|
|
Day
8 (September 17, 2016) Munich
Before
This is the day Oktoberfest starts with a tent patrons’ parade. We’ll
spend the rest of the day exploring Munich’s Old Town.
The spots marked at map are:
1- Marienplatz
2- Frauenkirche
3- Virtualinmarket
4- Isartor
5- Sendlinger Tor
6- Karl Tor
7- Hofbräuhaus beer hall
8- Odeonplatz
9- Residentz
|
After
The first thing to do today is clear: at 11 AM is when the
patrons parade starts and, with it, the Oktoberfest. So no rushes today
for leaving the hotel and I drive to Munich city center where, moving
with all the blocked streets, is not an easy task.
When I see the parking sign belonging to a shopping mall I go in there.
It’s 20 minutes to 11 AM and we’re already in Karlsplatz, where we can
see the first of the old city gates we’re going to see today: Karls Tor
(number 6 at map).
 
We’re seeing people specially dressed for today with the typical Bavarian costumes.
Weather, though, seems to be the only thing against the celebrations as
it is raining, for the first time in this travel, but constantly today.
With this, all the way the parade is going to follow is crowded and, as
all the people is holding umbrellas, it makes difficult to get some
view of the place. We finally climb to a monument base that is crowded,
but where we can make our space. It’s about 10 meters from the parade’s
path but high enough as for having view, above the umbrellas line, of
everything that is coming and turning. This is because it is a corner
and they must turn to the right. We wait standing here until the first
part of the parade appears, with the police on horses.
After a while looking how carriages and bands are passing, and as
the rain is getting stronger, we leave looking for a place to take our
breakfast. We get into a big store we saw before on this street
Sonnenstrasse.
We get cover from the rain there and, in the upper floor, a café and a
restaurant with an amazing food on display which is almost ready to
open for lunch. Besides, from here we’re getting fantastic views of
Munich. Even the parade can be seen from here!
 
At the moment restaurant Dinea, which is specially decorated for
the event too, opens the buffet we take our food on despite of being
just 11:30 AM. I take knuckle with sides and Eva goes for a big
bratwurst. We pay 13.85€ for everything.
 
We leave the place totally satisfied. We pay 10€ for a bit more
than 2 hours of parking and drive back to the hotel. The permanent rain
and the wet streets are not good for Eva’s cast in her foot, so she’ll
be in the hotel for the rest of the day. I rest for a couple of hour
and go to explore Munich’s old city.
I park in Oberanger Street and walk down to Virtualmarket and Isar gate, Isartor (3 and 4).
 
Then I walk to the center of this old city, Marienplatz (1). This
square is busy, with a lot of people passing by. Everybody is using an
umbrella. The New Town Hall building is impressive. The Old Town Hall
is here too and they look like if the adjectives are switched as the
new is looking older.
 
 
I leave Marienplatz to get into the streets of this Old City
looking for Munich’s most popular beer store: Hofbräuhaus (7). I find
it with a lot of people at the entrance and, inside, there are a lot
more. It is really crowded and the atmosphere is fantastic with the
live music and I would like to join, but there is not a single place
free.
 
The streets around Hofbräuhaus are full of gift stores with reasonable prices, so  it is here where I get my souvenirs.
I take the way back to Marienplatz to visit Munich’s Cathedral:
Frauenkirche (2), which tower we could see this morning above the roofs.
Inside, it is mostly white and the Cenotaph of Emperor Louis IV is a highlight here. It is Hans Krumpper’s work.
I’m back in Marienplatz to admire the beauty of the New Town Hall
one more time, and the last one. After this, I’m walking back to
Oberanger Street but, before getting the car, I keep going to the
limits to see the last of the gates of my list: Sendlinger Tor (5)
 
Now I’m ready to get the car and drive back to the hotel to take
some dinner with my wife and getting ready for our day in the
Oktoberfest tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
