Munich, Germany

I had decided to take the train to Munich instead of flying.  It actually only added about 2 hours to the whole process if you think about the time it takes to get to the airport, go through security, etc.  And it was nice to relax and watch the countryside go by.  This was good planning, because after my last wild night in Berlin, I needed a restbit!

Passing a classic-style village on the train, tucked into a mountain valley:

Munich in one word: Charming.  This place is everything you think and want Germany to be.  Bavarian style everywhere.  Whereas Berlin, after WWII demolished it, decided to build a modern city, Munich on the other hand took the plans for the old city an re-built based on that classical style.  The differences in these two approaches are striking.  Munich is full of Bavarian everything, and is completely walkable and compact, a sheer godsend after my feet taking a beating in Berlin.  I was only here for 2 days, but that was good enough for a first time visit -- you could cover everything easily.

However, Munich had just seen one of the biggest snow-storms in recent years, the day before I got there!  Normally I eat this up like candy, and this was no exception.  I do have to admit that it made sightseeing difficult as you got so cold.  This is the scene that greeted me off the train, and the beautiful scenes that nearly a foot of snow can bring you:

My hotel was a great little place, not 3 blocks from the central train station, which was great for me coming in on the train.  However, I have to say that when I investigated this hotel planning this trip, there were several comments online about the "bad neighborhood."  But then there were more people who explicitely said in response to that, basically, "grow up, it is safer than my own town"  So I went ahead and reserved it.

[Garrett preaching alert!]

So, indeed, it was in the Munich "Red Light" district. Which was very disconcerting when I first approached it, believe me (it was at night, too!)  But then I have to say this:  Europe and it's sexual expression is generations beyond us prudes in the USA.  Just because this neighborhood had "casinos" and "cabarets" does not equate to a lack of safety.  Since Europeans take a more free attitude to this stuff, it's not such a big deal when a "peep show" opens in your neighborhood -- nobody cares much.  Therefore it's not considered a "seedy" place to be, and it's not a haven for criminal activity like we usually associate with in the US.  I'm sure there is some crime, but as I soon discovered in-between these red light places were big chain grocery stores, very nice restaurants (one very awesome Indian place I ate at, as a matter of fact...) and normal businesses. And a ton of nice hotels.  So this was NOT a bad neighborhood.  The streets were clean -- I mean, it's only America's obsession with crime connected to sex and wanting to portray sex as really bad that makes our own red light districts so nasty -- we MAKE it that way!  You could not have beat the location of this place, and my room was very nice, the hotel very safe and the staff very helpful -- just like any hotel I've been in.  I would go back here time and time again, where a lot of other people would probably just be agasp at staying anywhere near there.  Fine.  More room for me!

My hotel did have one funny thing.  In the bathroom were these tissues you were supposed to use for blotting instead of using the towels.  Good idea, actually.  But I've never seen it anywhere else -- I thought it was pretty funny and laughed out loud when I saw it:

So then, obviously after settling down, I set to the work of being a tourist.  It was only 3 blocks to the Marienplatz, the main center of Munich.  I'll really let the pictures speak for themselves.  To be honest, I have no background info on any of them.  I travel to SEE things more versus for any hisorical purpose...That said all the landmarks does give you a sense of history and tradition you can't really get at home.

After I strolled around Marienplatz, I of course had to go get the "money shot" for almost the entire damn trip: Big Beer!

It was only a matter of hours before I found the Haufbrauhaus, the world famous beer hall in Munich.  Did you know that the Haufbrauhaus is actually state run?  Yes, the federal state of Bavaria owns and operates the Haufbrauhaus.  Isn't that a hoot?!  Can you just imagine if The state of Washington or King County had a place like that?  It just wouldn't happen.  I don't know why I find this so funny, but it just seems so, well, it IS Germany, so why NOT have a government-sponsored drink-a-thon!!?

Here's the money shot.  Me and a big beer (notice, it's mostly consumed -- big surprise.)

and here's the food-- bratwurst and kraut and potates and a pretzel.  Yes, one word, starch.  But hey, it was incredibly good and tasty.  Everything I ever wanted (and notice the refill)

So 2 liters of beer later I needed to take a walk some more.  Munich was gearing up for the World Cup Soccer, and there were making a huge area for celebrations with a huge soccer ball:

You know how in many cities, including Seattle, there are these "objects" that the local chamber or organization have artists decorate and then ae scattered around downtown?  Well Germany is no exception to this.  Berlin had bears, and Munich had lions.  Here is a picture of one of a lion in Munich. 

I laughed my ass off when I saw this.  Thanks to the haufbrauhaus, and some snow that's in the way, does it not look like this lion is taking a dump??

maybe it was just the beer, but I was laughing so hard people started to notice, so I decided to move on.  To this day I still think it looks like he's takin' a #2.

STRIKE!!  There was a strike going on in Munich while I was there.  I think it was the Garbage people, but I wasn't sure.  I kept bumping in to them all over town:

So after 2 days of Munich, I had my last night in Germany.  The plan was I had a reservation at a really nice hotel at the airport, as 1) I like airports, 2) I wanted to splurge a little on the last night, and 3) Munich airport is way far out and my flight left at 7 AM -- Oiiyy!  So I got there on Munich's wonderful subway -- the cleanest and nicest I've been on.  Ever.  Anyway, I get to the Hotel, the Kepinski, and it's a really nice hotel.  I got my room, and look at what the TV said:

I've never had a welcome like that -- so by the time I checked in and went to my room, they had everything all set!  The TV was actually on when I entered the room, tuned to an English channel and I have no doubt they automatically turned the sucker on as well!

So this room was great -- standard room just like a nice Marriott or Sheraton, so no photos as there wasn't much else that was different.  But nice to have a king size bed.

So the plan was to upload all my photos, relax, write some of this report, etc...Oh, but how plans change.  I decided to grab some lunch at the hotel bar, which was in the main atrium which was, I kid you not, about the size of the main hall at the Washington State Convention Center in Downtown Seattle.  Had tall plam trees in it.  This was a nice hotel.  So it felt funny to take pictures, so I didn't.  Anyway, I have lunch and add a couple martinis to the bill.  I then decide to take in some shopping at the duty free at the main terminal since I had absolutely no time in the morning. I picked up a few things and passed a brew-pub.  Great, one more, eh?  And yes, that's all I had....there.  So I'm sitting at the bar, and these two guys who work on the airport take stools next to me and are having a beer.  They notice I'm reading an aviation magazine and strike-up a conversation with me.  Turns out one of them is a Canadian.  How funny.  Anyway we go on yammering about airplanes and airports, etc.  So after a while they invite me for a couple more drinks at their local pub.  These are good guys, and I'm here for the experience!  So heck yeah, bring it on. 

We take the subway down a couple stops into YACBV (Yet Another Charming Bavarian Villiage) and go into their favorite bar, where we drink beer all night and BS about airplanes and politics (I got some good George Bush bashing in with a receptive audience -- it was GREAT!!)  The bartender was a student and when she learned I was from Washington state she asked me "Do you know where Yakima is?"  I about fell off my chair laughing -- I come to germany and someone asks me about YAKIMA!! 

You see, this is why I travel the most -- no matter where you go you'll find friends and surprises.  It was just a hoot.  Turns out she was considering a wine internship, so in the end that made sense.  But how funny is that?

To make another long story short, I ended up taking a taxi back to the airport and the hotel.  I got back in at 3 AM.  So much for getting my money's worth by relaxing in the hotel.  But it was worth it, completely.  You just can't get experiences like that if you don't go out on a limb sometimes.

The next morning flight at 7 AM was bad.  I was definitely not in the best of shape, and the flight was delayed, more major snow, I had 2 tight connections, it was a mess.  But worth every ounce of pain.  20 hours later my darling friend Claire drops me off at home.

Ahhh, home...nothing like it.