this trip has been a whirlwind so far. and in so many ways. thanks to the spanish siesta, i have a tiny bit of time to write this post and share a couple of photos.

for one thing- i’m exhausted. most of it’s happy exhausted, but not all of it. In the first 4 days of my trip, i clocked a total of 12 hours of sleep. it’s been worth the lack of sleep but i’ve never gone that long without really sleeping. if europe and the people i have met weren’t incredible- there is no way i would make it.

i’ll start with my first few days.

 

 

 

surprisingly (not sure why i was surprised), i love munich. it’s located in the bavarian region of germany and since it’s all i know- it’s my favorite! i think it would be anyway. 🙂

i’m glad i get another 2 days there at the end of my trip.

the first day i was there- i spent some time walking around freising, which is on the outskirts of munich, and it’s where my clients alicia and paul live. they call it a small german village and i love that description. it is small, and dreamy, and wonderfully german.

alicia decided that a sunrise session would be best so as to avoid the crowds (yes, we have a love hate relationship). despite the lack of sleep- the session was amazing. we did it in Odeonsplatz- a beautiful old plaza with some amazing architecture and cobbled streets. i’m starting to worry that anything i do from here on out will never compare to european sessions. 🙂 and as you can see from this photo, the light was perfect. it completely filled the place.

but what trip would be complete without complete and utter stress. after sleeping three hours saturday night, i rose to catch a plane to barcelona. upon my arrival, my next photo shoot began. and it began by discovering that my most precious lens, and 1 of only 2 that i brought (oops) was broken. broken! in europe! when i’m starting a session!  but because my clients were looking at me and waiting, i had to fight every urge to break down and cry. then do an entire session with an 85mm lens. if you are a photographer- you know what that means. and if you aren’t- suffice it to say that only about 10% of the photos i take from a wedding or session are taken with an 85 mm. it’s just too dang zoomed in.

i managed to find a camera shop that thinks they can repair it. if they can, i shell out 300 euros, if they can’t… well, i have to figure out how to rent a lens for my other sessions while here in europe. oy!

 

 

the whole session was a blast! and paul did so great! though i’m still a little afraid he was gritting his teeth the whole time : ) this session also reminded me that european guys have the best fashion. though no man-pris make an appearance in the photos to come, there were definite man-pris to be had.

but now onto the rest of my time…

 

 

starkbierfest. that’s really all i have to say. but really, everything i hoped to be true about germany, is true in bavaria.

saturday night we joined some friends of alicia and paul’s at starkbierfest, which, as it goes, is a smaller version of Oktoberfest- and has a different history. it always coincides with the lent season. because a long, long time ago, when the monks fasted for 40 days- they needed a beer to constitute both food and drink. and alas- stark beer came into existence. the story is longer and more complex, but you get it…

it turned out to be one of my favorite cultural experiences ever. i mean, who could not like standing on tables and singing and dancing all night?! combine that with traditional bavarian costumes worn by everybody- and you have quite the evening for yourself, or at least i did.

the rest of what i will do in munich remains to be seen. those first two days were just craziness and experienced in a haze.

 

 

lots of bears. and i mean lots.

 

 

alleyways.

 

 

sheep covers on chairs. (that’s for you maddy picker).

 

 

german gingerbread houses. (love!)

 

 

a bavarian maiden.

 

 

the glockenspiel.

 

 

just life.

 

 

 

alicia’s delicious spanish-inspired chorizo chicken amazingness.

 

 

melon flavored gelato. mmmmmm.

 

 

some cheese i’ve never had before. rondelé is my new mistress. don’t tell queso. also, i should mention that i learned exactly one german word. käse. cheese.

and nick dubose, don’t worry- i have big plans for true german brats. and pretzels the size of my head.

 

 

next time i’ll tell you all about barcelona. make sure you check out facebook for the other little preview from this session in munich!