Things started off a little badly with the room. For almost 2 weeks we had just called in the morning and been able to get our first choice of rooms. Munich is probably the largest city we stayed in and therefore we should have thought ahead about accommodations. We struck out on our first two choices in the old town, so ended up in a hotel right by the train station. The good thing about it was that it was close to the train station. The bad thing was that it was close to the train station - not the best neighborhood and, even though we were on the 6th floor (our 7th) the street noise was still significant. And the room ended up being an additional 29 Euro (about $44) a night because of a convention or something in town.
Our room was up in those dormer windows - the first two (basically the top center of this picture.)
The street entrance - that brown outcropping - Hotel Monaco
Funny little elevators in the hotel - typical of a lot of elevators in Germany. This door opens out like a regular door.
With our bags, there was only room for the two of us - it was quite small.
You close these folding metal doors when you get in.
Our room was large and comfortable enough
The view from our window - leaning out the dormer
We decided to go to a beer garden for dinner - for the experience and because the food is supposed to be good and inexpensive. It was just the regular kinds of 'fast' German food.
These mugs are the 'small' size. There was so much movement I couldn't get a clear picture.
We tried sitting in this area and were quickly informed it was the reserved area - for regulars.
This was a real family place, amazingly enough. Lots and lots of little children amongst all the beer steins.
We followed the beer garden with a look in at Hofbrauhaus - one of the most famous beer halls in the world.
The oom-pah band was fun. The place was loud and crazy and people seemed to be having a great time.
A little quieter courtyard.
We did not sample the wares of the beer gardens, just the ambiance. And now we don't need to do that again :)
Marienplazt is Munich's main square and is famous for its glockenspiel.
The square is surrounded by three churches. Believe it or not, we didn't go into any of these churches!
I loved all of the sundials.
The twin domes are the third church.
Just a block or so over from Marienplatz is the Viktualienmarkt - the open-air market. I managed to crush a cup of fresh squeezed orange juice all over my white shirt here. (I went back to the room and changed.)
Red carrots? We weren't sure what they were except that they were pretty!
We ate lunch on the sidewalk.
A scary poster. "A moon for the loaded" can't really be what this says, can it? What does it mean?
A bunch of bicycles.
The Residenz, home to the Wittelbachs family, who ruled Bavaria for centuries.
The grotto in the Residenz - made from Bavarian freshwater shells.
The palace was demolished in WWII. The people had no money to help with reconstruction, but they gathered shells to rebuild the grotto.
The Residenz Antiquarium - the banquet hall that is still used as such today. The hall is lined with busts of emperors.
They can seat 200 dignitaries for dinner here - probably 300 common folk :)
The ceiling.
A hall.
King Ludwig had a room like this in Lindorhof - ornately Baroque with the porcelain vases on display.
A room of miniatures.
Items in the treasury.
An amazing jewel-encrusted statue of St. George.
This 'prayer bead' was hand carved by a monk. It was between the size of a walnut and a lime.
It seemed that every restaurant set up tables and chairs for outside dining, no matter the location.
Not in our guide book :)
We also visited the Alte Pinakothek, a museum with mostly 14th-18th century art. I realized that the Renaissance isn't my favorite art period. I would have liked to visit the Neue Pinakothek with its Monet's and Renoir's, but we ran out of time.
Going to the English Garden - the largest garden in Europe, it stretches more than 3 miles in one direction.
It's a good thing Don insisted that we come out to the English Garden, because this is where Munich started to be redeemed for me.
Geese that are a little different from any I have ever seen before.
The English Garden has a lot of open green lawns.
It also has a lot of wooded area.
Streams.
One stream famous for its surfers.
We we surprised to see a street music group with a grand piano.
Our last meal in Germany, eaten in an enclosed courtyard.
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