I made it a priority to become a temporary European in each area I visited. From champagne and café to crepes and croissant, I wanted to eat, live, and party just like the locals did. In Munich, it’s all about the beer!
From eating and drinking in the Biergarten, to chanting “Tiki Taki Tiki Taki Hoy Hoy Hoy” along with the Oom-pah bands at the beer halls, I let my inner German take over as the good times kept rolling.
After freshening up at our hotel, we took a quick tour of the city square before meeting up at the town market. The shoppes were filled with fruits, smoked and dried meats, flowers, and a variety of handmade goods. Tents and vendors serving food were everywhere. And with the Biergarten just a quick walk away, this served as the perfect place to mingle with the locals and travelers alike. Perhaps this will have to wait for tomorrow though, since we are on our way to one of Munich's oldest beer halls for dinner, the Hofbrauhaus!
Walking into the beer hall was just what I expected. The reninasance hall was filled with people singing along with the Oom-pha bands blaring. Liter glasses of beer were flowing faster than the waterfalls I watched the night before. After my liter of Hefe Weizen and plate of Bockwurst, we finished our meal with pretzels served by busty German waitresses dressed in medival garb. With the rain pouring through the city streets, we ran toward our hotel for a final round of laughter and drinks before calling it a night.
The next morning after our German breakfast feast, we met up with our local tour guide. We walked off our morning sausage and potatoes with a guided stroll through Munich. Our morning ended at an outdoor cafe with a world famous view of the Glockenspiel at our side. Many of us continued our people watching over some homemade apple strudel and cappuccino; some of the best I ever enjoyed in my life!
The remainder of our day was free to do as we pleased. After a rest at our downtown hotel, I met up with another family, and together we completed the self guided walk as recommended in our guidebook. From the Marienplatz and the old town hall, to St. Peter's Church and the Pedestrian Mall, our self paced adventure was a perfect way to spend the overcast afternoon.
A humorous and memorable part of the afternoon was revisiting the bronze statue of Shakespeare's Juilet; a gift from Italy in 1974. Since then, legend has it that luck and a chance at undying love will result from... well, see the below picture of me "getting lucky with Juilet".
My evening was spent meandering into the shaded Biergarten and joining the locals chugging beer and sharing stories. I learned during our tour that there are six breweries in Munich and the Biergarten features two of these local breweries at any given time. While walking around the city on our final night, I met up with our tour guide for a final cafe experience before heading toward our hotel.
As we feasted on another hearty breakfast, our innkeeper began tell us stories about her life and experiences in Munich. She was so passionate about her city and love for Germany. We bid our farewell and soon departed toward the city of canals, Venice.