Well, after the excitement of the WM visit, we still had Munich to explore.
We started out by ourselves and a night time wander through the town. We discovered the Glockenspiel Clock, main shopping mall and district, and headed to the Hoffbrauhaus, Munich's most famous beer hall, for some sustenance, i.e. food and beer.
They serve beer in 1 litre steins.
Dinner was pretty fun, and we made friends with our German tablemates who were celebrating their 24th anniversary by going hiking for a week (these Germans are crazy!). Then we met a lovely couple from Chicago who had been in town for a few days and told us the cool stuff to see.
We both slept very well :)
Sunday was out-and-about day. We started with a free walking tour through some of the city highlights, ending with lunch near the Mariaplatz. Our tour guide made it sound fun, so we signed up for the evening Beer Tour - we were told drinking was not compulsory, but when something is called a Beer Tour, it owuld be a waste to just taste the water, right?
The Beer Tour was fun, if a little crazy. SOME of us had the sense to stop drinking and take it easy after a while. Others of us, not naming any names coughcoughVUHcough went a little harder. So much so that the next morning SOMEONE had given themselves black eyes from clearing the ick out of their sinuses. Someone even looked like the inside of an eggplant when you've sliced and salted it and the purple streaks run from the seds to the skin.
Let this be a lesson, children. Don't try to keep up with backpackers in their 20s.
The next morning we hopped on a train to Budapest.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Wollmesie Part 2
So, after spending much money and sending it all home, we went back to the shop to hang out with the cool kids. Can you believe that some people have the WM as their LYS?!?!
The gals in the store were very, VERY cool. They were all working on some beautiful pieces - gorgeous scarves, intricate gloves with a gazillion cables, socks, the whole box and dice. So I got to pull my project bag out and continue working on my First Crochet Socks (Regia blues, using the Crochet Me Ultimate Socks pattern). They gave us more coffee, dragged a chair oputside so I could join them in the sun, and my VUH went for a wander while I got to hang with the gang.
It seemed amusing to me, but believe it or not, the WM locals do year for other yarns. Oh yes. When my friends and I get together for our LYS nights, we bring along other gorgeous stuff we obtained from other stores. And even though WM is some of the most lovely yarn in the world (my opinion), they brought along and cooed over more yarn! It made me laugh. I did take a photo so I can look it up later - if the WM chicks think it is coo worthy, it MUST be good!
I managed to get my friend Lee on ther phone to get his last-minute order, did another scramble for cash, THEN discovered the "Oops, really factory seconds becuase it's only 100g sock yarn, here have it for €10" section of the shop. OMGOMGOMGOMG!!! The perfect excuse to use the in-house swift and winder and start those Twist socks I've been hankering for... Alas, after paying and winding I realised that although I had the pattern, I didn't have my sock needles. C'est la vie, another day. I do get to carry around my WM cake and stroke it on the odd occassion, so it's all good :)
It was such a fun afternoon. I even got to see Mr WM when he came in to do some repairs, and to make my mark in the graffiti-it-yourself loo. No, this is not a joke, the WC is covered with greetings from all over the world, and even some LSG love from one of my Rav groups.
We eventually said goodbye and went to do a lap of the town. My VUH showed me the stuff he'd found, we had a pint at the local pub, and made our way back to the train station.
I had SUCH a good day! The WM gals have even Rav-friended me so they can keep up with my finished projects - so sweet.
The train trip back to Munich was entertaining with a Buck's party boy seling us some dodgy schnapps. Great fun.
The gals in the store were very, VERY cool. They were all working on some beautiful pieces - gorgeous scarves, intricate gloves with a gazillion cables, socks, the whole box and dice. So I got to pull my project bag out and continue working on my First Crochet Socks (Regia blues, using the Crochet Me Ultimate Socks pattern). They gave us more coffee, dragged a chair oputside so I could join them in the sun, and my VUH went for a wander while I got to hang with the gang.
It seemed amusing to me, but believe it or not, the WM locals do year for other yarns. Oh yes. When my friends and I get together for our LYS nights, we bring along other gorgeous stuff we obtained from other stores. And even though WM is some of the most lovely yarn in the world (my opinion), they brought along and cooed over more yarn! It made me laugh. I did take a photo so I can look it up later - if the WM chicks think it is coo worthy, it MUST be good!
I managed to get my friend Lee on ther phone to get his last-minute order, did another scramble for cash, THEN discovered the "Oops, really factory seconds becuase it's only 100g sock yarn, here have it for €10" section of the shop. OMGOMGOMGOMG!!! The perfect excuse to use the in-house swift and winder and start those Twist socks I've been hankering for... Alas, after paying and winding I realised that although I had the pattern, I didn't have my sock needles. C'est la vie, another day. I do get to carry around my WM cake and stroke it on the odd occassion, so it's all good :)
It was such a fun afternoon. I even got to see Mr WM when he came in to do some repairs, and to make my mark in the graffiti-it-yourself loo. No, this is not a joke, the WC is covered with greetings from all over the world, and even some LSG love from one of my Rav groups.
We eventually said goodbye and went to do a lap of the town. My VUH showed me the stuff he'd found, we had a pint at the local pub, and made our way back to the train station.
I had SUCH a good day! The WM gals have even Rav-friended me so they can keep up with my finished projects - so sweet.
The train trip back to Munich was entertaining with a Buck's party boy seling us some dodgy schnapps. Great fun.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
What a week!
Yes, happy campers, we have been having a fabulous time in the past week.
Munich was gorgeous. I love the combination of old and new, beer and pretzel, yarn and yarn. Because possibly the MOST exciting part of our visit was the trip to the Wollmeisse store in Pfaffenhofen.
For me, this was the one part of our honeymoon I have been looking forward to the most. And believe me, it did not disappoint!
We had arrived in Munich fairly late in the day, found our hostel and crashed. With an early start the next day, I kept dreaming that I'd slept in, kept waking up, and so of course was exhausted the next morning. We mare the train to Pfaffenhofen and the 20 min trip was full of pretty scenery and me jumping up and down in anticipation.
We walked into the village (thank you, Google maps), and it was as I'd hoped. As the shop came into view, the clouds parted, the ray of divine light shone down and the choir of angels struck up.
The shop was AMAZING. No, that's not right... I don't know the words. Let me try this... Knitters will know how fantastic it feels to receive a skein of WM in the mail, when you get to feel it and marvel at the cooler and texture and rub it against your cheeck. Well, imagine that times a WHOLE SHOP. There was even a whole wall of factory seconds called "Nobody's Perfect" skeins with only one knot in the whole skein. ONE KNOT!!! Take that, Noro!
The ladies of the shop were amazing. They smiled at me taking my "OMG the shop!!!!" photo out the front, then brewed us coffee. Real coffee! VUH was offered prime place on one of the Husband Couches and I tried to do a lap, but kept getting distracted by all the pretties and grinning like an idiot.
When I broke out the orders from hone, they helped me gather everything. I love these ladies.
We eventually had quite a lot of skeins, so VUH did a run to the ATM while I... I can't really remember, I think there was more yarn stroking and idiot grinning. I had to stop myself from saying "That's so pretty!" since EVERYTHING was so pretty!
Holy FSM, I have never, ever spent that much money on yarn. VUH reckons he has never spent that much on his geeky hobbies either.
We did a run to the local post office to send the plethora of yarn home and to the other eager recipients. Fun!
More to follow...
Munich was gorgeous. I love the combination of old and new, beer and pretzel, yarn and yarn. Because possibly the MOST exciting part of our visit was the trip to the Wollmeisse store in Pfaffenhofen.
For me, this was the one part of our honeymoon I have been looking forward to the most. And believe me, it did not disappoint!
We had arrived in Munich fairly late in the day, found our hostel and crashed. With an early start the next day, I kept dreaming that I'd slept in, kept waking up, and so of course was exhausted the next morning. We mare the train to Pfaffenhofen and the 20 min trip was full of pretty scenery and me jumping up and down in anticipation.
We walked into the village (thank you, Google maps), and it was as I'd hoped. As the shop came into view, the clouds parted, the ray of divine light shone down and the choir of angels struck up.
The shop was AMAZING. No, that's not right... I don't know the words. Let me try this... Knitters will know how fantastic it feels to receive a skein of WM in the mail, when you get to feel it and marvel at the cooler and texture and rub it against your cheeck. Well, imagine that times a WHOLE SHOP. There was even a whole wall of factory seconds called "Nobody's Perfect" skeins with only one knot in the whole skein. ONE KNOT!!! Take that, Noro!
The ladies of the shop were amazing. They smiled at me taking my "OMG the shop!!!!" photo out the front, then brewed us coffee. Real coffee! VUH was offered prime place on one of the Husband Couches and I tried to do a lap, but kept getting distracted by all the pretties and grinning like an idiot.
When I broke out the orders from hone, they helped me gather everything. I love these ladies.
We eventually had quite a lot of skeins, so VUH did a run to the ATM while I... I can't really remember, I think there was more yarn stroking and idiot grinning. I had to stop myself from saying "That's so pretty!" since EVERYTHING was so pretty!
Holy FSM, I have never, ever spent that much money on yarn. VUH reckons he has never spent that much on his geeky hobbies either.
We did a run to the local post office to send the plethora of yarn home and to the other eager recipients. Fun!
More to follow...
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Day... LOTS
Yes, I'm terrible.
since last we spoke, we have:
Travelled from Ireland to Copenhagen
Overnight in Copenhagen
Went to Lego Land - v excellent!
Travelled to Hamburg, went to model train museum
Travelled on to Kirchlengern, spent few wonderful days with Claudia and Cristoff
Have arrived in Berlin, having fun.
Next stop is Munich.
Have added to yarn stash a lot - I love Germany!
since last we spoke, we have:
Travelled from Ireland to Copenhagen
Overnight in Copenhagen
Went to Lego Land - v excellent!
Travelled to Hamburg, went to model train museum
Travelled on to Kirchlengern, spent few wonderful days with Claudia and Cristoff
Have arrived in Berlin, having fun.
Next stop is Munich.
Have added to yarn stash a lot - I love Germany!
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