Munich: Germany

October 26, 2008

Munich has been a city that has kept us incredibly busy.  Even though it was pretty much destroyed during WWII (only 4 original buildings remain), so much to see in so little time.  The busabout team, in conjunction with one of the local hostels, offer free walking tours of the city so off we went last Wednesday morning, navigating our way through the streets.  Our guide “Ozzie”, of Canadian heritage but now calling Munich home, was a character to say the least.  Cocky and highly opinionated, ‘camp’ comes to mind in describing him.  Throughout the tour he told us that he was a bit of celebrity about town JB and I raised our eyebrows in a moment of “yeah right!” but we enjoyed it.  We also spent a day at the Munich Olympic Stadium, site of where Peter Norman collected a silver medal for the 200m back in ‘72 (If you haven’t seen the movie Salute, suggest you pick yourself up a copy of the DVD) and on Friday we ventured a couple hours out of Munich to a small Bavarian town called Fussen, where Neuschwanstein Castle (of King Ludwig) sits proudly amongst the landscape.  Again our guide was a bit of a kak, but I don’t want to go on.  A few pics.

Better shot of the stadium where Peter Norman set Aussie record

Shot of the stadium where Peter Norman set Aussie record

 

Original summer retreat of King Ludwig

Original summer retreat of King Ludwig

Until he built Neuschwanstein Castle...

Until he built Neuschwanstein Castle...

Our group on the bridge with Neuschwanstein Castle in b/ground

Our group on the bridge with Neuschwanstein Castle in b/ground

More impressive shot of Neuschwanstein

More impressive shot of Neuschwanstein

Tourists everywhere at Neuschwanstein...

Tourists everywhere at Neuschwanstein...

Taking photos with their F off cameras...

Taking photos with their F off cameras...

and generally, just getting in the way.

and generally, just getting in the way.

No-one smiles in this street...

No-one smiles in this street...

Parliament building

Parliament building

Englischer Garten where JB and I enjoyed a little picnic in the sun

Englischer Garten where JB and I enjoyed a little picnic in the sun

City Hall with glockenspiel show each midday

City Hall with glockenspiel show each midday

Yesterday we had beutiful weather so headed down to Vitkualien Market and picked up some olives, cheese and fresh bread and then headed to Englischer Garten and sunned ourselves over a picnic.  In a couple of days we conclude our Busabout adventure in Paris, so until next time, au revoir.