BFF in Bavaria

With Oktoberfest behind us and the conclusion of William's 1st birthday celebrations, you'd think we'd settle into the humdrum and onset of a German winter. Not quite yet! My best friend (and William's godmother) Robin arrived to keep the party going! Robin brought California sunshine, more figuratively than literally, and it felt so satisfying to have someone else proclaim, "It's cold here!" Thank goodness for Robin's positive attitude; we had a great time exploring Munich and its surroundings at a William pace, logging in some much-needed girl time, getting out of the house after William's bedtime for some adult fun, all the while watching Robin wear all the hats and scarves she never gets a chance to wear in California. Being my soul-sister of an 'A-type' personality, Robin explored three countries in 10 days. How's that for efficient? Buckle your seatbelt, here's Robin-Fun-Times in a nutshell:

A day trip to Salzburg, Austria
Yes, that's snow on the mountain behind us.
Cue Robin: "It's cold here!"
Cue Sarah: "Don't you love Robin's hat and scarf?"

Robin and William in the Mirabell Gartens of Salzburg
I did my darndest to give her a mini-version of the infamous Sound of Music Tour I took here 4 hears ago.

The three of us in front of the gazebo from Sound of Music.
William will SOOOO appreciate this picture someday.



In a day of roaming around Munich, we stopped at the oldest cafe in the city, Cafe Tambosi at Odeonsplatz, and enjoyed sipping coffee in royal chairs while our Prince William enjoyed a royal snooze.
I love the fact that Europeans, despite the cold weather, will dine/drink outside months longer than any Californian. Many restaurants and cafes will provide patrons with blankets (like the red one on Robin's lap) to keep them warm while they enjoy the fresh air. Deeelightful!

After visiting our friends in Zurich, Switzerland (Yep, that's 3 countries!), Robin arrived back in town to enjoy a beautiful (and cold) Fall day in Munich. We decided to take a stroll.
Please note Robin's second hat and scarf set. Yeah!

The four of us -- strolling along.

The English Garden changing colors.
We couldn't get over the beauty of the season and I kept insisting on taking more and more photos. Jeff and I had to laugh. Was it the Californian in me, never really seeing a changing of the seasons? Oh wait. Neither of us got the chance to witness it all last year . . . . we were delivered a little munchkin that kept us in the hospital for 2 weeks and then indoors for most of the season after that. Robin did actually did bring the sunshine from California for this day - we even got to wear our sunglasses. Ha! It was so nice to have Robin here so we could share our "first Munich Fall" together!


Someone tell the Isar surfers it's Fall!
Cue Robin: "It's cold here!"

William wanted to stop at the Chinese tower for lunch, but we decided to hold off on enjoying a beverage for want of something better . . .

. . . like a mass of Augustiner. If we were going to share an event as stellar as Robin's first-ever-mass, it HAD to be an Augustiner. Jeff and I have traded our California Wine Snob IDs for official Bavarian Beer Snob membership.
Cue Robin: "Beer's yummy (and it's cold) here!"

On Robin's last day here, William wore his bulldog shirt as an ode to Barney, the super bulldog, who was left back at home in California while his mommy ventured to Germany for two weeks. Thanks for sharing your mom with us, Barney! It meant the world to have her here with us. And while we continue to miss her laughs and warmth, we know you need her more and hope you are catching up on butt scratches from your favorite lady.