 for trains… Ingolstadt was founded in the year 806 and had a busy history, being a custom point for the salt trade from the Alps to northern territories. Here, every shipment of salt had to cross the Danube, which made it a popular location for thieves and bandits.
Today my brother Jürgen and I spent a whole day together. He needed a haircut, a motorcycle helmet, tennis shoes, lunch, a walk and everything wrapped with meaningful brother-sister conversations.
On our way to the motorcycle helmet store we found this neat barber shopWhat a fun place!Billiard table, retro furnitures and fixtures, super cool!
With his new haircut, Jürgen bought a new helmet and afterwards we had a tasty lunch at a restaurant at a nearby lake, the „Auwaldsee“ in Ingolstadt. At this lake I learned to swim, to ice skate, I learned to play Romme, I read books, many MANY books. Back then we rode our bikes to this lake, we spent our childhood afternoons there, and for us, it was perfect! The lake seemed huge, biking around took forever, swimming across seemed impossible! And today after lunch Jürgen and I walked around the lake, 3km, 1hour, just a little afterlunch walk. And it was beautiful! And perfect!!!
I know it’s confusing, but when it comes to „home“, I’m kind of a schizophrenic. What is home? Where you grew up and know every sound, every smell, every little detail inside and out? Or is it the place you live with your husband, a comfortable warm place you enjoy and where you can do whatever you want? Or is it the place you want to be buried? I’m torn and never know what to answer, if I’m asked. So, I’m home now (home #1, where I grew up).
After a short 3.5hour flight from Istanbul I landed in Munich, where my brother Jürgen picked me up and we went to a fun, loud, techno dance party / concert, that left Jürgen in shock. He never was a club, dance party, techno guy, so starting this when you’re 55 years old is a stretch 😱. I on the other hand was sore from dancing the next day, I couldn’t hear well and my voice was hoarse… I always loved techno!
Klangphonics at the Technikum in Munich
Home late, the next day was already packed with a 20 people family lunch at the restaurant Wild in Hagenhill – good food mixed with good company – what else do you need? So this is home then?
And right after lunch, the whole crowd meets at Jürgen & Anjas house for coffee / tea and a variety of homemade cakes! Delicious!!! Just like home!🤩! My nieces Saskia and Tamara should get an award 💝. My family stretches from 2-month old Niklas (our Mini Schneider) up to 85-year old Helmut!
Maxi Schneider & Mini Schneider3 siblings: Jürgen, Edith and PetraGoodies for coffee / teaMom, Stephanie, Tamara and PetraSaskiaKira, Roberto, Maxi Schneider, Saskia and Tamara
And that’s not all: last night my sister Petra and her husband Erwin took me to a lecture about the James Webb Telescope. This was so interesting! I just love it when you learn a lot while being entertained, while you can laugh and think „Uhh, Ahh, Really?“ Prof Andreas Burkert from the TU Munich is such a good talker: a big bravo to his fun, informative style of lecture! Looking at the unimportance of our home planet, how small the earth is compared to the universe. It makes you question why people think so much about themselves, how important they think they are. Listening to Prof Burkerts lecture should put you back into perspective…
And today? Home improvements are on the daily chore list. A remote garage door is needed to make the life of my mom and Helmut more bearable. So here we go, „home“ improvements. Everything involves the word „home“….. I wonder why?
Imagine a big beer tent in the US, a few hundred people in it, live music of course, good mood and great food and drinks. Now that would be the equivalent of a small tent at the Oktoberfest. And there are 21 small tents, usually specialized: fish, wine, sweets, etc.
Additionally to the small tents, there are big beer tents. 17 of them to be precise, and they are BIG! They seat 6-10,000 people and the have additional outside beergardens for a few thousand people. It’s amazing!
Seating is not difficult before 4pm, if you want to get a seat after 4pm, you need a reservation (that you can do at the official website: http://www.Oktoberfest.de) Don’t book through any other source, they’re not legitimate! At the entrance of each tent is security, they check bags, sort out drunk people and count how many people get in and out. If the tent is full, it’s full and there is no way of “schmusing” your way in – even a low cut dirndl doesn’t help! Believe me 😜
Entrance
A general good idea is to not carry a big handbag with you. At the entrances is a bag check and – unless you have a baby with you – they don’t allow bigger bags inside the “Wiesn”. They also sort out glass bottles or anything an airport security check would not allow. So just be smart and bring: nothing and your wallet!
One big difference to any American Fairground, where you pay ~$15 or $20 to get in, the Oktoberfest is a free event!
No entrance fees!!!
😍
Amusement
There are 2 main streets at the Oktoberfest, the Wirtsbudenstrasse and the Schaustellerstrasse (Beertentstreet and the amusement street) with several streets connecting them.
At the south end is the big Ferris Wheel. It is 50 meters high (~150”) and has 40 gondolas for 8 people each. It is not the biggest Ferris Wheel on earth, but it has the most beautiful view. To the south you see the Alps, to the north, at the foot of the Ferris wheel, is the Oktoberfest, surrounded by Munich with all its beautiful landmarks. it costs €10 per person and goes around 5 times. Since I’m afraid of heights, it was 4.5 times too many and my photos are not taken from the top. That’s where I had my eyes closed and my hands were holding on to the seat with a death grip 😖
My friend Lisa leaning over to me – emotional support!
And of course there are numerous rides you can try, some of which originated from the 19th century, some brand new, super fast and scary like hell! more than 50 different choices, from the little fairytale ride for the little ones to everything that challenges the beer you just drank. They do recommend to wear “throw-up proof shoes for a reason! 😳
Oktoberfest, annual festival in Munich, Germany, held over a two-week period (with three adjacent weekends), and ending on the first Sunday in October. That’s why most of the Oktoberfest is happening in September. The weather in October is sometimes a hit and miss, that’s why the organizers moved it to earlier times.
The festival originated on October 12, 1810, in celebration of the royal marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
The locals call it “Wiesn”, because it happens at the Theresienwiese, meaning “Theresa’s lawn“, a huge fairground area in the middle of Munich.
The Beer
The beer is specially brewed for Oktoberfest and extra strong! 5.9%. It is slowly fermented throughout the summer months to allow the beer to pick up the rich malt flavors. Only beer brewed in Munich is allowed at the Oktoberfest!
1.8 MILLION GALLONS OF BEER (7 million liters = 7 million mass) are consumed at the Oktoberfest each year!
PROST
The Food
But the beer is not the only specialty at Oktoberfest. The food is awesome too! For example grilled oxen. In 16 days, they grill ~150 oxen, roughly 10 per day. Along with 500,000 chickens, 15,000 ducks, half a million sausages, 52,000 kg of fish, etc. Walking around the fairgrounds makes you hungry; the smell of every booth, every tent is just like heaven!
“Steckerlfisch“ – fish (usually Macarels) are grilled on a stickOxen roast with potato saladSmoked fishOx on the grill (this one used to a 550kg animal)Brezn, white Sausages and sweet mustard have to be eaten before 12pm!
Sustainability
If the Oktoberfest would be in the US, you’d end up with a mountain of waste, a garbage pile as tall as the Zugspitze! But here in Munich, they are more environmental conscious: they use porcelain plates and “real” silverware! No paper plates or plastic cutlery! The silverware, roughly 1 million knives, forks and spoons DAILY are brought to Passau, a town 200 km East of Munich on the border of Austria and the Check Republic, where they are washed, dried and wrapped in a napkin and shipped back to Munich. 4 truck full loads of silverware per day. The porcelain plates and the glass beer mugs are cleaned on site. One of those special beer mug dishwashers can clean 2800 mugs an hour with a cold rinse at the end, so they can be filled with the liquid gold right after the cleaning process.
People
About 6 million people visit the Wiesn each year! It gets very crowded at night and on weekends. No baby strollers are allowed the fairgrounds at those times, otherwise the Wiesn is very kid friendly. In the morning there are many school classes to be seen, lots of rides especially for the little ones.
Transportation
For Americans, the most unusual fact might be that there is not public parking at the fairgrounds. None! Zero!!! So you take public transportation, which is excellent, easy to use and self explanatory. Take the underground lines U3, U4, U5 or U6. Or S1,2,3,4,6,7,8. Or tram 18,19. Or bus 58, 62, 53, 143. Or a taxi. Or a bike. etc. And just follow the crowds, go where everybody else is going. Or just ask anybody. Or, if you are a shy person, follow the sign “Zur Festwiese” (to the fairground)
