Munich, Germany

Hello Munich, Germany!

THE TRAIN.... ggrrrr.....
In short, there were train issues which left us with this option.. only: ride for 2 hours (midnight to 2am), wait in Frankfurt for over 3 hours, then catch another train at 5:45 for Munich.. which would be another 3 hours of riding. --Our original plan was to get a sleeper train that went straight thru, but the only train that left that eve ended up being full.. We didnt even think about making a reservation. Double Doh!--
Anyway, we'll just say I got next to no sleep (Jason seems to manage tho, however he does it...) My sleeping bag was my only saving grace that night tho bc it kept me warm and provided a sense of shelter from who knows what!.. It allowed for me to get a little comfortable on that nice train station bench so I could at least pretend to get some sleep.. mm.... yeah..... Im over train stations and benches.

When we finally arrived at our (correct) train stop, this is how this way went:
So we're tired... I'm once again dead tired, and all I've got thats keeping me going (tho it really wasnt) was a weak cup of coffee I got at the last big train station (the place we were currently at.. equivelant to the size of Lemon Cove.. AND the station itself was boarded up, so no food or drink there... AND, becaue it was Sunday, everything else was closed) So bummer....
The day was hot, I was feeling ill, Jason was doing the best to keep me smiling and fiure out how we were suposed to get from point A (train station) to point B (a church in Eichstock that one of our Haury ancestors helped build back in the 1800's) without transportation other than our feet. *Note that this church is waaaaaaaaaaay out in the middle of fields and trees... approximitely 4-5 miles (at least) away.* No buses and no taxis... things were looking grim and very UNappealing to me.. UNTIL (one of God's nice little blessings!) a couple who we had asked directions from earlier, offered to take us there... just because. Woohoo! They ended up dropping us at the road that lead to the church (at least 1/2 mile walk.. I'd do that!) and took no offers of money in exchange. We couldn't thank them enough!
Once at the church (which luckily people were still lingering and fellowshiping) Jason and I met what felt like the entire congregation (some of whom Jason met a year ago when he went to the church while in Germany). It was fantastic! AND we got cookies and coffee too.. just what I "needed"... ha! (I woulda taken water, but all they had was mineral water.. the bubbly stuff... ick!)
Anyway, one of the older couples (Wolfgang and Gudren Schmutz) offered to take us back to the station (yay! blessing number 2!) BUT only if they could feed us lunch first (Sweet! blessing number 3!). We ate and talked and listened to all the stories Wolfgang had to share.. 2 hours flew by! They were some of the sweetest people yet! (Im determined to go back and visit them too! Once I learn me some German...) **This couple is very involved in church growth over there in Munich, and just listening to Wolfgang talk about his faith, church ideals, Christ, etc... it snapped me back into a reality I needed, and reminded me how important it is to be rooted in Christ.. gosh... I will never forget those 2 hours...**


Jason, Gudren, Wolfgang and I

After a ride to the station and big hugs, Jason and I left the Schmutz's, and headed for town..

While there: We ate some food and drank some heafty beers at the famous Hofbräuhaus (Pete, we thought of you!!!), napped at the park nearby, then made our way to the train station for yet another night-long ride to Budapest, Hungary... and this time we made reserations!


At the Hofbrauhaus... yup, I totally beat Jason at the beer drinking!!!
What now!?! :)

Sleeping train... Never done it before and dont care to do it again.. it was a horizontal surface tho without being a bench, so.....