Meeting up with a friend from Syracuse in Munich!

Yesterday was a long day. M. and I met up with a friend from Syracuse, Z. Z. came over right after we ate breakfast and joined M.'s family and I (mother, father and brother) to the museum called Pinakothek der Moderne. This museum is dedicated to artwork from the twentieth century and onward. The beginning paintings (by Neo Rauch) we saw were very difficult if not impossible to understand without a guide explaining it. Neo Rauch attempts to point out the idiosyncrasies of government.

After walking through almost the entire exhibit, we all went to lunch at Bei Mario's - which is an Italian restaurant. It is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Munich, it opened in 1966. The food was incredible, as was the table wine (tafelwein). Then we went for gelato - the place had a line at it which is a good indicator on its popularity.

We parted ways with Z. only to meet back up with him to go to Mocca lounge. Mocca lounge is a hookah bar with Middle Eastern food, drinks and decorations. We had grape hookah, rum drinks, and a platter of appetizers including hummus with bread and baba-ganoush.

It was a nice relaxing day with M.'s family. Z spent a great deal of time speaking with M's father and brother because Babe, his mother and I rode our bikes from place to place while they (Joe, father and brother) walked together. Overall it was a great day and I cannot wait to meet back up with Z in Rome!

Third Day in Munich

Here is a list of the activities for the day: champagne at M's grandparents house in Gruenwald, lunch at Woernbrunn, relaxing time at M's apartment, then the concert Toto in Beuersbreun.

M's grandparents house is very beautiful and well decorated - with tons of artwork and sculptures throughout the house. Every bedroom has a patio attached (except for one), a feature I loved.

The restaurant was a traditional Bavarian restaurant. I had a drink called Redler which is a mix of beer and lemonade. For the meal I had the duck with blaukraut and shared some wienerschnitzel. For dessert we shared Kaiserschmarrn (which I believe is bread soaked in eggs, cream, and rum with strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream on top), needless to say it was scrumptious.

The concert had a downpour of rain throughout the entire performance plus a strong wind which managed to spray rain in your face while holding an umbrella - added to the fact that I did not bring a raincoat or enough umbrellas (for everyone who came to the concert with us tonight). Anyways, the music was great. Wishbone Ash opened up for Toto - the guitarist was amazing. Toto's concert was dedicated to Michael Porcaro because he has a terminal illness. Toto has not played together for a couple years - so it was a real treat to see them. They played Rosanna, 99, Hold the Line, Africa, Pamela, as well as many other songs.

Second Day in Munich

Wow. What a day. I am writing to you, sleepy and coming off a little buzz (so keep that in mind while you read this post). Today was long. We rode bikes around the city for 3 hours - from the train station (Hauptbanhof) to part of the "red light district" (located near Bayerstrasse) back to the English Garden. I saw part of a part of the English Garden where there is a wave, yes ONE wave, in which people come to surf. It was super cool - it is called the Eisbach. Then we went back to M's apartment for Cordon Bleu - yum yum.

The rest of the day we hung around, relaxed, drink and ate a little, then went to Ms uncles apartment - which is beautiful. The art surrounding the walls as well as the (once again) openness of the place is very appealing. We had a couple drinks and hung out on his patio.

Munich, Germany!

I am currently in Munich! I got in at 10:10 AM (4:10 AM EST). The flight was good, I met tons of German citizens as well as a Macedonian and a couple American travelers. The plane flight was good other than a touch of turbulence over the ocean. When I got into Munich, M picked me up and took me to his apartment. It is so nice! Everything is so open and the windows seem to be forever open to the world, it is great. The apartment overlooks much of Munich - which is an incredible city.

M took me walking around the city before we went to a Jeff Beck and Joe Bomamassa concert - both of whom are incredible artists. M took me walking through English Garden. The English Garden is filled with unkept shrubbery because the man who created the park based it off of parks in England - which are unkept and more wild. It is very beautiful. There was greenery everywhere as well as nice streams and animals around.

The concert was at the TollWood Festival which is a music festival in the Olympic Park in Munich every summer. There are concerts there throughout the summer as well as random other acts, such as acrobatics. We got to the Bomamassa section late - but what we did hear was great. He played a Led Zeppelin cover - I think Dazed and Confused. Then Jeff came on and was going from cover to cover - for example A day in the Life by the Beatles and a song from The Wizard of Oz. Jeff Beck is a magnificent musician. The music he plays does not use singing all the time because the music it self sings the lyrics to the crowd. Jeff's bass player is a female - who is real good. She can slap the bass (my favorite!).

After the show, we took the Uban which is the subway. The different subway stations are decorated differently. Overall, Munich is a really cool city and I cannot wait to continue exploring it - and updating Riss on Life!

Traveling and Good Music

Nateva was incredible. The music was great. Great atmosphere. Great people.

This past weekend I was at All Good - in West Virginia. Some bands that played there include: The New Deal, Dark Star Orchestra, Donna Jean Godchaux w. Jeff Mattson, Lotus, Bassnectar, Furthur, Cornmeal, Umphrey's McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Widespread Panic, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Perpetual Groove, George Clinton and PFunk, Keller Williams, and many other bands. All Good was amazing. I LOVED Dark Star, Lotus, FURTHUR, Cornmeal, Umphrey's, Yonder, Derek and Susan, Perpetual Groove, and Keller. Cornmeal is a band I first saw in Syracuse, NY at the Westcott Theatre. They have long jams in their live show that really showcase their talent.

I have a new found love for Grateful Dead and their respective cover bands. Honestly, there are no words to describe how amazing the Dead music is. I feel alive listening to it. The music soaks me up and I lose touch with reality. Then the song ends and I realize I am sitting at a concert venue - it is incredible.

On Wednesday, I will be going Europe - my itinerary is: Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Tuscany, and then back to Munich. I will try to do updates about the interesting places I visit.

Sorry for the Break

Sorry I have not posted in a while, I graduated college, moved back home, unpacked, and honestly just been relaxing. I am going to Europe (July 14-August 19) - sooo excited! Until then, I am going to Nateva Festival, AllGood Festival, and a couple Phish concerts. This summer is going to be great. After I get back from Europe, the job search begins. Not exciting.

I did not post the pictures from the package I received and since then I have only accumulated more clothing and accessories. I will attempt, yes attempt, to document interesting-cool-different clothing combinations I wear but if I do not comply, please don't be mad. In the mean time, I am off to Edgewater for a good (and free) dinner with my father and brother. Yum!