Munich

Wednesday 25 July 2012 –Austria to Munich

Day 103 and 56 to go

8am again and the day begins. Paul was up and out while I sorted the van and breakfast. When he returned he spoke to Jaden on the computer while I went for a shower. When I returned it was complete the pack up and sign out at reception before getting back on the road at 9.15am and crossing into over the German border 10min later.

Munich was only a short distance away and for the most part it was a fairly easy drive on the freeway except when the drivers had to merge for road works. Worse than WA if that is possible. Due to the long delays caused by this, what should have been a 90min drive became a 135min journey before we found the campground on the outskirts of Munich. We signed in and were shown our patch. We set up quickly, packed our bag and then caught the bus and underground into the centre. About a 30min journey that was relatively painless. We paid 20Euros for 2 all day tickets, but in hindsight we probably could have used it for free as no one seemed to be swiping on and there were no checks. Oh well.

The underground deposited us in Marienplatz the square famous for the Neues Rathaus and the Glockenspiel. The tourist bureau was also here so we picked up a map and made our way to Hofbrauhaus a famous brewery and beer hall where Paul could try a couple of their beers. It is also known for Adolf Hitler’s early speeches.

It was overrun with tourists when we arrived and we had to fight for a seat.  Once secured Paul ordered a half stein. It was entertaining just watching the staff carry the glass litre steins around and the pretzel girl selling her wares. Some of the patrons were also interestingly dressed. 

We had lunch as well, Paul choosing the roast pork and potato while I had schnitzel.

With a second beer consumed it was back on the street passing Max Joseph Platz, The Residenz Palace and onto Feldherrnhalle the scene of Hitler’s push to seize control of Bavaria.

We returned to Marienplatz and this time walked down the main shopping street passing the twin onion domed gothic church Frauenkirche and onto the second beer hall, Augustiner Bierhalle where Paul could try out 2 more beers on his list of 750.  It was fortunate we were ducking in side as it was just beginning to rain.

When we emerged it was still spitting but not enough to bother us. We continued along the street passing the Richard Strauss Fountain and the Karlstor, the medieval gate. We continued to do a loop walking to the other gate Sendlinger Tor and on to Asamkirche, a 17^th century church that is so disgustingly decorated inside.

With our loop complete and returning to Marienplatz, we made our way tot the underground and then on the bus. We stopped short of our stop to do a quick grocery shop before getting back on the bus and returning back to our van at 4.45pm.

We unpacked our things and then sat back enjoying a drink as it continued to drizzle. I did some work on the computer before Paul cooked up garlic prawns for dinner. Yum. With dinner done we went to the bar and had a drink before coming back to the van for more cards and then off to bed.

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