M U N I C H
You know you're in a beautiful part of the world when the gas station pit stop needs it's own section in the scrapbook!
As it stands, Henry reports that McDonald's Austria is in 1st place for both the views and sweet treat selection. The big macs all taste the same.
"Well dadgum."- Two Texans at a gas station in Austria.
A lovely group dinner at The Auslander & a little bit of laundry! Our first evening in Munich was a quick one as we dropped our luggage and made our way through extremely loud and extremely passionate futbol fans swarming the Marienplatz on our way to dinner. Afterward with the help of our friends Johnny, Rebecca, & Google Maps, we walked a few miles to a laundromat. It was time.
Johnny & Rebecca leading the way.
Though surprised to admit it, we were already finding the German cuisine superior to any of our Italian samplings. Our first international schnitzel!
WARNING: Rick Steve's Tours may cause intense exhaustion, quick friendships, and extreme delirium. Should you find yourself in a laundromat in the middle of the night tossing a water bottle to pass time & sharing engagement stories with people you didn't know a week ago, don't panic. Simply take the water bottle, create a ridiculous hairstyle, wear it into an Uber without acknowledging it to the driver, and carry on. Everyone will laugh and you will end up with clean undergarments.
Our guide, Greta, led our group on a walking tour through the town center and the Viktulienmarkt. I was very excited to stroll the market as my mom always talked about it being her favorite place to visit in Munich.
Waiting in anticipation for the Glockenspiel to strike 12 at the Marienplatz.
Munich was full of beautiful flowers.
Stephanie, our pretzel queen, bearing snacks for the group at the end of our walking tour.
Beer & a brat. <3
Have lunch with us at the Hofbrau Haus!
Polka music and rowdy futbol fans chanting filled the air as we drank more beer than we've ever had in one sitting and tried our first pork knuckle. We ordered several things with friends and made our own little sampler plate so we could try lots of dishes. We also were introduced to a "rattler," half beer & half lemonade. This was much more mine and Rebecca's speed.
After a delicious and spirited lunch with friends, we split off from our group to make the most of our one full day in Munich. We loved the balance of structured group time and opportunities to explore on our own. We knew we wanted to find the English Gardens and see if we could spot a surfer or two as well as try to meet some local firefighters. Henry had brought some patches from his station and was hoping to trade to bring back some patches for his station's growing collection.
Ducks enjoying the beautiful day in the English Gardens
Surfers stood along the river and took turns staying up as long as they could !
Henry chatting with some fellow firefighters.
Together we selected souvenirs, fresh cherries from the Viktulienmarkt, and one more rattler before hitting the road. When we first pulled into the city of Munich on our big charter bus, we honestly had the attitude of, "..this is just a big modern city. We should keep driving and have one more day in Switzerland." Munich wooed us and won us over within a matter of hours. The food was incredible, the people were so friendly, the natural aspects were just gorgeous, and the excitement of the futbol fans was tangible. We can't wait to come back, preferably during futbol season!
Verabschiedung!
