Day 2 & 3 -- Munich and Surrounds

Spring 1982
(Dec. 2012--imagine white-out)

After grabbing a quick breakfast, we hopped in the car to check out Neuschwanstein. We thought it would be fun to see it in winter after all these years.  The day was overcast but looked ok to travel. We figured the castle was about two hours by car.  As we got closer it started to snow a little--by the time we got to the small town of Schwangau about three miles from the castle, the snow was so deep the road was covered in 3-6 inches.

We realized when the parking lot was empty, and the driver with the horses was heading for the stable, the castle wasn't going to work today--so we turned back to Munich. We took the long way back using the autobahn to avoid getting hung up in the snow.

North of Fussen -- the snow finally stopped

Window displays on the Bayerstrasse

For the evening we did a bit of window shopping on the Bayerstrasse...



We had planned to go to Salzburg the next day, but after this winter adventure, we decided on seeing a bit more of Munich.

The Glockenspiel at
New Town Hall

We started off the next day with a visit to the Tourist Info Center at the east end of the Hauptbahnhof. We asked about a map for Munich--I think we ponied up for the 40c. It showed the central area as well as the subway system. The nice (tongue-in-cheek) lady there advised us that we were hale and hearty enough to walk to where we wanted to go and did not need to purchase an all-day subway ticket.

We walked then to the Central Square (Marien Platz) to check out the Glockenspiel at the New Town Hall as well as wander a bit through the Christmas Market there.  We arrived just before noon--most of the action were vendors setting up, not much else really going on. We realized later in the trip the best time to hit these markets is at dusk--that's when they are really humming.

Polizei on horseback
[protecting tree in foreground]:-)

We walked north to Odeonplatz to check out the lion statues guarding the large covered arch known as Feldernhalle honoring the Bavarian army. It became famous as a site used for one of the first public speeches by a well-known dictator of Germany in the 1930's and '40s. The day we were there the platz was definitely well-protected, watching over the merchant setting up Christmas trees for sale between them and the Feldernhalle.



From there we continued north on Ludwigstrasse to check out the Victory Gate in the University area -- Named "Siegestor" in German, the gate was originally built in 1852 to honor the Bavarian Army. It sustained heavy damage in WWII, and has been restored.

After that it was time for lunch, so we did the touristy thing--we ate at the Hofbrauhaus. With beer, cheese, and salad, we sat next to a couple from Russia at a table with bench-style seating, which is how most of the place is set up. After the Russians left a group of four from Spain sat down. Interestingly the restaurant had menus printed in Russian, but not in Spanish (fortunately they also had menus in English!). By the time we left, even with the place having multiple large rooms, people were circling for spots to sit, and when we got up to leave our seats were immediately taken.

After that it was back to Marien Platz for another stroll through the Christmas market...

A couple of stalls at the Central Platz

By this time the weather had dropped into the low 20s ºF (about -6ºC), so we decided to head back to the hotel to warm up.

Theatine Church and Feldernhalle visible through the Victory Gate

Tomorrow we were headed to Nuremberg--we thought we'd drop in on Rotenburg Ob Der Tauber on the way. (Who knew there was more than one Rotenburg in Germany? There is, and if you don't add the "Ob Der Tauber" for searches, you end up at the other one.)