Topfi

Topfi fancies himself a jet-setter and takes any opportunity he can to put his passport to good use. He was even more excited than usual for his latest trip, which took him to Munich, as it enabled him to escape to a much cooler clime. He thinks the weather in Washington has just been so uncivilized lately.


A lover of the arts, he was in the city for less than twelve hours before he made his way to the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz to see the TanzTheaterMünchen perform Das Schloß, inspired by Kafka’s novel. Although he had been somewhat concerned as to what awaited him, as one never knows what to expect with German modern dance (and Kafka’s hardly cheery), he most enjoyed the visually stunning performance.


Topfi’s primary motivation for going to Munich was to visit a good friend, and the two of them spent many hours wandering the city’s lovely parks and charming streets (he loves the buildings' architectural details).


One of the things Topfi most enjoys about traveling is trying out local delicacies, and luckily his friend was more than happy to steer him in the right direction (good thing there was a scenic running path along the Isar as he can't have a holiday ruining his figure). He loves German cheese, bread and wine (dry Rieslings are his favorite), and was happy to discover that it was Pfifferlinge season, as he has yet to meet a mushroom he doesn't like (although as a vegetarian he's tired of getting served portobellos). That said, he believes it’s hard to top Käsespätzle, at least for dinner,


as most of all Topfi loves all things Mohn (that would be poppy seed for those who don’t speak German), which Germans do wonders with. He made certain to partake in a daily poppy seed treat, sampling different cakes and slices in the city’s many bakeries; his favorite was a cake from another friend’s local bakery in the neighborhood of Haidhausen, but unfortunately he cannot remember its name.


Never one to stop at one dessert a day - Topfi believes in a sweets heavy food pyramid - he eagerly accompanied his hostess on an ice cream tour of the city, trying traditional flavors at Amorino (yogurt, banana and hazelnut), and more unusual/exotic flavors at Schuhbecks (rice pudding) and Jessas (milk fig).


Of course he did take time out of his busy eating schedule to visit some museums, as a trip would not be complete without stopping by one or two. First on the agenda was a visit to Villa Stuck, once the home of the artist Franz von Stuck.


Although Topfi had been to Munich numerous times, he had never been to the Villa, and was most impressed by the house's ornate Art Nouveau interiors. And Topfi always likes to stop by the Alte Pinakothek to check out its numerous masterpieces. He thinks the manageable size is just right, as one wouldn’t want to overdose on the Old Masters. Topfi also attended a panel discussion – On the Occasion of Ai Weiwei: Art, Dissidence and Resistance - at the Haus der Kunst. He found it interesting enough but was ready to escape after an hour and a half, so he headed to the museum’s Goldene Bar, where he enjoyed a good glass of Sekt and a lively discussion. What can he say, as cultured as he fancies himself sometimes he’d just rather enjoy a glass of bubbly with friends.