CHAPTER 14. MUNICH, GERMANY

Our first trip to Germany is in 1978, on the way to Vienna where we join friends for the VW bus trip thru Eastern Europe (#5).

It is the morning of May 11,1978 when we fly into Munich, and we are surprised to see a scattering of snow on the ground in 35 degree F. temperatures. After a nap in the hotel we put on all the layers of clothes we have and go out walking to see some of the city in a freezing cold breeze. We find a cafeteria near our hotel for supper then go back to the hotel by 8 pm to rest and go to bed early.

We sleep in this morning and don’t get up to breakfast until 11; we hope it doesn’t take too long for us to get used to European time! In the afternoon we take a trolley to the very nice Old Pinakothek Art Gallery where we see paintings by many masters: Rubens, Van Dyke, Rembrant, etc. We trolley back to the hotel to soak in a hot bathtub before dressing and going by trolley to the Platzl beer hall for dinner and a show.

We are seated with two pleasant German couples who don’t speak English, and our German is very limited, but we are all very friendly. The show is quite good with yodeling, dancing, bell ringing, and glockenspiel. The dinner is good, but not outstanding. We trolley back to the hotel by about 11 pm.

All our travels around Munich are by public transportation; trolley or a very good underground system. It is quite easy to get around town, but the prices seem somewhat high to us; it is 1 DM for a short trip, more for longer. It is self service at ticket dispensers where one determines the price and cancels. There is a 5 DM pass for 24 hours in all of inner Munich. Our “welcome” package at the airport includes a free 24 hour pass for two.

It is cloudy and cold again today. We awaken early, still suffering from jet lag, and after a hearty hotel breakfast we go to the nearby railroad station to investigate trains to Salzburg. We take a free one hour bus tour of the city, then return to the RR station and go across the street for a good, and inexpensive, Bavarian lunch at the Eden Hotel Wullf restaurant. After lunch we trolley to Max Joseph Platz and the Treasury in the Residenz where we see a fantastic gold and jewel artifact of St. George slaying the dragon. We walk to Marienplatz, seeing the old and new city halls, and then the Frauenkirche. The beautiful modern subway brings us to the RR station and we walk to the hotel. After a rest we brave the cold again for supper at the cafeteria.

We are up early again and after breakfast use our free 24 hour pass to go by subway to the Olympic Park. We walk around and see some of the fabulous athletic facilities, then go up in the TV tower for a fantastic view of the park and city, and have a brandy before returning to the hotel for a snack.

Then we go by trolley to the Botanic Gardens where we almost melt in the hot house while wearing five layers of clothing. There are many colorful and beautiful flowers and plants. We walk to and thru the nearby Nymphenburg Palace before returning by trolley to the hotel for a rest. We complete our 24 hour pass going to and from the Schwabing area where we have a great fresh salmon dinner with wine.