Le Jour Vingt-Deux (Day 22)

Oh my goodness. Okay, I feel like I’ve talked about breakfast a lot on here, but this hotel and this breakfast tops literally every breakfast I’ve ever had! Maybe that’s being dramatic, but it’s definitely top 3 EVER. EVERYTHING was served at this breakfast. I got: French toast with strawberry jam, brown oat bread with eggs and ham and made a sandwich out of it, vanilla and hazelnut yogurt, and THE best granola yet (including a yummy dark chocolate kind that was to DIE for). I was in heaven. We were up and ready to go on our Lenny’s bike tour today, but after breakfast, we realized what the weather condition was like outside: cold and rainy. Ewie! A couple of people have a cold in our group, and only about half even wanted to go on the tour at this point, so we were given the option to go. If any of you know me well, you know I can never give up a bike ride, rain or shine. I’ve endured worse weather, and as long as I dressed right, this was going to be no big deal.

Warm clothes, Brady’s rain jacket (because that’s the only thing I forgot to pack, right mom?), a huge breakfast, a willing attitude, 8 hours of sleep, and a cup of coffee? Shoot, I felt like a champ! So, after weeding out the pansies (okay, that’s being harsh, sorry Garrett! Shout out to him because he supplied my friends with more warm gear and saved their lives. So selfless.), we were on our way to the bike tour, including Dr. Mac who dressed in some blue Eskimo suit and looked like a smurf!

The tour was okay. I mean, I’m definitely glad I went because I learned a lot, got to see different things, and got a good exercise in, but the tour and company as a whole I wasn’t too impressed with. Maybe it was because it was raining, or maybe because the personality of the guides/owner wasn’t my cup of tea, but Fat Tire blew the Lenny’s tour out of the water. I don’t think I could have done anything else much more exciting on this rainy day except see an art museum, a movie, or joined Drew and Garrett for their random festival find where they received crowns, swords, and had a crepe. I’ll admit, I’m slightly jealous, mostly about the crepe part because for lunch after the tour, a group of us (including Dr. Mac whom we adopted into our passé) went to some German place, and I got some beef soup with noodles and another big pretzel thing. It was okay, still not a fan of the German food.

Sydney, Allison, me, Brady, and I ended up finding the worlds greatest frozen yogurt place called Dip It. There were only three flavors, but unlimited toppings, and it was SO GOOD!! Afterward, by the grace of God and Him knowing exactly what I needed in order to find rest and be filled back up, I think I just needed an afternoon where I just got to be, enjoy where I am, observe the people and culture, and marvel at this city we are in. He provided that today: I climbed 300 stairs to the top of St. Peter’s tower and overlooked the ENTIRE city of Munich. It was absolutely breathtaking, and I was able to look out and take in all the orange roofs that surrounded us, the incredible architecture and structure of the city, and I could even see the countryside that lead all the way to mountains far, far away from here. We made the observation that there are a lot of old buildings here, but next to an old, historic building may be a new, modern building, and perhaps next to that a giant cathedral. I love that this city is full of surprising, beautiful architecture at every corner! I love how clean, modern, and put-together it is too. I feel very safe here, and I was further surprised at the friendliness of the people here. I think Germany reminds me the most of America than the rest of the countries we have been too.

Don’t roll your eyes, but tonight about 30 of us went and ate at the best Mexican food place called Jose-Penas. I split Margarita fajitas with a sweet girl named Abbey, and they were SO GOOD!! We were all extremely satisfied to have a little taste of home, with a slight European feel to it. It for sure wasn’t Tex-Mex by any means, but it worked for us and the craving we all had! Mom and Dad, you would have liked it; I’m sure ya’ll are laughing right now because I always skip out on most of your weekly Mexican food outings. Now I know. Tonight was fun sitting by other girls like Hillary, Shelby, Rachel, Abbey, Valerie, and others that I love hanging out with, and it felt like a mini girls outing. They are so sweet, and I always enjoy getting to know them on a deeper and deeper level! DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO KNOW I’M A COMPLICATED RESTAURANT ORDERER: I also met a girl who is just as picky and complicated when it comes to ordering as me! Tonight I was just so very complicated with my ordering, but I just can’t help it. Shelby and I decided that there is an art to ordering, and we have mastered it; it just seems complicated to everyone else. Haters! But our waitress was so sweet and wonderful, and the food was amazing, so it was all fine and dandy. Then we came back to the hotel and rested, knowing we have a busy business visiting day tomorrow!

Today, I learned a lot about myself, and found God in the most random, beautiful ways. He showed up in all the people and culture I observed, the view from way up high I marveled at as a reminder of how big He is, in all the people I met and talked with, in the children I played and made faces with, in the random, beautiful garden/park I discovered with a giant fountain and dozens of colorful flowers, in the music playing from live performers, and in the calm-before-the-storm weather condition of this afternoon, which is my favorite. How are you looking for God? Can you see Him in everything throughout your day? Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. James 4:8.