An Ordinary Day in Munich
Running some errands and, well, going for a run!
My first full day in Munich I popped over to a cafe for coffee and then a small market for a few items to make breakfast (eggs, milk, bread), but otherwise I hibernated much of the morning. It felt luxurious and also necessary given how on the go I’d been.
But by noon, I was ready to get out, so off I went to take care of something practical: Buy some trail running shoes! (I need them for a multi-day outing I’m doing this summer.) I bought myself a transportation ticket for the week and then walked to the tram and rode a few stops to Lauf-bar, a top-rated running store.
Let me just set the scene: I went wearing jeans and a regular bra. I did not expect to actually test drive the shoes like in the US, as I hadn’t had the same type of shoe buying experience anywhere else in Europe. (And at this point I’d tried on or looked at running shoes in Oslo, the UK, Florence, and Valencia.) So I figured I’d maybe have some help selecting a shoe and I’d try it on but that would be it.
Well, Lauf-bar provided the same excellent shoe fitting and consulting as the best running stores in the US offer, and this includes an assessment of your running form on the treadmill in your old shoes, followed by test runs inside and outside in the shoes you’re trying on. So my choice of attire was all wrong. I’m sure I looked quite a sight. I certainly felt ridiculous and I can assure you it does not feel particularly great to sweat in jeans.
But the service? It was fantastic. Well, once I understood how it worked. When I first walked into the store, I stood there thinking someone would greet and help me. No one did, so I started putzing around, looking at what they sold. Still no one approached me. I tried to get someone’s attention, mostly to no avail. Finally someone asked me if I had an appointment. Appointment? Uh, no. Did I need one? Not necessarily, but I needed to put my name in and wait for someone to consult with me. Oh, I had no idea.
In the end, I can highly recommend the store. I left with a not inexpensive pair of North Face shoes. (How did I never know that The North Face makes trail running shoes?) I even liked the color. I said no to a pair of shoes that otherwise also felt good but that were not great color wise and needed a special pair socks.
With my shoes in hand, I was ready for practical stop #2: Getting my Amazon packages! But I feared I had too many to carry by myself, so Kellye offered to come meet me to help me transport them. While I waited, I stopped for lunch at a place called Oppa and had the most delicious curry.
I also browsed a bookstore. I absolutely love the smell of books and there’s something marvelous about touching the 3D version. I always want to buy several but I’m limited on space and weight, and if I can borrow them digitally from the library, that’s better for my pocketbook. But occasionally I do buy something. I also like to see what books are trending in the displays. I’d say you can glean what’s going on in the world from the curated selection.
It was time to meet Kellye and rescue my Amazon packages. It was the last day to pick some of them up, but first I had to find the lockers. Turns out, they were inside a department store (kind of like a Macy’s). It was a bit of a scavenger hunt to find them, but I did it. I collected all of them (it was kind of ridiculous the number of packages) and started taking items out of boxes and consolidating them into a bag I had brought, with the hope that it would help me carry them all. Otherwise, I had visions of myself trying to walk down the street like Santa Claus but without a bag trying to juggle everything. Fortunately, Kellye arrived to help save the day. Between the two of us it was quite manageable.
We walked back to my place and dropped things off. I got changed into my running gear and then we walked towards their apartment, which is on the way to Olympic Park. The weather was perfect—warm even—for a run. Lots of other people had the same idea! Oh and the shoes felt great, even though I was mostly on pavement. I got a shoe that can theoretically worn for road or trail.
I made dinner at “home” afterward and caught part of the sunset.
I enjoy doing normal everyday activities when I travel. It’s nice to see what the rhythm of life feels like in another place versus just traipsing through like a tourist. And Munich was definitely easy to navigate. Though speaking of being a tourist, I decided to be exactly that the next day… »Details here.