Volume 18 - Day 112/253, 2026 - Wednesday

Paulina and I were awake at 3:15AM this morning (Ireland time), and headed to the airport at 4:15. I got to meet Paulina's brother (Lucas or maybe Lukas, not sure of the spelling), and Anna, one of the women that works with Paulina. Then we went our separate ways; Paulina headed to Berlin and I headed to Munich. My plane was late taking off, but I made it to Munich and took a cab (Uber was not helpful) to my hotel in Munich. I checked in to my hotel, did a little bit of work, and then Lisa came and we walked around some spots near the city, including the HUGE Nymphenburg Palace and the Palace Park. We didn't go in, but my first impression was that is was as big or bigger than the Louvre. It was plenty big! After that, we went to the Unchner Fruhlingfest (Spring Festival), which is a scaled down version of OktoberFest, only it is April, and that is where we met up with Hanna. We rode 'one of the largest transportable Giant Wheels in Europe, the Willenborg Riesenrad.' It goes to a height approximately 50 meters higher than five Olympic diving towers. It's pretty high. Then it was off to dinner, and then back to the hotel. Public transportation is very good here, and I bought a one-day pass, so we got around just fine. I also got in over 17,000 steps today, so there is that! Overall, it was a great day, so nice to see Lisa and Hanna, who I met on the Expedition to Antarctica. We have just kept in touch and I was too close to Munich not to take a little side trip. Tomorrow, there will be sites to see, and then dinner with Lisa, Hanna and their respective boyfriends. I am really looking forward to another great day! Photo: Me, Lisa and Hanna at the top of the Ferris wheel.