European Dreaming: Munchen Day 5&6

Friday day 5

We drove down to Munich (or Munchen as it's called in Germany) in a little over 2 hours. It started to rain about a half hour outside of Munich and this seemed to be an omen for our upcoming weather conditions.

We did not have an exact address to put into Tom Tom to get us directly to the campground and we ended up in city center on tiny roads in a huge RV. We stopped and asked for directions to get us to the zoo area and discovered a major lost in translation issue. We eventually get to the campground after driving the outer ring for what seemed like an hour and following the signs to the zoo where the campground was located near by. After parking the RV and doing a couple of loads of much needed wash we were ready to take the bus to the metro station to get us into Marienplatz. But then it started pouring rain and we decided against this and stayed at the campground.

We used our new cell phone to make our first call back to the US and I prayed the whole time we wouldn't run out of minutes. With all being fine at home I went to the campgrounds computer room and tried to use the computer to post our travels on the blog. After much trouble with the foreign keyboard I just settled on checking my e-mail and discovered that one of our credit cards had been frozen for any use in the USA. This C.C. was being used by a family member at home and of course I started worrying about them starving to death.....LOL, should have known that wouldn't happen. I had notified the C.C. agency that we would be out of the states during a specified period of time and wasn't certain why they froze it. Since I wasn't certain that I would have enough minutes left on the phone I got to go play with a German pay phone and 7 euros later had the situation solved. It seems that they didn't know anyone would be using the same card in the states while we were out of the states.

We ended up eating at the campgrounds grill and Mark had a Goulash soup that was very good and perfect for the cold temperatures. People here are of hearty stock for sure. It must have been in the mid 30's F and they were still sitting outside dining. Mark and I dined in the indoor bar area with a view of the crystal clear river. While in the campground store stocking up on German bier to drink in the RV that night we picked up a can of Pringels and only later realized they cost 4.80 euro youch. We ended up sitting in the RV with our bier playing pinball on the tablet and having our own little party, it was much funner then it sounds.

Saturday day 6

We wake to the same weather but are not going to let it stop us. We had some coffee and pastries from the campground grill and within 10 minutes I was sick. Oh no. Get it out of my system and nap about a half hour and feel much better. We grab the umbrella Mark bought at the campground store and were off to wait for the bus in the rain. It arrives in about 15 minutes and 5 minutes later we are at the train station. This was the first time that I have been on a train other then Chicago once years ago. I was a little nervous trying to find where we needed to go, but it all worked out easily and we were soon on the train to Marienplatz. When we get off the train and out of the station we discover that the rain has stopped yahoo. Now we just had to deal with the wind and cold not a problem as we had bundled up and soon discovered the right places to stand to stay out of the wind while waiting for the Glockenspiel to do it's dance.

The Glockenspiel

While waiting an older German gentleman came up to us and started telling us the story behind the Column of St. Mary in the center of Mareinplatz. Seems that he actually witnessed the pope blessing the column in the 1980's. I must admit that when he first approached us I was concerned about pick pocketing, but that wasn't the case. We proceeded to talk with him about 10 minutes and he had several great stories to share. Not certain why Mark and I always seem approachable but it was nice to say we made another new friend.

After the Glockenspiel hit the top of the hour and the show was over we started walking out of the area to a restaurant that I wanted to try that had rabbit on the menu. Once we finally found the restaurant we decide it was fancier then we really wanted and I wasn't sure I could handle the rich rabbit after this mornings stomach issue. So it was off to around the corner to Hofbrauhaus for some big biers and lunch. This beir hall and restaurant has been here for over 400 yr's and Hitler even made an announcement here when he first started running for office. This bier hall is huge and has 3 floors and a live Oompa band. The tables are huge and you just sit at a table full of other people. Mark and I love this type of atmosphere and soon feel at home. We finally find a table in the back and share it with a family already there. It is not long before we have a our huge biers in front of us and are ordering our lunch. Than Mark see's a lady walking around selling pretzels as big as your head and gets one. We really enjoyed ourselves here but eventually have to leave.

Oh My

Oompa band

A Munchen local Mark befriended he comes here every Saturday

This feather plum cost 80 euro's at the store Mark got his hat at

While walking back to the train station we run across a store that sells Bavarian hats and we stop in it to get Mark one (his German heritage really shines through when he is wearing it).

Marks Bavarian hat

Dallmayr was on our to do list and on our way out of the area. A description from wikipedia "Dallmayr is a luxury delicatessen food store in Munich, Germany, dating back to the 17th century. Its reputation is comparable to Fauchon in Paris, Fortnum & Mason in London, or Meidi-Ya in Tokyo.About 2.5 million people visit the main store every year. Besides luxury food, Dallmayr also sells a luxury brand of coffee, includes a restaurant, a party service, and other food related services." We ended up spending too much here but it is right up our foodie ally.

Just part of the Seafood display case

Caviar tins

Cheeses

Sausages and Meats

The wines we purchased

In the Marienplatz the crowd has really picked up and is even rowdier then earlier. I decide then and there that I have no desire to ever go to Oktoberfest....who needs to with this type of party atmosphere going on every weekend. In the train station there is a group of guys getting off the train singing a song and beating on a drum. I had forgotten to mention that while in the Marienplatz upon our arrival that a group of guys were walking around drinking and one was in his underwear with a leather mask dancing around. Wild. It wasn't until I started going through our picture back here at home that I discovered this was 4-20 and am not certain if that is why it was so wild or if it's like that every Saturday.

Just too cold for this, guess that's why he's dancing around