We crossed the Westphalian border into Münster today. Münster is a beautiful city. For lunch we dined in the Rathskeller under a wall of mounted peacocks in a taxidermied pheasantry. Our beers were shared in the company of half-nude mermaid sculptures and germanic statues of all kinds. Münster’s saturday markets were present with flavors from around the mid-european area, including: french, german, dutch and the mixture of West-germanic cultures. The city dwellers spoke in as many tongues as the assortment of flavors you would find on display in the cheese stands.
Despite the 14°C temperatures and a rainy day in late June, afternoon shopping was a great success at the saturday market. We had umbrellas over the tote bag to shield our fresh food. It’s funny how garnishing your plate with little bits of flavor can cook up a simple happiness. I bought cream cheese (Frischkäse) that has bits of onion (Zwiebel), and cranberries (Preiselbeere) blended into a smooth, somewhat savory yet sweet spread. The vendors also offered the locally famous Münster cheese to buy. I, however, have avoided stinky cheeses since the Limburger. I also bought a baguette that was much too horizontal for my purse. But baguettes were never meant to be confined in bags. Hands will carry them freely.
Most shopkeepers in Münster knew English, but that didn’t keep me from playing one of my favorite games today. Let me preface it by saying I made this game. You can borrow the game, just don’t forget that I made it. The point of the game is for me to see how effective I can be in disguising my nationality. I can only play the game without asking their (the shopkeeper’s) permission. Asking their permission would be pointless to the game. Asking for their permission would be letting them win. And I am not allowed to let them win. Another point of the game is for me to win. And if that wasn’t already made clear, I will say it again: my name is the winner. When the goal of the game is a knowledge gain, in this case improving your language, you should never lose in your own game.
As we rode the train through the Teutoburg Forest on our way home, the only thought crossing my mind was how we could have done without the poor weather. The cold rain didn’t budge from the sky despite our thoughts. An evening inside with tea and in bed may be the sole remedy for a long day exploring a new city.
