The Rest of My Time in Munich
A low-key affair
The rest of my time in Munich was fairly low-key. No more big excursions; I had to recover from my day trip to Lake Eibsee, LOL. (For real, though.) I enjoyed walking around and taking in the spring blossoms, eating foods I can’t easily access in Tirana, and doing some more errands/shopping at stores I don’t otherwise have access to (e.g., Decathlon).
I figured out how to make some Amazon returns. Sadly, it wasn’t as easy as in the US or even other countries. I’m not sure why; maybe because of the specific items? Anyway, I had to print out a return label, which required finding a shop with a printer. Then I had to download an app to connect to said printer and then print the label out. In this regard, it’s a more streamlined process in Tirana. (Just walk into a kancellari/office store, send your file via WhatsApp or email, and voila; it costs 10 lek, or about $0.11 USD.)
Then I had to actually return the items, which required finding a location to take them (this took two tries) and then getting them packaged. Fortunately, I ended up at the post office and they helped me out. I truly felt like a fish out of water and the long line of people didn’t help my anxiety. It had been easier in Austria, where all I had to do was hand over the items, no label or packaging necessary, just like in the US.
Often it’s these ordinary transactions that we wouldn’t think twice about how to handle in our home countries that nearly bring us to our knees abroad. Between not knowing the language or the custom or where to go, it becomes time consuming and overwhelming. But I persevered and got it done, and I gave myself a pat on the back for that.
One afternoon I explored the Marienplatz area (I think that’s what it’s called). Kellye met up with me and walked me through a bit of the history, plus we did some light shopping. And then I went back to their apartment and got to spend some time with the baby! A little squish always does the soul good. We capped the evening later with a drink at a pseudo beer garden and I discovered the delight of a radler, which is the German equivalent of shandy (a British term). In simple terms, it’s half beer, half lemonade (or half carbonated beverage or juice). Delicious.
There’s much more that I’d love to do in Munich on a future trip, including seeing the English Garden. (I’d love to go for a run through there.) A cooking class would also be fun, and there are other side trips I’d like to do. But all in good time, I hope.
Have you been to Munich? What did you love doing or seeing there? What, if anything, surprised you?