Sight Hopping In Munich

After seeing the surfers, Carol got a second wind, so we wandered around Munich, stopping at various sites, including the Hofbrauhaus, St. Peter's Church (we didn't climb the tower -- there was a long line), the go-for-Baroque Asamkirche, and the small Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) at Sendlinger Tor, which is one of the few bits of the original  city walls that still survive.  

We had mixed reactions to Hofbrauhaus, which bills itself as the world's most famous tavern for three reasons -- it is a huge beer  hall built in 1529 by Bavarian Duke Maximillian I, is famous as Mozart's place to quaff his thirst, and because it is absolutely packed with a crush of tourists drawn by the fame, the oompah band, especially during Oktoberfest.

I wanted a beer, but the others saw it as too packed and loud, so we split.  I did hit a proper Munich beer hall Sunday night, so my goal did not go unrequited.

From there we went to St.Peter's Cathedral, which was pretty cool.

Our next stop was possibly my favorite church on the entire trip, because it was so narrow and every inch was packed with over-the-top Baroque decorations.  Asamkirche.  Alas, the light outside was fading by the time we got there, so I couldn't take many pictures.

(Editor's Note: Is there such a thing as "not over-the-top Baroque?"  I don't think so.  Blogger: Hangs head downward in writing shame.)

A little further on this pedestrian street was the Christkindmarkt at Sendlinger Tor.  It's a cool gate and towers dating from the early 1300s.  It served as the jumping off point to Italy and the rest of the south.  It was badly damaged in WWII, but some modest amount of the original tower/wall remain.

First we hit a cafe for coffee/sparkling water and some cake.  It's a pretty good tradition, and when you are walking seven to twelve miles a day, you don't feel guilty for the rest stop.

We eventually wandered over to the Winter Magic market on Viktualienmarkt on our way to dinner at Restaurant Blauer Bock, which came highly recommended by our neighbors Kon and Deborah.  The food was fabulous, and we quaffed a great St. Emilion and then a Rioja (the food was slow to come out).  It was undoubtedly the nicest restaurant we ate at on the trip, which of course was coming to a close.

Back to the parking garage where we parked, and then back to the apartment.  We haven't exactly been the "out late party types" on this trip, but it does seem like the sidewalks roll up incredibly early in Central Europe.

Ceiling at St. Peter's.

Ditto

The amazing Asamkirche.

It's a small, narrow church, but it seems every

inch is covered in Baroque ornamentation.

Carol and Torie met a friend at the Christmas market

The city wall and gate.

I would like to have this.

Oom-pah band at Hofbrauhaus.  It was break time.