Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 142

A Weekend in Beautiful Munich

Hal and I had planned a summer vacation to Germany. We received a letter from my father’s very good friend Peppi inviting us to meet with him in Munich. Date and time and the name of the hotel we would stay in. We flew to the airport close to Munich, took a taxi to our hotel, freshened up and changed clothes and went to the hotel bar to meet with Peppi. We enjoyed a drink together and talked of the reason we had this meeting. Peppi was so excited, had tears in his eyes and gave me a big hug. He brought out the papers from his attaché case, let me read them and we discussed maybe in the morning, during breakfast here in the hotel we could get the Notary with two witnesses to join us for completing this legal paperwork. This visit with Peppi was twofold. He wanted to see me and Hal. It had been a long while since our last meeting, my father, Peppi, my Hal and I at Lake Starnberg, sailing together my father’s 12-metre sloop, the beautiful “Anmut.” Peppi was my father’s very best friend, his deckhand on the “Anmut.” Peppi invited Hal and me to a weekend of sightseeing and exploring this city of Munich, a beautiful and great city with many interesting sites to explore. Downtown Munich, if we would be interested to do some shopping. A most beautiful and serene park, Nymphenburger Park with a large lake, a big fountain and a little castle with the same name and very fine porcelain with the same name on display inside. On the lake we could watch three beautiful swans, one black and two white swans. We could visit some of the awesome churches and cathedrals with all their splendor inside and decades of history. It was Peppi’s treat for Hal and me.

Peppi was reminiscing with my Hal about our last sailing weekend with my dear beloved papa and how well Hal took to the lady, bringing her out and into her slip. Peppi said: “like a true sailor.” A wonderful memory of a time in our lives never to return. Peppi revealed his plan for the weekend and told us that tomorrow early evening he had arranged to get our food and drink from the Hotel kitchen to take to the October Wiese, “October meadow” a vast area of grassy landscape with the large statue of Bavaria standing guard. A big stage was set up and we would hear a summer concert, which sounded great!

Today was filled with a little shopping downtown in the Theatiner Gasse (Theatine Street) a very well-known street with the finest stores, I loved to browse in and pick some little gifts for my sister Friedl, her husband Georg, the boys and my Hal. A lingerie shop caught my attention and a wonderful purchase for Friedl followed me out of the store. A stunning silk pajama by Donna Karan and on the perfume counter I noticed a little black velvet pouch and inside, a gold sculpted little container, shaped like a flower/blossom with pressed parfum powder by Donna Karan, Cashmere fragrance, I knew Friedl would love.

For my Hal and for Georg each a great Dunhill pipe. For the boys we found in a book/music store a beautiful, appointed album with vinyls of “all nine Symphonies of Beethoven’s” they surely will love. A great chocolate shop got my attention, as we came around the corner and I fulfilled MY wishes in there. Brandy or liqueur filled chocolates from different manufacturers, and I had a taste for quite a few of them.

We were in awe, seeing the inside of several Catholic churches and a cathedral with all its splendor across from a wonderful Café. We took the elevator up. We were seated by the window, the café was on the 7^th floor of the building, the view was amazing and spectacular, one could see much of Munich, while enjoying good coffee and one of their delectable desserts. We discussed this evening with Peppi and had to admit that my Hal and I both were tired and would love to finish this day a little early. It was for Hal and me a very long day after our 12-hour flight. Peppi understood and suggested we all go back by taxi to our hotel and Hal and I order something from room service, so we could be comfortable and go to bed early.

We got together by the dining room entry for breakfast the next morning. We were seated and the concierge from the hotel arrived,   accompanied by a notary and from the hotel staff two witnesses. Hal invited them to our table and had them join us for breakfast. The paperwork that needed to be completed was right there in front of me. My father had decided, after discussing it with his personal lawyer and me to will his 12-metre sloop “Anmut” moored at Lake Starnberg along with her slip, all sailing equipment, main sail, jib and spinnaker to Peter (Peppi) Solo, my father’s sailing partner and dear friend. This statement was now notarized and needs my signature as my father’s legal representative for his estate. My dear beloved father gifted his lady “Anmut” to his dear friend of many years, his sailing partner, deckhand and caretaker of “Anmut” all year round for more than 30 years. This was a legal transfer of title and a great gift. Our dear friend Peppi was so happy, tears were shining in his eyes.

This sunny day, just starting for the three of us, we decided to spend the afternoon by the pool. People watch with a nice drink and good conversation or a little cat nap before we get dressed for this evening’s concert. Peppi picked up the basket with food and drink from the hotel kitchen. There was foie gras, French baguette and sweet butter, a small, round, delicious Brillat-Savarin triple cream cheese, excellent. Three half-bottles of fine French champagne, a big bunch of sweet, ripe grapes, sweet tiny pickles and green olives filled with blanched almonds.

The concert was awesome, and we still talked about it as the limo let us out by our hotel. We were still humming tunes on the way to our rooms. We said a warm good night and were looking forward to a good night’s sleep and to our breakfast in the morning. For Hal and me, a flight to Frankfurt to meet my beloved sister Friedl and Georg and for Peppi a train trip to his home, and lady Anmut’s home in Starnberg.

The good news we will have for Friedl is Mission accomplished!