As I mentioned, at the beginning of my Germany trip, I spent 24 hours near Munich visiting my best friend from back home. She moved to Munich a couple of years ago and I had yet to see where she now lives with her husband M at Lake Starnberg.
I first flew into Frankfurt and then on to Munich where she picked me up at the airport. I hadn’t seen her in over a year and I was so glad to finally hug her again. Instant chatter ensued. I mean, we talk on the phone regularly, but there is always so much left to say!
We first drove to Starnberg and she and M showed me around. We ended up getting drinks and cake at Orange Beach, a beach bar and restaurant right on Lake Starnberg. We were super-lucky because the sun came out when we arrived.
We seriously had the best time just catching up and enjoying the views!
Later in the afternoon, we drove over to Ira’s home and even though she had previously sent me a video tour of the house, it was so nice to finally see it with my own eyes. The whole house is set up in “split levels”, which I love, and the guest room (where I was staying) is on the ‘third’ floor with a beautiful view of the lake and the Alps in the distance.
We took a walk through town and down to the lake and Ira showed me where she does all her daily routines (where she shops for groceries, where she runs, where the pharmacy and doctor is, etc.). You might think that this is ‘boring stuff’, but for me, to know and see where my best friend lives her daily life now, brings me a lot closer to her.
For dinner, we went to their favorite Italian place in Starnberg, ‘Al gallo nero’, where I indulged in delicious tomato soup (my favorite!) and authentic spaghetti carbonara. Yum.
Strangely enough, up until then, my jetlag had held off and I first noticed that I was starting to get tired when we got back to their house around 10 p.m. We chatted for a little while longer and then got ready for bed around 11 p.m.
The next morning, I was up early. For weeks, Ira and I had tossed around that weird idea that we should go running together when I visit. Of course, both Ira and I also didn’t really think that this was going to happen this time what was with the little time we had and my (very possible) jetlag.
We agreed that we would just play it by ear and that we would go for a short run on Saturday morning, if I felt up for it.
I know, some of you are probably shaking their heads wondering if we have gone mad or something, but for Ira and me, it was a heartfelt wish to be able to run together, to be able to do something ordinary together (pretending we could do that every fine goddamn day!).
So, when Ira texted me from downstairs at 6:30 a.m. (“Are you up?”), I enthusiastically responded (‘YES! Do you want to run?’), so we got dressed and headed for the lake shortly after 7 a.m.
It was a beautiful morning! We ran 5 miles along the lakeshore and to be honest, it was the best hour out of the roughly 24 hours we got to spend together. We chatted away, we passed Schloss Possenhofen (you must know that Ira and I are huge fans of the ‘Sissi’-movie-trilogy, the movies about the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and the castle used to be Sissi’s childhood home) and enjoyed the amazing morning view of the lake and the Alps, and we couldn’t shut up about the fact how special this moment was for both of us!
M picked us up at Steg 1 in Pöcking later and after a quick shower, we had an amazing German breakfast with fresh rolls, bread, croissants and pretzels, eggs, deli meats, cheese, and jam. It was just the best. I think Ira was a little irritated (jokingly) how much I praised the breakfast, but let me tell you, you appreciate things way more when you can’t have them for a while. Just sayin’.
At 9:30 a.m., my Mom called to confirm my flight number and arrival time with me again… because she couldn’t find my flight online. Weird.
Well, turns out, I booked my flight home to Cologne for May, 4th… which was Thursday. Ahem.
I have no idea how that happened and I guess, I could have freaked out about it, but instead I laughed it off (my family, too) and Ira was all smiles anyway because it meant I was going to be around for a few extra hours. Win-win!
I looked into options of rebooking my flight (the train wasn’t an option on such short notice) and then spent a couple more hours hanging out in Iras backyard. We really made the best of the time we had together and it almost felt longer than just 24 hours. The best part was that it felt so comfortable and easy to be around Ira (which is something that I do miss here, as I don’t have any local super-close friends), but it shouldn’t come as a surprise as we’ve known each other for most of our lives. Old friends are the best friends.
At 2:30 pm, I boarded the plane to fly back home and was greeted by this beautiful city view of Cologne and then my Dad, Greta and Tom who picked me up at the airport. Home is where the Dom is.
MElanie
May 24, 2017 at 8:23 amGerman Breakfast is everything! I was in Bavaria probably about 5 days before you and we were caught in snow! I’m glad you had a nice visit.
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:43 amIndeed. German breakfast is EVERYTHING :) Glad you had a nice visit back home, too.
Meesh
May 24, 2017 at 8:34 amWOW! Those views are stunning! It sounds like you two had a great time – also, that cat is beautiful too!! All the pretty things :-)
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:44 amThank you. It was fantastic (and yes, the cat is cute… luckily (<-- because he brought in a mouse not once, but twice that morning!).
jenn
May 24, 2017 at 8:48 amseven years ago, one of my cousins and her high school cross country team were taking a two-week ef tour through europe — germany, france, monaco and spain. her older sisters were going, too. and i had the privilege of tagging along. in germany we saw munich, dachau, neuschwanstein and heidelberg, and i was in love with all of it, even visiting dachau. i was surprised by the peace in that place. i hadn’t expected to feel that at all, and yet there it was. i kept telling myself horrible, unspeakable tragedies had happened in this place, and i shouldn’t be in awe of that peace i’d felt, that i should be outraged for all those lost there, and yet… maybe it was that we were there on a beautiful day. the only time i’d felt anything similar to dread was when we’d first arrived and approached the gate, those black bars with their arbeit macht frei. i’d wanted to spit at those words. and maybe when i saw the rauchen verboten in faded gray on dusty white in the main room of the camp, i’d been struck by the irony. but anyway… it was calm and quiet. anyway. i LOVED munich. i’d love to spend a summer in germany. it’s so beautiful there.
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:44 amSometimes the most haunted places are the most beautiful ;)
Tanja
May 24, 2017 at 8:48 amAwe, seems you and Ira had an amazing time and made the best of the short period. xo
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:45 amWe absolutely did! What a precious visit.
Heike
May 24, 2017 at 9:16 amYES!!! Home is where the Dom is.
The picture out of the airplane window is AMAZING! :)
I am glad you had a good time. Can’t wait to read more.
And to answer your question the ohter day: I usually bring home Jakobs Kroenung or Tschibo Feine Milde!
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:45 amRight??? I was so STOKED about the view from the plane!!
Kate @ GreatestEscapist.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:25 amOh, I love this. I’m so glad you got to spend time with your best friend, & I don’t think it’s at all weird that you didn’t really make plans, just let things happen. My best friend doesn’t live quite so far away, but I’m in Ohio & she’s in Tennessee now, so we don’t see one another often. When we do, we like to just get a bite, grab coffee, wander around, catch up, spend time together – it’s so much fun to feel like it’s a “normal” day instead of the rarity it really is!
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:46 amYes, thank you. It seems like you understand completely what I was trying to describe here… <3
Charlotte
May 24, 2017 at 11:55 amWhat beautiful photos! Loved seeing these… you know, I think I already mentioned that I studied abroad in Germany (Heidelberg) and have a lot of family scattered throughout the country, so this post brought me back <3 And I love that you and your bestie got up to go running together! I know what you mean… sometimes when you are separated by so many miles, it's lovely to find comfort in the simple, everyday things :)
Great post!
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:46 amYes, you did! And I am so glad that this post brought back some great memories for you!
Kathrin Schoenberg
May 24, 2017 at 4:10 pmGreat pics! I feel like I was there with you. I LOVE this lake so much. My grandmother lived in Wielenbach, not far away and we visited the Starnberger See several times. I’m a Sissi fan, too! Possenhofen is gorgeous and it has a great art museum, too, if I remember right. The cake, the drinks and the bar at the lake look amazing. I’m so happy you could spend this time with your friend in this beautiful area of Germany. Running with your bestie is the best! And I totally agree, home is where the Dom is ;-) Did you ever consider moving back or is that not an option for you and your husband? Thanks for sharing your time with your friend!
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:47 amThank you … it really was a lovely time in a beautiful area of the country.
Still, Cologne is home… and yes, we talk about moving back there all the time (it’s an option!).
Stephany
May 25, 2017 at 7:56 amI’m so, so happy that you got to spend some much-needed time with your best friend. I think just spending time with her in a low-key way, learning her daily rituals and habits and going for a run, sounds PERFECT. I think that’s what makes a best friend a best friend – you don’t have to GO GO GO and DO DO DO when you see each other. You can just hang out and it’s the best! <3
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:48 amThank you! You’re so right… being with your bff, you don’t have to go go go and do do do… just being together is the best!
Susie @ Suzlyfe
May 26, 2017 at 7:24 amTHis makes my heart so happy for you, that you got to spend such a fabulous day with your BFF. Just so happy for you, thank you for sharing it with us!
san
May 26, 2017 at 7:48 amThank you Susie. It really was a special time!