Germany : Day 4 - Part 1 : Munich

Our 4th day, we headed back to explore Munich some more.


We checked out the Munich Residenz (former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs and the largest city palace in Germany).


We walked around inside and outside. It was HUGE!


Love the color of this church!


Can you imagine having a door this big for your house?!


My lovely husband, awesome brother and sister in laws and of course my adorable niece, Bryce in the gardens of the Residenz!


My wonderful father in law and mother in law, Don & Rita! Don only let me have two pictures of him a day. (I sneaked a couple extra in though!)


We all kinda went on our own for an hour or so. Shane and I and Dan & Marissa headed back to the Hofbrauhaus!


For a GIGANTIC pretzel!


Then we all met up again and went to the Ratskeller for lunch. BEST POTATO SOUP. EVER.


Took one last look at the infamous Glockenspiel!






















Photo credit for this photo = Wikipedia

Wish I knew this about the Glockenspiel before hand (thanks Wikipedia) . . . (we knew some of the story, but not all):

The Rathaus-Glockenspiel of Munich is a tourist attraction in Marienplatz the heart of Munich. Part of the second construction phase of the New Town Hall, it dates from 1908. Every day at 11 a.m. (as well as 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. in summer) it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century to the amusement of mass crowds of tourists and locals. It consists of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures. The top half of the Glockenspiel tells the story of the marriage of the local Duke Wilhelm V (who also founded the world famous Hofbräuhaus) to Renata of Lothringen. In honour of the happy couple there is a joust with life-sized knights on horseback representing Bavaria (in white and blue) and Lothringen (in red and white). The Bavarianknight wins every time of course.

This is then followed by the bottom half and second story: Schäfflerstanz (the coopers' dance). In the 16th century a particularly bad period of the plague hit town and everyone went into hiding. The first people to dare go back onto the streets were barrel makers who performed a big dance to show that it was okay to come out again. The Duke of Bavaria was so happy about this that he actually ordered them to re-enact this every seven years, a custom which continues to this day. The dance can be seen during Fasching (German Carnival) but the next one is not until 2012.

The whole show lasts somewhere between 12 and 15 minutes long depending on which tune it plays that day. At the very end a very small golden bird at the top of the Glockenspiel chirps three times, marking the end of the spectacle.

We actually did see the Glockenspiel do it's thing. That's when I really felt like I was in Germany.


After seeing all we wanted to see in Munich, we decided it was time to head to Garmisch to spend a night in the Alps.

Germany : Day 3 : Dachau & Munich

This is some random persons car that I was riding in on the Autobahn . . . .
We were going this fast, but there were STILL people passing us like we were standing still! It was CRAAAZZZY! people are good over there with passing though! As soon as they pass, they get right back over in the right lane!! Why oh why can't it be like that here?!


Stopped at Dachau on our way to Munich. This says "work makes free".


Definitely gave you this hollow feeling when you were there. Just so crazy, and so surreal that it actually existed. That all of those terrible things really happened.


This was where I was freaked out the most. It's the shower (gas chamber) where they told people they could get clean, but then killed them to death with poisonous gas.


Where they burned the bodies. Makes me sick.

After this, we about all had as much as we could take and headed off on our (now only 30 minute) ride to Munich!



Let me tell you . . . the room keys are VERY weird in Munich. It took us a good 2-5 minutes just to get in our hotel room.


But it was worth it!!! So modern and so wonderful! I did pop (ruin) my straightener there . . . that was a bummer. Stupid 220 volt!


Absolutely LOVED the windows there. They swung completely open or you could leave a crack open at the top. In Germany, they believe in beautiful views and don't think they should be ruined with screens or bars. They are very trustworthy that you won't jump out!


We were right next to the subway. It was perfect.


We headed to the English Garden. They have this spot where surfers go, so we had to check it out!


Ran into a cute goose!


Apparently, in the English Garden, they don't care if you wear your clothes or not . . . can you find the nudie guy!? Be lucky I didn't take a picture of the next couple we saw after this. Full frontal . . and it wasn't pretty folks.


We really need to have one of these in Erie. I can't even explain how fun and peaceful and awesome it was there.


The boys at one of the beer gardens in the English garden.


Can you tell German's love their beer?!


We had to try to fit in!


Next stop : Downtown Munich!!! Right in the city center!


And right when we walked out of the subway, we walked right into what was going to become a political rally!! EEeek! They told us to bounce! So we did.


Right to the Hofbrauhaus!! The most famous beer house in the world! Decided to eat there for dinner. Unfortunately, we were there on a Sunday night, so it wasn't too hoppin!


We had fun though!! And then called it a night!! Until tomorrow . . . .