Lovers in Lagos

I like the title of this blog post. Fact is, I am now back in Lagos (Nigeria) with Alex and looks like I am here to stay, for the foreseeable future at least.

My time in Munich was great but being apart from Alex was getting increasingly difficult so I decided to bite the bullet. I flew to Lagos.

Been here 11 days now and I wanted to settle in a bit before blogging but in that 11 days I have discovered Lagos is not just OK, it's better than OK. 

Like anywhere new, you can have no expectations; go there and make the most of it. It is less what Lagos can do for my life and more what I can make of my life in Lagos.

So, watch this space and in the meantime here is a photo of the view from 'my space':

That's the ocean on the horizon

Two random things I have learned about living in Munich

Typical oktoberfest scene!

I left Phuket in 2013 to move to Munich, Germany. However with my job seeing me travel around, and my husband's job seeing us live a lot in African countries, I have not really had the solid opportunity to enjoy Munich and to know it as the great city everyone has told me it is.

Of course I have done Oktoberfest. Let's just say what happens at Oktoberfest, stays at Oktoberfest! I have done the sights of Nymphenburg Palace (which by the way is very much worth a visit and is set in the most beautiful expanse of garden right on the outskirts of central Munich) and Neuschwanstein (which again is fascinating not only as the product of the crazy Ludwig II of Bavaria but also as the inspiration for Walt Disney's Cinderella Palace). But after almost two years of on-off living in Munich, it is only the last couple of months I feel I have really discovered what it is to live in Munich. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I may review my opinion as Winter draws in, but Munich (in the Summer) is awesome!

My new discoveries:

Out for a run - looking over the mountains

1) Mountains - yes, I always knew that Munich is located just minutes from the mountains and particularly popular with those who ski in the winter or hike in the summer months, but wow! I finally had reason to get out of the city and into the country because I needed some serious hills for my run training. After a bit of research I found Taubenberg. To link you to it, I can only suggest you visit the website of the Guesthouse, which will come in useful to quench your thirst after all that running, walking or hiking! At the high points of this 'small' mountain are the most breath-taking views and walking/running through the woodland to reach the top is so calming and soothing on the soul. (Sounds cheesy but honestly, it is lovely). Very popular with ramblers, hikers, mountain-bikers and runners (well me running at least because I didn't actually see anybody else crazy enough to run!). I found running routes on mapmyrun and runkeeper but be careful because some routes are out of date and the first time I attempted this I got lost waist-deep on a forest path that was not even walk-able, never mind something to run on!

A forest path that I could run along!

2) Munich really does have culture - again yes, I already knew this. However the open-air cinemas are mainly screened in German and I never had anybody here to accompany me while locals seem to arrive at these places in their droves, and seem to know exactly what to do! I still haven't been. The opera is a similar thing; I'm not going to rock up on my own. To get tickets without booking way in advance is impossible so again, I still haven't been. Then, I was in Vienna a few weeks ago and culture just seemed to jump out of every minute corner of the city. Vienna was a living, breathing example of a cultural capital of the World! I was literally stumbling across open-air cinemas/bars/operas/art galleries; all at the same time, in one place, and you would totally fit in alone there without feeling odd. Vienna didn't offer culture for Austrians; it offered culture for all and delighted in the presence of anybody who wanted to appreciate it. It was enlightening and I felt I lacked this feeling about Munich even though Bavarians seem to think they have this kind of thing totally sorted! 

But this comparison is unfair to Munich. Munich-dwellers don't make it altogether welcoming and obvious, or easy for that matter, but go in search and thou shalt find. Munich does have culture. If you class it as 'culture', which I do - I mean, beer culture is an actual thing - then beer gardens. I don't know so many people in Munich, but even acquaintances are suggesting a meet-up in the Beer Gardens through the Summer months. Awesome!

Cava tasting evening - Baaderstrasse 32

Then I became more active in my discovery of Munich via my Internations membership. In the last month I have discovered wine/cava tasting (see my next blog post). I have found dragon boating and sailing, which is of interest to me since I used to be an active member of the Dragonboat Club in Phuket (in my former life). I have also found various other meet-ups, cycle rides, groups and dinner events that I would love to join but there are only so many hours in a day! In essence, Munich is great as a tourist but it has a lot to offer its inhabitants too!

Live music at Kulturstrand August 2015

The ultimate highlight that really struck me was when I stepped out of Müller´sches Volksbad after an afternoon swimming session and heard some fantastic live music floating across the air from the other side of the river. They sounded fantastic and I had to find out more. In fact there was a live band, a bar/seating area set up, whole families and people of all ages enjoying the music that was just there. Next to the river. For seemingly no reason. Except for, why not? 

Brilliant. I had finally found Munich's culture slapping me in the face like Vienna's did. This was great. This is what people had been telling me about.

One week in Lagos

I made it to Lagos, Nigeria. I've been here a week so far. Here are my first impressions of Lagos and some things I have found surprising.

View from room at Four Points Victoria Island

1) I had been told that I would get hassled a lot at the airport. To be honest, it was not so bad. When I was approached for a taxi or help with my bags, I politely said, "No thank you" and there was no further issue. This surprised me since I remember in Uganda, people would simply keep walking alongside me as though I might change my mind at any moment and suddenly want that taxi.

I had to wait for Alex, so I bought a bottle of water and placed myself in the nearest cafe.

2) It was super hot and sticky in the airport. There seemed to be no ventilation but hopefully I won't have to sit around too long in the future.

3) I arrived around 7pm on Sunday evening. This seems to be key since the journey from the airport to Victoria Island was really rather fast. I have been told that this is unique because the journey to/from the airport is renowned for being very slow, with lots of traffic.

4) Champagne is a big thing here. It is really quite easily accessible in the supermarkets and restaurants on Victoria Island. The reason? Wine is not great and is very expensive so when you are spending 100.-USD on a bottle of not-great wine, why not go the whole hog and order champagne? Erm... ok then!

5) Traffic is hectic and noisy. If Kampala (Uganda) traffic seemed crazy, this is a whole new level! I have no intentions of ever driving here. They drive on the right side (as in mainland Europe) but it is very aggressive driving with lots of hooting of the horns.

6) The streets are unsafe. Now honestly, I am not being fair there. I have not been for a walk on the street but only because I have been told not to! It is a strange thing. There are absolutely no expats walking around here.

7) You can get most things - there is even a branch of MAC (make-up) and Mango (fashion) here in Palms Mall. However, it does seem that fresh vegetables are difficult... hence there was an amazing supply of vitamins "with greens" in the pharmacy to make up the all-important five a day. This is the most difficult thing for me to come to terms with!!! I love my fresh vegetables.

8) I find the people very friendly but then I am living in an expat bubble that is life at Four Points Sheraton... Maybe I will feel different when I am really living here. I shall not be negative though - for now, I have found Nigerians perfectly friendly.

Restaurants/cafes i have tried because so far there seems little else to do here:

1) Art Cafe: Very nice and has an elevated open-air area where you can enjoy real Italian brewed coffee. They also do alcohol, cocktails, soft drinks, cakes and snacks. Nice ambiance.

Coffee at Art Cafe

2) Lagoon: Bar/restaurant down on the water across from Ikoyi. Nice setting because you can sit by the water and apparently they serve the most enormous cocktails if you dare to order one. I didn't! Enjoyed 2 beers, one mojito, one soda water, hummus pitta plate, 2 prawn skewers, 2 chicken tikka skewers, a salad and a mini pizza. The price was around 160.-USD.

View from Lagoon Bar/Restaurant

Lagoon Bar/Restaurant

3) Bungalow: I loved this place! Kind of relaxed pub atmosphere and the perfect place I see myself watching the football or formula one. Their TVs are on invertors so even if the power goes out, you don't miss the action. There menus are on tablets (think iPad or similar) which was rather cool! Ordered chicken avocado salad, burrito, nachos/guacamole, one beer and one soda water. Price was around 60.-USD.

4) Coral Blue Seafood Restaurant: Looks like a fast food joint when you arrive but actually the decor is quite nice. Very nautical. Climb the white stairs with rope banisters and turn left into the restaurant with panoramic windows. I had a mixed platter/combo of seafood with mussels, prawns and grilled fish. Salad was very fresh. Generally very impressed but for such a big restaurant, it was dead! Maybe we went too early on Sunday evening (around 6pm).

Inside Coral Blue Seafood Restaurant

Inside Coral Blue Seafood Restaurant

5) Cafe Nero: Small intimate coffee shop right next door to Bungalow. Found it on google and decided to give it a go. Enormous coffees (if you order the large) and well-priced. Their carrot cake was good and they seem to have free wifi. We called in randomly on a Saturday afternoon and there were a few people in. The sofas were comfortable. I liked it.

And that be that. One week in Lagos. My first impressions.