Friday, 29 November
I am staying at Pension Lindner in Munich for three nights before my flight back on Sunday. This is the same pension that Dolora and I stayed at in September. A pension is a family owned hotel. Since I am alone, I am in a single with a shared bath. It was good sleeping last night with the cooler temperature. I awoke to around forty five degrees and a light rain. I took my shower early and went to the included breakfast at seven thirty. The rain stopped and after the long flight yesterday, I wanted to stretch my legs so I was out in Marienplatz , the main square, to see what the Christmas market looked like. There are lots of food stands, all kinds of Christmas ornaments, crafts and a street of just creche figure stands. The stands were just starting to open at nine. I also went by the Viktualienmarkt. All kinds of food here. The outdoor beer garden looks like it is closed for the season.
About ten thirty, I met Frank at the pension. He delivered a bottle of beer liquor that was a gift from Anna in September. Since we had carry on bags at that time, we could not bring it home. My plan is to check my bag this time so I will have to wrap it carefully. We headed over to the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum, German Transportation Museum. On the way, we stopped at the Bavaria statue. The statue is over sixty feet high and weighs eighty seven tons. At the museum, there were trains a a lot of cars, motorcycles and bicycles. From 1900 to 1930, it looks like there were as many independent auto manufacturers in Germany as in the US. Many cars that we could consider micro sized. Of course, plenty of BMWs. Leaving the museum, Frank and I agreed that there did not appear to be any structure to the layout. Cars, motorcycles and bicycles were mixed. It was not set up my manufacturer or time period. The vehicles were impressive but the presentation lacking.
Then it was time for a late lunch/early dinner at Wirtshaus am Bavariapark, just outside the museum. I had the Farmer’s Fry Up, pieces of pork, sliced potato dumplings, onions, marjoram, all fried together with a fried egg and a side salad, which was pretty good and filling along with my dark beer. Since there was still some time before Frank planned to head back, we walked through the city and to a park on the other side of the river. The temperature had dropped to about forty and a light rain started. We dropped into a coffee shop for a short break. After stopping by my room, Frank was off to the train station. It was nice to get to spend the day with a new friend.
I headed over to the Christmas market to find some dinner and try the glühwein, mulled wine, which is a traditional drink. The chili bratwurst with mustard was good. The glühwein was alright. I prefer a German beer but at least the wine was warm since it was still raining and cold. Back to the room to relax and update this before bed.
Tomorrow, I plan to visit the main Christmas market and some of the smaller ones spread around the city. Time to get some Christmas gifts…