I have lost count of the number of times people have told me that Munich is not a city, but rather a big village. Coming from an island home with a populaion of 1,500 people, it looks like a city to me...
But if it is a village, then where are the villagers? One of the things I am enjoying in my early days is having time to meet people and see how their Munich looks. I would not normally have given a second thought to this fruit and vegetable store, for example, but my new friend wanted me to meet him, for he had been buying fruit and vegetables from him for years. An important part of his weekly routine, and my friend admitted he struggled to walk past sometimes without buying something.
"Welcome to the vitamin capital of Munich," declared the owner, whose young complexion belied his 60 years.
"The best advertisment for your products," I joked, only half-jokingly. If I could look that young at 50, I would be a happy man.
It turned out that our grocer friend was from Lebabon, had been in Germany for thirty years, and in Munich for ten. For the last five years, he has been standing at this very spot near Goetheplatz, where Adlzreiterstr. and Kapuzinerstr meet, with no water or electricity connection, and from the brisk business he was doing while we were chatting, it would seem he has built up quite a good business.
"Here, try this," he said, offering us a slice of apple each. "Fresh in just now." Delicious.
It was too much for my friend, who I don't think had any intention of buying anything when he pointed out the stall, but was soon on his way with half a dozen oranges. The wide selection certainly looked appetising, and it will be nice to go back and try some, and to learn more of the Lebanese villagers experiences in what I still call a city.
