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Munchen/Munich, wow. To start Hilde, is an amazing angel of a women at 86 years young she speaks very little to no English, and I very little to no German. I LOVE IT. She is the sweetest old lady very much reminding me of C-Bell. Hilde, is out in the garden moving around and just cooking along such hospitality and kindness, I love grandmas I wish I could just stay with them my entire trip.
The story goes and this is what impresses me the most… I was in Leipzig with my host and his friends. We where sitting and having drinks and I was talking about my travels with them and how I had to go to a hostel for my days in Fussen because of the lack of CS hosts, and how I was going to have 1 extra day before I could meet with my host in Munich. I was telling them I am not sure what to do either spend one more night in Fussen in a lame Hostel or in Munich. Then Jacob, my hosts friend without me even asking said hey "My Grandma lives in Munich I am sure you could stay with her" I just met this guy 20 minutes ago and he offers me a place to stay with his grandma.
Then a day or two pass and I send Jacob an email "hey, is that offer with Grandma still good I would like to stay with her if possible" He sent back saying that yeah sure my grandma would love to have you she is excited to meet you. I leave Fussen, for Munich yesterday and arrive around noon. I make my way to grandmas house and ring the bell and this 86 year young no more then 4 foot grandma comes with the biggest smile on her face to open the door. I say " Grandma/Hilde, hi I am Kevin, Jacobs friend" and give her a big hug.
Like most all grandmas the first thing she asks is if I was hungry. We sat and had lunch and communicated as best as we could and I talked about how I have been missing real German food until I came to Bavaria, Berlin lacks any real German food. Then I explored Munich for a bit and returned home and she had made sausage and sauerkraut for dinner.
What is so amazing to me is that I was just a "friend" of her grandson and she had never met me before and does this. The hospitality given to a complete stranger. I am just amazed by this and love the people and friends associated with this couch surfing project I don't think this would have happened without it. Just believing that humans/people are generally good like these people are, that's the kind of society I wanna be a part of.
Couchsurfing…Period… hands down is the only way to travel.
Danke Schoen
Kevin
OK Response time…back on the blog comments from Aug 30 till now.
Thank you all for the Birthday wishes…
Mom, Ame, Mike and Cindy, Judy, Karen, Dad, Mo, Greg, Tony, Clymer Family, Yon, and anyone else I missed sorry : )
Mom- you seem to be really set on me changing when I get back…maybe, but its still the same old me with loads more experience in life and learning of the world. I am holding up fine, and still enjoying the travels. It is kinda funny and strange that it feels like a job in a way. Figuring out the city you are going to finding the transportation then finding hosts. Then getting to the city doing the same kinda stuff like a tourist, but with local input and guides. The random interactions with the people like grandma/Hilde and others are what I am starting to like the most. I have seen so many museums and churches they start to all look the same. I am looking for nature and people more so now. Like Fussen and the mountains and Hilde, etc.
Dad- we talked on skype for a bit and that was lucky, so , I will be brief with my responses cause I think we covered them. Yes, the WWII history is very much connected with history that I either completed forgot or we never covered in school. Seeing the museums and sites makes it all very real. Beats and textbook or movie.
Greg, Mo, and Tony- Germany rocks its up there with one of my favorite countries. Bummer, I wish I would have read your post about "Hitler's Eagle Lair" that would have been cool to see. It is hard to keep track of all the cites without internet for a couple of days and changing cities so often you miss some of the good stuff, ooo well next time. Please keep recommending things I do read them and will try to get to them. Fussen, was great and should have spent more time there amazing alps. I do remember you poor folks at work, that is why I am enjoying every minute of this because I know it cant last forever and I will be back working at some point.
Clymer Family- I remember this is your busy time of the year. The horse and pony show…ahah. Remember kids, even though I am not there if you screw up and don't win first your are still out of the family… same rules apply to when I am there or gone!!! : ) How are we doing though? Got any top 5 finishes? Denise I will look into the cookbooks today maybe tomorrow. I will also see about getting on TV with a race or two, but I think the running of the bulls was the best chance. THANK YOU, finally someone recognizes I am an old man… its really time for me to retire… the entire point of this trip is to find a good place to kick my heels up and retire. : )
Karen- Yes, I will be at the start of Octoberfest and man does it look crazy I toured the grounds and its like $10 for a liter of beer and the tents are like giant GIANT halls…. I may not survive.
Judith- I am alive and safe, I may head back to turkey thought and in the south east part of it just to mess with you though ; ) I am touring the castles and octoberfest now, so worry less. I am telling you Africa is when the crazy stuff begins, maybe even India/Tibet. I am thinking of riding a Yak across the Himalayas…really, me and a yak. I loved your post about enjoying life, I am and thank you, you enjoy every minute as well, you red haired devil you. : )
I think this is it, thank you everyone for posts and comments I read them all and appreciate them all.
- comments
Dad GREAT POST! Lots of info, Sonshine! Ahh older folks, now your talkin'. Lots of info ,experience, class, and hospitality. CARRY ON!!!
Uncle Greg Hi Kev... loved reading your blog about Grandma Hilde... she seems lovely! Make sure in Munich you have a weiswurst (pronounced "vice-worst" mit de mustard! They are only served earlier in the day (not dinner) and manytimes from street vendors like in the Marien Platz in Munich. They were my favorite! Make sure you visit some of the biergartens one we went to claimed to be the biggest in Munich, where Tony & Anders had a "kinder bier". Make sure you do not sit at the (I think this is right) hubler tisch ( the table ONLY for every day regulars who even bring their own steins). Munich was a great place to buy a beer stein many that are numbered originals... I know hard to haul but you owe yourself one of these for memories of your trip... ship it home if you have to! From Munich we traveled north west up to Rotenburg (town of red roofs rot=red in German) and there is a place there I know you'd love to see... it's the criminal museum... not because of criminals... but because I know you liked the Renanissance Festival, and they have entire floors of medieval torture implements, it was REALLY interesting to learn about those times and the town of Rotenburg is like stepping back centuries in time. To enter the city you have to cross the moat thru the gate! try and see if you manage to CS up there! Stay safe! Greg & Mo
Mom Grandma Hilde must be a wonderful person and I bet she's glad she met you, too! Watch your spending on Beer at Oktoberfest for your finances and brain cells! I know you will still be the same Kevin when you come home but with all those experiences and churches there must be some small changes. I still tell just about everyone I talk to about your travels and they all comment about the charming, outgoing personality you must have to accomplish all this. I have to agree! Enjoy your travels and only venture into places you where you are out of harms way. I love you. Stay safe. Mom
David (Leipzig) Awesome how that worked out =D
jami kevin! i am so proud of you. and so jealous. i read your every blog entry with great admiration--you may or may not have brought me to tears with this "hilde" business. in my modest travels, i, too, have found the people to be the most incredible. there is so much love out there! seriously, kev, it sounds like you are living your moments with presence, wonder, and openness. what a guy. p.s. your plant is fine.