Family Trip - Day 15 - full day in Munich

Tuesday July 9

Breakfast was not automaticly included in our reservation but we opted to buy in. It was a good start of the day.

A photo out of the others' window. It's not guests parking there. 

The front of our hotel. As I said before: it was in a good location. 

One of the many interesting houses. Not sure why but I didn't take that many photos this time.

We were all on the way to the Viktualienmarkt, the Munich farmer's market. Sarah and her family had to stop at the park with the playground again.

I think we arrived and we found the others.

After that we wanted to visit the English Garden but it was further than we thought. Or may be it was just because it was quite a hot day.

This is not at all what I thought it might be. Our intro to the English Garden were the waves at the "Eisbach". Unbelievable the boys could have said there forever and watch the surfers. 

Finally the boys were ready to move on but we did not get far. This was too inviting for them.

After the swimming (of some of us) we continued to the Chinese Tower. It was a lovely walk in the park.

Since I had done no investigating beforehand I didn't know that it seems to be a second Hofbräuhaus. It's lunch time! But it is self-serve. We were too busy to decide, buy, pay and schlepp to take photos. But it is an incredible set-up. When all those tables are full, it might be still quite orderly and convenient. 

Then came the big question: how to we get back? I thought it could be a lot of fun to take one of those bicycle rickshaws. And we were immidiately approached. Except ... we needed three. 

James and Helen were first with Caleb between them and Colin on the back.

I wasn't that happy with ours. It was so inclosed/confined. The view was blocked. And the guy was too businesslike. But still William, Owen and I thought it was a nice experience. 

We were all brought to the Marienplatz and met there again. 

Sarah did some shopping on the way back to the hotel. She bought t-shirts. I love them.

In the evening we asked at the hotel desk whether they had a dinner recommendation. And they had. 

Andy's Krablergarten. It was outdoors and very German food. Several of us had really nice "Rolladen" (beef rolls). They were gigantic. And the potato dumplings were genuing too. Ha-ha, I didn't know that in Bavaria what I call Rotkraut is here Blaukraut (red cabbage vs. blue cabbage).

I was very happy that I was prepared. A tourist could be in trouble. Some places do not take credit cards (like Andy's) and some do not take cash. For a party of 9 that could be a problem!

On the way home the boys needed to stop at the park again.

In our room: time to work on packing. And ... the Eurocup is still going on.

Ah, how can this be? Tomorrow the children are leaving. James and I are so grateful.

Family Trip - Day 14 - and on to Munich

Monday July 8

We had a nice breakfast at the hotel again. We had time because we were waiting for shops to open. Sarah and I had something we wanted to purchase before leaving.

Got to see the cat whoes bowl with pieces of fish we had seen on the sofa in the lobby the day before. There was even a sign at the door that "Othello" (?) stayes in this hotel. This time his dish was on the floor.

The drive in our two rented cars to Munich was uneventful. GPS says that it is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The last few miles in Munich were not so much to my liking though. Road construction everywhere. Cars everywhere. We found the "Brunnenhof Hotel" easy enough but no parking anywhere. I asked Helen to go inside to ask and she came back saying that we could stay in the driveway to unload. She had a map where we could park the car afterwards. 

Well, when she (with the map) and I tried to find that place the first street to turn into was blocked because of construction. Back to the hotel. We were told that there was another option in the other direction. A hospital district. Get a ticket at the gate to get in, park anywhere on the streets (which were not so full), display the ticket and pay when you leave. I had mixed feelings about it but happy to report that when I got the car 2 days later, I paid 20 Euros and all was well.

Wade and Sarah didn't need their rented car any longer and didn't need to park it. When they had unloaded the car the two of them went to the airport to turn it in.

Helen and William took care of the three younger boys. Helen spotted a park on the GPS map and we seven set out to do some walking. It was just a little further where I had parked the car and it was a really nice park. William and Caleb did some jogging all around it. The seesaw had to be tried and some swings too.

After a while we headed towards the Marienplatz. I had received a text from Sarah. They were on the subway and asked where they should get off. We agreed on the Marienplatz. They were rufly half an hour away. 

Ha-ha, I had been so sure all this time that this building at the Marienplatz was a church but it is actually the Old Town Hall. From Wikipedia: The Glockenspiel in the tower of the New Town Hall was inspired by the tournaments that were held in the square during the Middle Ages, and draws millions of tourists a year. Furthermore, the pedestrian zone between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz is a crowded area with numerous shops and restaurants.

We arrived at the perfect moment and the glockenspiel was quite fun. 

This fruitstand with sherries etc was the landmark for Wade and Sarah to find us. 

Once Sarah arrived she took the lead because she thought we should see the Hofbräuhaus. She was right. It was fun. With humptata music and all. 

Should have taken a better photo of the painted ceiling.

And yes, waiters and waitresses were incredibly carrying around beerjugs several in each hand at the same time. The menu was extensive but everybody had something 'German". 

Omi is not always good taking selvies. 

A VIDEO found HERE. 

On the way back to the hotel we walked passed the open door of the Heilig Geist Kirche and had to take a look. The swarm of white origami birds was incredible. It reminded James and me though of the crane mobile we had at our church in Paducah KY one Easter. 

Photos from Sarah:

Munich and the Hofbräuhaus had not been on my bucket list but it was fun to wander in the pedestrian areas and eating some "not on my diet" food while listening to some German volk music. 

And on the way back to the hotel. We spent some time downstairs, probably playing cards. We were allowed to bring snacks or wine. The boys enjoyed the sparkling water dispenser. But we had enough activity during the day that we were soon ready for bed. So much to see, so much to do every day.