Europe Day 14 – Munich

Blah, blah, blah, German breakfast at the hotel, blah, blah, blah, took the subway to Marienplatz, blah, blah, blah. Our plan was to stop by the Hofbrauhaus to make reservations for dinner. Hofbrauhaus (translation: Main Brewing Station) is a must see for any tourist to Munich. This is where you can buy a liter of beer, a giant pretzel, and sing along with an ump-pah band. They were open, but there weren’t any customers. We walked around a little (it’s a big restaurant) and when it became apparent that no one was going to see if we needed help, I approached a waitress and told her our plans for the night. She said it should be fine and that we should just show up. Okay.

We watched the clock at the Marienplatz at 11:00 am. Twice a day when the bell rings there is a cookcoo clock type of thing that happens, but without a bird. There are knights, kings, and jesters that go around in circles and they move. Afterwards we jumped on the next street train to Dauchau. We wanted to grab lunch before visiting the memorial site, so we walked the streets trying to find good food. We ended up at a bakery where I go a sandwich and Vanessa got a cheese pretzel. Nutritious lunch eh? We found the bus we needed and within 10 minutes we were standing outside the Dauchau Concentration Camp.

This was my second trip here. The first time was 13 years ago with my German class. We were looking forward to a live 2 ½ hour tour that we arrived about an hour early for. We went inside the building where you pay for the tour only to be told by a frustrated German guy that the live tour wasn’t going today. I’m sorry, but being greeted by nd angry German at the Concentration Camp is not a good example of today’s Germany. I think he was a little tired of dealing with stupid American questions. I spoke German to him and it seemed to put him at ease (a little).

Dachau is something I cannot describe here. It is something you need to experience for yourself. To see the cremation ovens and to stand where thousands were killed and tortured brings a reality to the events. You really need a good five hours to see all of the detail the camp has to offer. It is strange to simply walk through the barbed-wire fence where 60 years ago you would have been shot for even trying.

We headed back to Munich and after some window-shopping we headed for the Hofbrauhaus. It was a completely different scene from earlier in the day. It was about 6:30 pm and the place was packed. We found a place to sit without much of a problem. Everyone shares large tables here and since everyone is drinking beer, everyone is friendly. I immediately ordered a liter of beer and Vanessa ordered a Cola-Fanta mix. I’m still not sure what it was, but I think it was half Coca Cola and half Fanta. Sounded gross. The Pretzel girl came around and we bought a large pretzel. It was great to have a big stein of beer in my hand again and the music made the atmosphere perfect.

We ordered dinner and I ordered my second liter stein. Sometime during dinner, an old guy about three tables away got a little belligerent and security came in to haul him away. They grabbed him by the shirt and started to pick him up. Well, he wasn’t going to go quietly, so he kicked his legs up on someone else’s table and knocked over a couple of their beers. Security didn’t seem to like this. They picked him up and rushed him through the doors. I’m sure they set him down gently :) .

I was feeling pretty good after two liters of beer and a good meal. I was feeling a little tired and we had to wake up early the next day, so we went back to the hotel. THE END… of day 14.