Backpacking (Central/Eastern) Europe

Travel time: August 2008  |  by Christina E.

Germany: Munich

Back in Munich...

That evening, what began as innocent lounging in the hostel commons area turned into another night of inebriation. Every time I say to myself, "Okay, tonight's the night I'm gonna take a day off", a party ends up in the works.

No complaints.

But I'm sure my liver is the size of a little brown pebble right about now.

Here we run into Bryon and our new friend, Ludwig (Josh)

Here we run into Bryon and our new friend, Ludwig (Josh)

my kryptonite...

my kryptonite...

After the vomit...

After the vomit...

Afterwards, Adam, Ludwig, Bryon and I go on a scavenger hunt for the Hofbrauhaus. By then, everything was closed, so we settled for Doner Kebabs.

A bottle-cap fountain

A bottle-cap fountain

At Doner...the only thing that's open after 10pm

At Doner...the only thing that's open after 10pm

w/ our new German friend

w/ our new German friend

w/ Adam's other new friend

w/ Adam's other new friend

The next day...

We woke up a little past the time we were supposed to meet Ludwig for our outing around Munich. There was a little mix-up, and because Adam told Ludwig that I was still sleeping (when in fact, I was actually getting ready to go downstairs to meet Ludwig), Ludwig decided to take off with Bryon. I was a little upset, but all was forgiven when Adam and I ate some yummy Thai food.

Surprising that one of the best thai curries ever sampled was found in Munich

Surprising that one of the best thai curries ever sampled was found in Munich

The BMW museum, next to the BMW factory

The BMW museum, next to the BMW factory

After lunch, we headed to the BMW museum and the Olympic Gardens. That was pretty eventful. The weather was perfect for summertime, just warm enough for a long walk.

Out front the BMW showroom

Out front the BMW showroom

BMW race car

BMW race car

After grabbing a little snack, we headed across the bridge to the BMW museum.

Vintage BMW

Vintage BMW

Classic beamers

Classic beamers

At the BMW restaurant, I felt compelled to leave my mark.

This means at approx 1400 hours, I was here!

This means at approx 1400 hours, I was here!

Then off to the Olympic Gardens...

This looks very Frank Ghery-esque

This looks very Frank Ghery-esque

Adam craves crepes

Adam craves crepes

Adam snaps this pic while I take a nap on the grass

Adam snaps this pic while I take a nap on the grass

Then onto the subway to the Englisher Gardens.

Reminds me of Central Park

Reminds me of Central Park

On our relaxing walk, we saw people riding bikes...

On our relaxing walk, we saw people riding bikes...

...and big horses...

...and big horses...

...and sunbathing...

...and sunbathing...

*Def a lot of grandpa schwantzes

*Def a lot of grandpa schwantzes

People chillin' on hammocks...

People chillin' on hammocks...

...and channel surfing...

...and channel surfing...

We come to the Japanese tea house

We come to the Japanese tea house

A swan lake

A swan lake

Adam uses a map to its death. literally.

Adam uses a map to its death. literally.

At Maximilian Street, home of luxury stores

At Maximilian Street, home of luxury stores

The window displays at Hermes...

The window displays at Hermes...

Creeptastic

Creeptastic

That evening, we went back to the hostel to get ready before dinner, and we met our new hostel mate, Taylor. He was a travel writer for a college magazine, and was touring all over Europe to write about his adventures. We all decided to try out the Hofbrauhaus (beer hall) located in the heart of Munich.

The place was in full swing by the time we entered

The place was in full swing by the time we entered

Everyday's Oktoberfest in here

Everyday's Oktoberfest in here

Ch-ch-check it out (the guy's expression behind me)

Ch-ch-check it out (the guy's expression behind me)

Such a fun, festive place

Such a fun, festive place

Taylor gets up to dance

Taylor gets up to dance

The cool menu

The cool menu

This grandma can party

This grandma can party

Too hilarious

Too hilarious

Cheers to the hofbrauhaus brew!

Cheers to the hofbrauhaus brew!

A delicious meal of schweinsbraten mit kruste *the potato dumplings are my fave here at HBH

A delicious meal of schweinsbraten mit kruste *the potato dumplings are my fave here at HBH

Adam digs into his pork

Adam digs into his pork

Adam is such a ladies' man!

Adam is such a ladies' man!

crushes too much

crushes too much

A fellow bunkmate's dirty socks...

A fellow bunkmate's dirty socks...

The loud cereal cruncher that woke us up (and the owner of the dirty socks)

The loud cereal cruncher that woke us up (and the owner of the dirty socks)

When we awoke bright and early to check out of the hostel, it was our last day in Germany (*tear*). We had so grown to love Munich that we didn't know how much until we left it to frequent other places.

After our goodbyes with Taylor, Adam and I took off for the Marienplatz to see the crowned jewels and famed rooms of the Residenz Museum. My fave were the infant mummies encased in glass coffins with beaded jeweled cloths over their eyes and skulls.

I wanna wear this...

I wanna wear this...

...and this!

...and this!

not this...

not this...

Bears w/ rifles are quite popular

Bears w/ rifles are quite popular

To the outside...an indian-inspired sculpture

To the outside...an indian-inspired sculpture

The courtyard

The courtyard

Pretty serving set inlaid w/ gold

Pretty serving set inlaid w/ gold

A bejeweled dagger

A bejeweled dagger

Inside the Antiquarium:

From the Residenz Museum website:

"This hall is the oldest room of the Residenz München. 66 metres long, it is the largest and most lavish Renaissance interior north of the Alps. Duke Albrecht V had it built from 1568 to 1571 for his collection of antique sculptures. These antiquities gave the room its name "Antiquarium".

The wall and ceiling paintings in the Antiquarium date from its remodelling as a banqueting hall. The 16 pictures along the top of the vault are the work of the Munich court painter Peter Candid and show allegories of Fame and Virtue in the form of seated female figures.

The vaults above the windows, and the window jambs, are decorated with 102 views of towns, markets and palaces in what was then the Duchy of Bavaria. They are surrounded by grotesques, a type of ornament derived from classical antiquity.

The busts and other sculptures displayed in the Antiquarium include both original works of classical antiquity and Renaissance copies. Some formed part of Duke Albrecht's collection; others were added in the 17th and 18th centuries."

Inside the Antiquarium

Inside the Antiquarium

Paintings from Peter Candid

Paintings from Peter Candid

17th & 18th centuries' busts

17th & 18th centuries' busts

Yes, that's us inside the antiquarium!

Yes, that's us inside the antiquarium!

At another courtyard...

At another courtyard...

Paintings of the Far East... with European influence

Paintings of the Far East... with European influence

My favorite room in the Residenz collection

My favorite room in the Residenz collection

Miniature portraits in the Nottbohm Collection

Miniature portraits in the Nottbohm Collection

A lavish dining hall

A lavish dining hall

My favorite part of the museum, the mummified body parts!

My favorite part of the museum, the mummified body parts!

The bejeweled infant skulls

The bejeweled infant skulls

A baby bone encased in finery

A baby bone encased in finery

A beheaded Medusa...

A beheaded Medusa...

It must be nice to have a piano-playing fox

It must be nice to have a piano-playing fox

There is no end to the grandeur of this place

There is no end to the grandeur of this place

After our Residenz tour, Adam and I went back to HBF (we couldn't resist great food at great prices) and I ordered the Original Hofbrauhaus Braumeister pork steak w/ tomato rice and salad. It is highly recommended!

After our yummy meal, we went to get our stuff from the hostel, and then off to Salzburg, Austria

Onto Salzburg

Onto Salzburg

© Christina E., 2009
You are here : Overview Europe Germany Munich
The trip
 
Description:
"Good Pants, Bad Pants"; Czech Republic pick pocketers; Kutna Hora...THE BONES; Chocolate Factory; German sausages and Hofbrauhaus/Biergartens; Austria bike riding; Pub crawls; tons of new friends and an amazing journey....and, one too many potato dumplings and pork knuckle
Details:
Start of journey: Aug 13, 2008
Duration: 3 weeks
End of journey: Aug 31, 2008
Travelled countries: Czech Republic
Germany
Austria
Hungary
The Author
 
Christina E. is an active author on break-fresh-ground. since 17 years.
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