Wednesday, June 26, 2024

DESTINATION MUNICH: BUSES AND TRAINS AND SUBWAYS!

 

Town Hall Tower in Marienplatz/Munich featuring the
world famous glockenspiel

Jams Hotel

Stubenvollstrasse 2

https://www.jams-hotel.com

Munich, Germany

June 26, 2024

73F, sunny until a midafternoon thunderstorm, then off and on rain

 

We said goodbye to Bad Reichenhall about 9:30 this morning as we schlepped our bags to the bus stop so we could get to the train. I will say that Derek sure knows arrival and departure times, as well as the location of all bus stops and train stations. Thankfully, Derek and Chris help with the bags when necessary.

 

In about 2 ½ hours we arrived in Munich and learned yet again that doors on trains close VERY quickly. For the 2nd time, part of our group could not get off the train in time and we could wave goodbye as they went ever onward without us, or us without them.  Strangely that has not happened to TK and me yet and I don’t want to jinx us.  That said, our “teammates” got back to where we were standing quite quickly.  All of us have become beasts of burden with our luggage which may or may not be slowing us down.

 

Enough of that, we got on a bus to take us near our Munich hotel.  As TK remarked yesterday, we have been on so many buses and trains it is hard to remember how we got where. 


Munich or München is the capital and most populous city of the Free State of BavariaGermany. With a population of 1,589,706 inhabitants in 2024,  it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg, and thus the largest which does not constitute its own state, as well as the 11th-largest city in the European Union.

The city was first mentioned in 1158.  In the 1920s, Munich became home to several political factions, among them the Nazi Party. After the Nazis' rise to power, Munich was declared their "Capital of the Movement". The city was heavily bombed during World War II, but has restored most of its old town and boasts nearly 30,000 buildings from before the war all over the city. After the end of postwar American occupation in 1949, there was a great increase in population and economic power during the years of Wirtschaftswunder. The city hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Today, Munich is a global center of science, technology, finance, innovation, business, and tourism. Munich enjoys a very high standard and quality of living.

Munich is renowned for its beer culture, being home to the world-famous Oktoberfest. This annual festival draws millions to celebrate Bavarian culture, enjoy folk music, and savor a wide variety of beers.  Iconic spots like the Hofbräuhaus and various beer gardens offer traditional settings to enjoy a stein among locals.

 The heart of Munich, Marienplatz, is known for the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) and its Glockenspiel. This historic square is dominated by the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), an architectural marvel of the Gothic Revival style that commands the city’s skyline with its intricate facades and towering spires.

 The centerpiece of the New Town Hall, its Glockenspiel, is a marvel of mechanical ingenuity. This elaborate clock features 32 life-sized figures and 43 bells. While you are there, make sure to catch the Glockenspiel show in Munich’s Marienplatz at 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. (noon).

 

So, we unloaded our luggage about 12:30 p.m. and headed for Marienplatz, by subway. Knowing that a thunderstorm was due, we packed in a lot of things this afternoon.



Marienplatz and our group.
 The glockenspiel in the tower of the New Town Hall 
on Marienplatz is world famous. 


Details of the glockenspiel in the Tower




After our group photo, we headed to Hofbrauhaus. Friend Judy (Nebraska/now Florida) and I ate there 56 years ago, and two German soldiers and two American soldiers sat with us. It was a fun time and afterwards we all went dancing—this was on a break from college in France. How hearts were young then!

Today was very enjoyable too as our group is quite congenial.  Live “Oompa” music played in the background while servers juggled glasses of beer, large and small, water, and soda to waiting guests. Pretzels, beef vegetable soup, Coke Zero, hit the spot for TK and me. 





Band during lunch!

We shared this pretzel/Hofbrauhaus

We walked around the largest outdoor market in Munich. Cheese shops, wine, meat, flowers, honey, oils, and many other items, but this market was not like Barcelona's.


Altar in the Munich catherdral,
St. Peter's


Beautiful pulpit in St. Peter's

 

By this time, thunder clouds were brewing and we headed back to the hotel. A few raindrops caught us.

 

Jams is a modern hotel with no AC, but cool enough today.  By 6:30 p.m. we were ready for dinner at L’Osteria around the corner from Jams through the raindrops.  Believe it or not this Italian restaurant had pizza and the SpaghettiEis we were looking for!


Margharita Pizza

The Germans are well known for their
spaghettieis-extruded ice cream with strawberry 
topping that looks like spaghetti

Another fine day!

 

TK's Takes:  He noticed poppies like those the poem "Flanders Field" mentions.   We first encountered these non-opium poppies on our WWI trips in France. They grow like weeds--he saw them along the railroad tracks.  And, he commented on how many bikes he has seen in Germany--oodles, even on the train.


Janie: 13,132 steps

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