I have two longish but thankfully shrinking “to do” lists. One is called Budapest, and the other Munich. One is all about connecting: schedule move-in date, translate driver’s license, learn German, set up bank account, etc. There are also a lot of implied question marks on this one: How do I choose a cell phone plan that will still be relevant two years from now? Would German language yoga classes defeat the purpose? Should I join the group called Indecisive 20-Somethings, or is that a cop out? Is that new address worth all the Oscar Mayer wiener jokes? The other list is about disconnecting: give back all 15 government-issued cards, find new homes for overly big/delicate plants and furniture, finally throw out those fluorescent orange workout shorts that are—no matter how comfy—not going to make me any friends in Munich, etc.
When I’m not checking something off a list, my life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. On the weekends, we scurry back to Budapest to soak up the last of our favorite people and things…and wake up to the Danube just a few more times. I’m not ready for the official goodbye yet, so that’s all I’ll say about that at the moment. (Sniffle.) On a happier note, we are, during the week, getting acquainted with München and Müncheners. I’ve learned how to recycle plastic bottles in-store, validate subway tickets as part of the “honor system,” dodge bicyclers along extremely snowy sidewalks, and calculate Warmmiete. Between German classes and making myself legal, I inspect items at Viktualienmarkt and Manufactum, engineer new ways to keep sentences from straying outside of the Nominative case, and make myself sick off of Starbucks coffee. All good stuff.
As for the Müncheners, I don’t have a good sense for them yet, but one thing is for sure: they LOVE Munich. Over many a glass of German Riesling I’ve heard in detail why Munich is really the best place in the world to live. No matter that the sources are from here and have never lived anywhere else. There is, it seems, no good reason to ever leave Munich. Oktoberfest and beer gardens are toward the top of the list, but the most commonly cited reason to love Munich is its proximity to the mountains and countless lakes. (See in German = lake = confusing). Just outside of the city, breathtaking views, skiing, and saunas abound. Not bad for countering snow-related protests from those of us who appreciate a nice, short Hungarian winter.
Still, I wondered at first if these Müncheners were over-selling the whole nature component. Sounds too good to be true, no? Doch! After an afternoon at the mountain lake called Tegernsee a couple of days ago, I’m pretty much on board with the Munich [area] love fest. It was 45 minutes away and stunning—all mist, sun, water, and bluff. We had lunch at an old monastery called Schloss Tegernsee, which, according to the coasters (thanks Leah), has been around since 746. (!!!) The fish was from the lake and a light, delicious alternative to Leberkase. What a nice surprise. A unique, contrary part of this place that feels a bit more like home every time I check something off of that Munich list.
I don’t know how much longer I want to live dual lives, but I think that this—city and See—is a juxtaposition I can live with.
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I’ve heard people from northern Idaho say the same thing about it being the best place in the world to live, despite having never lived anywhere else. How blessed you are to call two such places home in your lifetime! I love you and wish you and Andreas all the best in your new home.