Global Village Part 1 - Wedding in Austria

Thoughts on the train 4.25AM 29/6/2017

Thus, the journey begins...with a ride on Panther Taxi from home to the Cambridge Train Station (£6.50). An early morning flight to Memmingen, Germany has to be caught. This is the first stop of what's starting to look like an exciting summer - a summer that will take me across three continents. Albeit, this first destination is simply a Ryanair feeder airport for Munich which is ultimately where I have to collect my car and meet up with my first travel partner for this summer, A, who is flying in from Minnesota. A was an ex-course mate, ex-colleague, and ex- neighbour from Marquette University, Milwaukee and we were both ambassadors for the Global Village - an international cross cultural student experience in the university.

The car which is waiting for us at Munich airport is provided by Sixt, which is apparently pioneering an instant pick up service - straight from the gate to the car - am actually pretty curious on how this will take place!

More importantly however, is that this leg of this season-long holiday is to attend a good friend's wedding in the Alpine mountains of Austria. Having been the first European region that I have ever stepped in 9 years ago (welcomed by this same friend and the festivities of Oktoberfest) and having revisited it many times since then, it is still exciting going back. First travel challenge (word challenge used very loosely here) awaits - getting from Memmingen Allgäu Airport to Munich International Airport which is annoyingly not connected by a direct link. So, Munich, here I come (Munich Hauptbahnhof at least).

Thoughts on the plane.... 7.05am 29/06/2017

There I was, arriving in Stansted Airport by train from Cambridge (Cross Country 04:44-05:12 service, £10.10 - Network Rail Discount not valid on this route) with the thought that since its early morning on a Thursday, before the public school holidays begin, that the airport would be less busy. The flight I purchased costs only £24.99 anyway. Who would be travelling at such a time? Apparently, everybody - stag do's, hen parties, families with kids, young Asian tourists. Not really a pleasant sight early in the morning when a group of men was seen wearing a shirt with a naked picture of the groom with a big **** - totally superimposed.

It might be time to add another runway and another terminal to Stansted. More flights closer to Cambridge - definitely good for the local economy and standards of living (mine at least). However, given the crowd, the current airport is definitely designed and equipped well. Managed to get myself a seat at Itsu, have a Teriyaki Chicken breakfast (there's my hopes dashed of cutting carbs), charge my phone, and even mark a few papers! Tips for travellers: go closer to the boarding gate to use the toilets, they're less crowded. And, why wait in line to get onto a Ryanair flight - I was one of the last to board but there were still space on the overhead lockers (not that I had to use it anyway). And, if I boarded earlier, I wouldn't have heard the air stewardess in her exasperation trying to get passengers seated explain to her colleague on the intercom that she didn't want to go down the isle to help quicken the process as she didn't want to look like a monkey squeezing her way up and down the isle - I don't blame her, some travellers are simply incompetent!

Thoughts while in the garden by the Alps.. 11am 30/06/2017

Sun on my skin, enjoying the brilliant morning weather in the Austrian Alps. As usual, stomach is satiated by a brilliant spread of Austrian meats, bread, and homemade honey complemented by mountain herbs tea.

Bells of the village town is ringing as usual, but this is a special day, soon, E and J will be getting married in the eyes of god. Here we are, relaxing in the garden, enjoying the fresh air, while the already civilly married couple must be stressing over the festivities for the day. However, E as usual shows a persona of calm and even to the brink of non-chalantness.

Its only the second day into the holiday but so far, its already been pretty eventful - getting an SUV from Sixt through their Smart Start programme, getting stuck in the traffic of Munich city centre, a whirlwind tour of Munich by A's cousin, crossing the border into the Alpine region (minimum charge of €9.60 for a 10 day permit to drive on Austrian roads), seeing E's new house, trying to play translator for A, and meeting friends both new and old. But, in a couple of hours, the big event of the year will commence! Off to dress up now!

View of the village and the Alps from E's parents home in Lingenau