By Madeleine Fuselier

Hi there! I am a life-long Orangeite who is currently living in Paris. I am spending this year teaching English, improving my French, and exploring France (and some of its neighboring countries) before heading to college this fall. Keep reading to find out what’s been going on “Meanwhile With Madeleine.” Thanks for allowing me to share my adventures with you!

Munich is the capitol of the German state of Bavaria and the birthplace of Oktoberfest. For my friend Rachel and me, it was the final stop on a lovely week-long trip. With Austria behind us, we were excited to explore the city before heading back to Paris.

Our morning started at a great restaurant where I had a traditional Bavarian breakfast combination: “Weisswurst” (white sausage), freshly baked pretzels, and a side of sweet mustard. Weisswurst is served in a big bowl along with the water it is cooked in. Because it’s customarily made without preservatives and can spoil quickly, Weisswurst is made fresh each morning and eaten exclusively before noon.

I was surprised by the diversity of the Munich’s architecture. In some parts of the city, all of the buildings were modern and geometrical. But structures like the gothic “Neues Rathaus” (New Town Hall) and the baroque “Asamkirche” (Asam Church) reminded me that I was in a city with a deep (and at times disturbing) history dating back to medieval times.

I’m back in Paris now, feeling the temperatures start to rise and getting excited for spring. I went without king cake for Mardi Gras this year, but a trip to my favorite patisserie got me in the spirit. My mom and brother are coming to visit soon, and I’m looking forward to showing them around Paris and getting to do some traveling together!