With both Jenn and I having either German or Austrian background, Germany and Austria have always been high on our list to visit. Since Carter's school, breaks for half-term at the end of October, we used our time to get one last big trip in! At first when we planned the trip, we thought perfect, if we go in October we can take in some of Oktoberfest! Unfortunately, due to cold weather, Oktoberfest has been permanently moved to September... However, there were still plenty of biergartens around the city still open to get a bit a feel for the experience!
First stop was Munich!
mmmmm....first things first, find a German bakery and have a pretzel! They didn't disappoint!
It was a bit chillier in the Munich than it was in London. We didn't do a very good job as parents, we were somewhat unprepared for a 15 degree temperature difference. The next morning 3 out of the 4 of us bought new winter coats and hats (thank goodness for H&M)!
From our hotel we walked into the centre of Munich. It's a beautiful city, and the architecture in the old city is very distinct from that in other parts of Europe we've seen. There is definitely something different about Bavarian design.
This is the main square in the Munich, Marienplatz. The building in the centre is the New Town Hall. Even with the below zero temperatures, there were still these beautiful red flowers hanging from so many of the windows!
About half way up the bell tower is chiming clock. On the top level of what appears to be a balcony are statues reenacting a joist and the bottom the "Dance of the Coopers". Everyday the chiming clock goes into motion at 11am and noon. Watch the video below, its really awesome!
Here are the ladies in the main square with all the other tourists watching the show.
After the show we decided to go to Deutsches Museum. On this trip we brought our stroller and one of the kid's scooters. So throughout the trip the kids took turns on the scooter and sitting in the stroller. Needless to say there was lots of fighting over the scooter. And Daddy ended up with one kid on his shoulders a lot since the stroller isn't popular right now. What ever it takes to keep the peace!
the Deutsches Museum - Masterpieces of German Science and Technology (the epitome of German design and efficiency)
Inside the Deutsches Museum. The museum was full of all kinds of ships, planes, paper making, glass technology, musical instruments and other innovations by the german people throughout history.
The Deutches Museum is huge and includes a large kids interactive play area. Complete with GIANT Lego blocks.
Carter gets to work right away
The kids also teamed up to build a fortress. The walls are mega-lego filled solid with wood blocks. I feel bad for the kid that came along after we left and tried to smash this down with a kick!
One item that was particularly interesting was the last German U-Boat in existence. These things caused the allied forces a lot of trouble in the Atlantic during World War 2. After the war the allied forces ordered all U-Boats destroyed but the German government requested that they be allowed to keep one if they immediately housed it in the basement of the museum. And here it is.
It's amazing how small it really was and how horrible it would have been to be in, under the ocean (not that we feel sorry for them).
After the museum we stumbled on a carnival in the garden of a huge church!
the kids got really excited when one of the attractions was horse rides!
Everyone paid their money, but there was no organization. Essentially when the guy stopped the horses by yelling something in German, all the parents (see the group in the middle) elbowed each other to be first to throw their kid on the back of a horse! Jenn did well; I stood on the side as my nose filled up and my eyes swelled (I'm a little allergic to horses).
After that the kids went on a swing ride that look like it was built a 100 years ago and last serviced during the war. They survived.
Fish on a stick anyone? (not us)
Cotton candy anyone? (yep)
mmmmm....beer nuts!
Carter got to throw darts at balloons to win a prize, but we didn't dare give Averie a dart, so she rode a pig instead.
The next day we started with pastries in Marienplatz.
the apfel strudel was delish!!
After watching the chiming clock again we went to see the largest cathedral in the city; Frauenkirche. Originally built in 1485, we apparently selected the wrong moment to visit as most of the front elevation was hidden by scaffolding and you couldn't go in either!
The royal palace in Munich. Construction on it started in 1385 and the palace housed the royal family until 1916.
cool architecture
This is the Theatinerkirche. A beautiful Baroque style church across from the Residenz. Love the yellow!
The kids ran around the square in front of the church holding hands.
The garden behind Residenz is open to the public, its called Hofgarten.
It was similar to the Parisian gardens we saw in Paris with the white dirt/gravel paths and the grassy areas that were forbidden to walk on. Nonetheless, it was very beautiful.
In the centre of the garden was a stone gazebo with a man playing classical music on the base violin.
People walking by would stop in to listen (you couldn't help it, the music was so beautiful!) for awhile and one lady even danced!
That inspired Averie to dance. Sorry, you'll have to turn your screen sideways.
Next we went back down into the narrow roads of the city. And we came upon Hofbrauhaus. Founded as a Royal Brewery in 1589. It contains a restaurant and beer hall on the ground floor and the upper floors are an Inn.
So we went in for a small beer (1 litre of beer!). Averie is happy for her Daddy.
She looks so happy for Daddy that I got her one of her own (just kidding).
Very interesting decor and the staff all wear traditional German clothing.
Still going...
Carter entertaining himself with various salt and pepper shakers...
I did it! Missed the coaster though.
After I had my appetizer at Hofbrauhaus we went off to a restaurant for some traditional German food away from the tourists.
Jenn had the spaetzle with cheese and fried onions. So good!
Carter has chicken schnitzel and cucumber-potato salad. WOW!
Averie liked it too...honest.
It was quite a feast. I had the goulash with spaetzle.
German beer is really good.
That was it for Munich. It was really great to experience Germany, even though a very small part. The people we encountered were very down to earth and friendly. It felt quite different than the other European countries we've been to... a lot more familiar in language, food and customs that we could relate to from our backgrounds. Jenn even got to try out some of her high school German!
The next day we got our rental car and were off to Salzburg!
Mike
