Tablemates from Paraguay

We ate this evening in the Augustiner Bierhalle in central Munich (near the Karlsplatz). I've been there numerous times over the years--Augustinerbräu had been my father's favorite beer by his account on his visits to Germany while he studied at Oxford (in the 'twenties).

Next to us was this couple.They seemed entirely engrossed in each other-until I spied the woman reacting to something I said, and so we started talking. We chatted nonstop for at least twenty minutes, till we finally left (this was a total spur-of-the-moment shot). I'd come hoping to fall into conversation with our tablemates, and so it happened. They were delightful--both from Paraguay; she lived in Munich for the past ten years. They were impressed with our Brazilian connection (Len's marriage to Luciana and their many visits there.)

The day was devoted to three excellent museums: the Neue Pinakothek (mainly 19th century), the Pinakothek der Moderne (20th century), and a brief return visit to the Alte Pinakotek . Thus our artistic experience here extends from the European middle ages to well into the past century.