Well, here I am, in Munich, at Ralph's flat. It all worked out as it usually does. And a mere 2 hours after first arriving in Germany, I was climbing the stairs out of the subway to meet Ralph. It always works out. I've no internet. So the inability to update things continues, but I should be able to find some kind of public library or cafe to snake an internet connection. At the very least, the Burger King at the train station has internet; I was tipped off on a google search and led to some guys travel blog, and that's where I found the handy tidbit. It really helped me out.
The small amount of Munich I've seen looks leafy and green but the weather here is grey. I was hoping for a change in weather; yesterday getting caught in the downpour and massive lightning storm was not at all fun. After things settled down, and I had formulated a backup plan if I wasn't able to get ahold of Ralph, I eased into the city and instead of running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I was able to enjoy the delights of Verona. The sun was out and things were lovely. I sat in Piazza Erbe for a long time watching the people pass for nearly 90 minutes. I watched as the final streaks of golden light faded. I walked back to the main piazza by the arena and sat down for dinner at restaurant named Liston 12. I couldn't have imagined a better place to sit. I was hoping for one final grandiose sunset but unfortunately was robbed of the final rays of sunlight as foreboding clouds in the distance began to build. Ironically enough on my last night I had a pizza and two pints of German beer; a blending of the two cultures and places I would soon be leaving and entering. And it all passes so quickly. I met an American girl (from California) at the stazione and she'd missed her train. I felt so bad for her. She was even further up the creek than I as she had no cellphone, didn't speak any Italian, and quite possibly had to wait all night for another train. Lying in my bed trying to find sleep I realized I could have done more to help her out; things always become so much more clear after it no longer matters, why is that? I didn't sleep last night until after the train had left Verona and woke up around 4 am to lots of chatter amongst the bunks above me.
I'm here drinking some coffee. I'll take a shower and head out down the street and see what I can see. From here things will be ok. I have a good feeling. Next week sometime I'll be in central Germany with Tilman, maybe we'll play golf, drink some beer, and listen to trance. I'll have to see if I can get a cheap bus ticket for up north. This past week I'm fed up with having to shell out loads of money for train tickets (one instance was my fault, the other was not).
Thinking back to two weeks ago, with the Littlehales and Umbertide, It's crazy how far we go, how many places we pass, and like we're being shot out of gun we're catapulted away so quickly. Like I wrote some time ago, the places I've spent time in are now just a pleasant memory. We move so fast time for reflections is not always possible. The small room I spent so much time in in Milan is now gone. The people I've met along the way all stored in my head.
In the wee hours of the morning I listened to the final bits of Italian I'd hear on this trip. The conversation among the other passengers in my cabin consisted of two men realizing they were both in Germany for the first time in their lives. One of them started chatting with me in Italian as I sat on the edge of my bed bleary eyed and half asleep, and for the last time I employed my minimal Italian skills. Ironic that he should look to me for help. After disembarking he waited for me and we walked down the platform together. He was looking to make a connection to another city in the north: Stuttgart. And I told him I could help him. We found the help desk for the train company and he was off. We shook hands, said ciao, and that was that. Italy had completely separated itself from me.
Here we are. Here is Germany: Munich, the heart of Bavaria. The beer mecca. Alright, time to move. We're off....
Zach
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