After yesterday's misadventures, we needed to get three more shots and had a matter of hours to get them done. We also had a two-hour drive to get them done. Waking up early and cramming a quick breakfast of muesli, yogurt and pickled herring, I laughed when Josh texted to say that the car was frozen and we'd have to wait a bit before going. This was not a good sign.
The sun was out and the mountains were absolutely stunning above the town of Fuessen. We drove around taking images of the cute little altbau houses as part of the series and made our way quickly to Memmingen to do the same. The city of Memmingen is a wonderfully old city with an intact city wall. Virtually untouched by World War II, it is one of Germany's best preserved cities. Colorful houses with flower boxes line canals - we're talking straight up travel documentary here. We were able to get everything thing we needed - one down, two more shots to go.
In Munich, we arrived (again) at Nymphenburger Schloss and found that our luck had held out - it was still sunny! The only sunny day of the entire trip thus far. We used this to our advantage shooting swans and geese chilling out in the gardens and walking on the frozen pond.
Inside, we were able to get tickets and found our way quickly to the great hall and started shooting. The great hall is certainly that - great. Ornate chandeliers and the most colorful roof impress one right upon entering the room. Getting the shot that we wanted was only hindered by other tourists, but we managed to get our main image. The palace was so beautiful. We wandered the rooms, shooting details and items to be photoshopped into the final images - chandeliers, columns, clocks, candlesticks.
Anything that we thought we could use. In one of the rooms, we rounded the corner to find the most amazing nook. We looked at each other excitedly - we'd found our last location! We were done!
That was an odd feeling. We'd been so stressed and purpose driven ten seconds before, then... poof! We packed up and headed to the Munich central train station. This was my stop! He headed back to Milan and I headed off towards Roth, near Nuernberg to visit a dear friend. While in the train station, I think I practically closed the place - I got so much food. Kaesestangl (roll with cheese baked into the top), butter brezel (buttered pretzel) and a johannisbeerstreusel (current streusel pastry). I'm pretty sure there is more - I had a TON of food. When I lived in Munich, this was my most frequented place for food. It was so good to try it again!
Jet lag can be a pain in the butt. I'd woken up at 2 a.m. and hadn't been able to go back to sleep. I sat down in the train... and woke up an hour later. Apparently I'd fallen asleep. I heard the announcement for Augsburg, where I was to switch trains, and I hopped off the train. A stop too early. Oops! I was at Augsburg - Hollerzahl, not Augsburg central station like I'd thought I was. I looked up the way to Roth, and found there was a train coming in half an hour that could take me there. I sat there freezing - it must be a full 10 degrees celsius colder here than in Fuessen. A few minutes later, I hopped on the train and was on my way.
Again, I fell asleep. I woke up a few minutes later and asked the man across from me what station we were coming up on. He said Moettingem. I'd never heard of such a place - not a good sign. He asked where I wanted to go and I told him. I had hopped on the wrong train. I got off at the next station, took a train two stations back and then finally got to my destination in Roth (near Nuernberg) two hours later than I'd wanted to. All because of my jet lagged brain. I will also say that having not been in Germany for three or four years, you forget how to work trains and public transportation in general. It was embarrassing.
I met up with my friend Evelyn and we chatted late into the night. Now in the comfort of a warm bed with a German decke (duvet), I am ready to sleep through the apocalypse.
