Sept 2007 Munich

Sept 19.
After breakfast, we took a tram 15 min ride to Munich Old town. The weather was a bit cool (jacket) and sunny. We walked to Marienplatz - where Old Munich is. We were on time to watch Glockenspiel - 11am the clock is playing Bavarian wedding and the figures move . Kind of lame seems to me however we've seen these clock performances in many European cities :-)
Nevertheless I am always trying not to miss it.
The Marienplatz is pedestrian plaza with some nice churches around it, two town halls (Rathaus) - Old and New. We walked to Frauenkirchen (Our Lady Church). From there, we took elevator (3e ticket each person) to see Munich from the top. We thought elevator is from the ground floor. Well it turned out to be there are 86 steps to the elevator! We made it. The view was nice but from the tower it was not that convenient to take picture.
We also walked to Marienhof which used to be a Jewish quarter and now a small park. Relaxed there and toured the rest. We had lunch in famous Hofbrauhous, it is 400 year old Beer house.It is huge with music and tourist atmosphere. We've shared table with a nice couple from Holland and had a good time. For some reason the waiter was brusque and did not seem understand that we want together beer and food. First he brought beer. Then food. Beer is served the smallest portion is .5l. Light beer is called Helles and dark is Dunkel. When I asked for light - the waiter thought no alcohol beer and it really turned him off although nearby Japanese tourist drank water. We finally with a help of dutch couple and also pointing at other tables explained what we want. We shared one plate of sausage and kraut. In Germany, looks like we can have 1/2 of the portion - their portions are huge.
After lunch, we took tram to Nymphenburg Palace which is near our hotel. It took few changes of the trams since we took different tram but eventually we managed to get where we wanted. The Nymphenburg Palace was great and we loved gardens the most. They remind us Tulleries gardens in Paris. Beautiful. Our hotel's owner, Sebastian had 2 extra tickets to the palace in the morning and gave them to us so we got them for free.
We took English audio guides inside. It is large palace but only 15 rooms or so are available for touring. It is Baroque Italian style . The bavarian ruler Ferdinand Maria of Wittelsbach family gave it as a gift to his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy for giving him son Max Emanuel. The family still lives in this huge estate. In addition to Wing of king and queen wings there alsoRoyal Stables Museum and Amalienburg Palace. It was very nice and the weather cooperated for enjoying lakes and gardens, beautiful swans and ducks.
Afterwards we walked ot our hotel , refreshed and went for dinner. Dinner was at nearby Italian restaurant Osteria di Golfo, small local place with local clientele. It was completely filled in. Small menu.. We had pasta and caprese salad and tartufo and tea for dessert. We enjoyed dinner very much and came back to hotel.
Sebastian said that our collegaue who is taking us tomorrow to explore Jewish Franconia, called and said will arrive at 8am tomorrow instead of 9. So tomorrow we are for early start. Some work in the evening including this blog and going to bed...