Munich

Wednesday Munich

Mandy's Heidi moment had finally arrived. We flung open the curtains of our first-floor Bavarian balcony to find fresh snow, blue sky and wonderful mountain peaks. The scent of cows in the air. Just idyllic. Breakfast with Anna, Andrea and Anna-Lisa across the road. Just when we thought we had stuffed it all in, out came another course, the cake! Talked them into taking us for a walk around the countryside. Went for an hour and a half -- Anna with snow poles. Went through the village out to the children's ski field complete with small chairlift. Saw several kindergarten groups having ski lessons, complete with helmets. Walked back along the river. Saw fox prints in the snow. Had large morning tea, then Andrea drove us to the station where we caught the train to Munich. Big seven floor hostel. Bar, restaurant, internet, games room, kitchen, washing facilities etc. Went by train to the Olympic Stadium, where Mandy had great fun remembering what they did in 1972. Saw the Olympic Stadium, swimming pool, gymnastics hall etc, lake and hill where the cultural events were. Home via a supermarket where we picked up tea to heat in the microwave. Garlic bread was 60c rather than $6.99 a couple of nights ago in Geneva. Watched DC Talk video after tea.

Thursday Munich

After breakfast we took the s-bahn to Marienplatz to join 'the free Munich tour' -- which required a hefty tip. After looking at Marienplatz and the badly out of tune glockenspiel, the Rathaus, the Frauenkirche with its distinctive two towers, we went past the market to the Hofbrauhaus, the National Theatre and royal residence to the Odeonsplatz where Hitler gave a lot of his speeches. Saw where he almost got shot. After the tour we had some lunch then climbed to the top of St Peters to see the view of the city, walked through the market, visited part of the Residenz Museum, and had yuppie coffee. Ashley decided to buy two large glass beer steins to take home as presents. Made it back to the hostel in the late afternoon, and Mandy, dressed in her lovely new boots, and I went out for a special tea seeing this was her last evening. When we got back to the room she had a go at singing every song she could think of that was associated with the holiday. Turned out that there weren't as many as she thought there would be.

Friday Munich

Did a wandering day around Munich, seeing a number of things we hadn't got to yet. Walked most of the day. First to the old botanic garden, up to the Ancient History Museum and Glyptothek and across to Konigsplaza which is the block that housed the Nazi Party headquarters, parade ground, SS offices, Hitler's office and those of his deputies and propaganda machines. Past the old and new museums, back into town for coffee, then through the garden with Diana's temple into the English gardens -- one of the largest parks in Europe. Had a surreal moment as we looked at the Japanese tea rooms in the English gardens in a Bavarian city. Down to Maximilian Strasse and statue of King Max II and back into town for a farewell wave at the rotten glockenspiel. Back to the room where Mandy changed and packed. We took the s-bahn to the airport where she checked in. Being a domestic flight it was very quick so we had almost 2 hours to kill. Bought some chocolate as gifts, had some tea, and eventually bade farewell at the gates. Took a lonely train trip back to the hostel.