Munich is the final destination for this European trip. It's October and why would you be in Munich except for Octoberfest. We decided to take the train instead of fly from Venice to Munich. One reason for taking the train is because we'll be going through some beautiful country in northern Italy and Austria. The first part of the train journey took us from Venice Maestre station to Verona. Then we changed to a Deutsche Bahn train that goes straight to Munich. The train passes through the
Dolomites in northern Italy. This is an area of great beauty. It's also a popular hiking area. The train then passes through beautiful Austria before crossing over to Germany.
We arrived at the Munich Hauptbahnhof or Central Station at about 6pm. Our friend's son, Yannick, met us and helped us take the S8 train to Daglfing. It was about a 10-minute walk from the Daglfing train station to their house.
Prior to leaving the US I tried to book a tour of the BMW factory in Munich. I had to wait until registration is opened before I can formally book a tour. When it finally did we were hiking on the TMB. Fortunately, I was able to call through to their reception and booked a tour. It was a wonderful tour of the factory and the museum. It took about 3 hours. The factory tour was most impressive with its level of automation.
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| An early BMW car |
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| A new-generation BMW |
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| BMW Head Office |
Unfortunately, it rained almost every day that we were in Munich. We went to Marienplatz a few times because that's the only place I know where we can stroll around. Not only are there many shops, restaurants and church, there is also a market and a beer house next to to it. The market sells many fresh vegetables and meat. It also has many restaurants around the market, selling anything from traditional German sausages to seafood to other traditional Germany food.
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| A dish of pork knuckles and potatoes |
There is also the famous beer hall Hofbräuhaus München near Marienplatz. This is a very popular beer hall, especially during Oktoberfest. Some tourists think that they have come to Oktoberfest but it's not the official Oktoberfest, which is celebrated in Theresienwiese, a few miles away.
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| Large groups of Patrons in the busy Hofbräuhaus |
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| Doris in the beer hall |
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| Rathaus Glockenspiel in Marienplatz |
One day we met my friend Paul for breakfast. I met Paul and his girlfriend Alina while traveling in South Africa. We were staying at a hostel in Coffee Bay, one of the most memorable places I visited there. Read my blog here on
Coffee Bay.
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| Meeting my friend Paul for Breakfast |
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| Tasty German donuts |
Tobias and his family one day took us to a nearby famous castle called
Neuschwanstein Castle. Unfortunately it was so popular and crowded that we couldn't get into the castle. We walked around the grounds but it was also very crowded.
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| Neuschwanstein Castle |
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| Visiting the castle with Tobias' family |
One of the nicest things about visiting a local friend in a foreign country is eating what the locals eat. Tobias' and his family always take us to authentic German restaurants, sometimes quite far out of the away but they are always good. The myth that Germany food is all potatoes and sauerkraut is not true. There are a lot of great German dishes.
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| At a German Restaurant in Munich |
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| The Menu |
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| Name of the restaurant |
Finally the day came that we are going to the Oktoberfest. Wolfe, Sandra and their 3 sons drove in from near Heidelberg. We had lunch together then get ready to head out. Our table reservation is at 5pm so we took the train to near Theresienwiese and walked the few blocks to the grounds. Security was very tight after a bombing few years ago. The grounds are now surrounded by chain-linked fence so that security can screen everyone coming in.
Yes, we are at Oktoberfest but it is not a true experience unless you get into one of the beer tents. The tents are owned by one of the few big Bavarian beer companies. You can get in only if you have a ticket or wait in line early enough to get in before it's full. I've been lucky. My friend has a connection that he gets us table reservations every year. This year he reserved two tables - one for the adults and another for their grown children. These families knew each other when they were working in Singapore. That is why I feel a closeness to them even though I did not know them in Singapore.
Coming here is not only about drinking beer. It's about celebrating a festival, getting together with friends and having a good time. The beer are brewed specially for Oktoberfest and have a slightly higher alcohol content. They come in 1-liter jugs. Not only are the beer great but the food is great too. Here are some pictures of the good time that we had.
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| Dressed up and getting ready to go to Oktoberfest |
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| Entrance |
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| Doris and I outside the Paulaner beer tent |
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| Besides beer there is tasty food too |
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| Having a good time with friends |
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| A 1-liter jug of beer |
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| Beer Hall with a live band in the middle. They play a lot of American music besides German polka music |
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| Soft tasty pretzels |
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| The kids are also having a wonderful time |
It was a wonderful week in Munich, seeing old friends. This is my 3rd trip to Oktoberfest and every year I look forward to going back. One note about the German kids. They are so nice and polite and friendly. I felt like I have just spent a special and fun week with my extended family.
