You have to understand that I have been living on an island for 12 years, an island with no traffic lights or roundabouts.
In my island life that I had, until this year, not been on an aeroplane for some four years, despite the fact I was a world traveller in a previous life and had lived in Russia, Japan, Somalia and Rwanda.
So, although I lived in Munich 25 years ago, the prospect of returning to the city is both exciting and a little terrifying. My German is not what it once was, and adapting to life sharing with 1.5 million people when I am used to no more than 11,000 will be interesting indeed.
Step 1. If I am going to discover this city, I need to get around. How easy is it going to be buying a ticket in this fair city?
My initial experience of the Munich public transport system has been a complete joy. First the online help, making it a little easier to make the right choice with a little research.
Then the challenge of buying the ticket itself. I had been planning to throw myself at the mercy of a helpful sales assistant (12 years of island living have given me phobias on dealing with automated machines), but either they did not exist or nobody was working because of the holiday. I need not have worried.
Easy-to-follow instructions in an impressive 8 languages - German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Turkish - guided me through the various steps required, and then I was presented with a choice of paying cash or by card. All very civilised.
And one minute later, I am in possession on my 31-day pass to zones 1-4, which covers most of the city. Price 74 euro. Was that expensive?
I looked up at the map on the wall. 74 euro is 2.5 euro a day to discover all THAT? A total bargain, especially when the bus to the ferry and back on my island is about 8 euro.
It was funny looking at the Munich transport map after 25 years. So many familiar names and memories, but some very unfamiliar ones as well, the most notable of course being the linking to the airport. But there were other changes and surprises. My regular S2 S-Bahn line home to Taufkirchen on the Holzkirchen line was now the S3, and Kieferngarten was no longer the top of the U6.
I was expecting to be impressed by the standards, and so I was. Emergency response in place and a wealth of information about the practicalities of each destination, including onward travel options.
But it was only when I set off to explore the city (check out our stroll on Three Kings here) that I truly appreciated the value of the monthly travel card, which offers unlimited travel for a 30-day period. WIth the wealth of choice - tram, bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn - with a little planning and getting to know the city, moving around will be very simple and quick indeed. And there is a LOT to see and discover. I can't wait to get started.
