Oktoberfest in Munich

The post below details the visit to Munich during Oktoberfest - Sept 18 - 19, 2014,

Sept 18, 2014:

Today was a travel day from Prague to Munich.  My train left Prague at 9:15 AM and after my experience of walking from the train station, then I gladly booked a car service that I was able to charge to my room...when converted, it was less than $14 US and completely saved my sanity and suitcase wheels from the cobblestones of Prague.

My favorite concierge was working this morning, so we chatted for a few minutes and he asked about my tour, dinner, etc.  I had tipped him several times during the short stay - 100 crowns (a little less than $5 US) each time that he helped me - and found that certainly assisted with his helpfulness and friendliness.

The ride to the train station took about 10 minutes due to "rush hour" traffic.  The train station was quite busy and it took me a few minutes to get my bearings.  Where the driver dropped me off was very different than what I had seen yesterday when buying my ticket.  I found my train posted on the board, but the platform was not yet listed.  I had 800 crowns to spend or would have to change them once I got to Munich.  I spent 177 to get a Coca Light, a Twix bar, and potato chips.  Then I spent 120 to get to huge macaroons.  So I was still left with about 500 crowns...which I did change in Munich...after the fee and sell conversion rate, I got 12 euros.

The 1st class cabin of this train was very small - less than half of one car...and only about 24 seats and it was about two-thirds full.  Still no large luggage racks like on every train in France and Spain.  Several of us got inventive in piling luggage toward the back of the car.

As the agent came through to check tickets, for the second straight train ride, people got removed from 1st class - since they had 2nd class tickets.  It was an older couple from the US - I think they were just confused.  

The couple in the seats ahead of me were from VA and the couple across the aisle from them were from Australia...and they talked almost nonstop.  They all had very loud voices for a very small car.  Very thankful for my headphones.  I was going to talk to the couple from VA, but then decided that I wanted to have the train ride to myself.

During the train ride, the couple from Australia had multiple plates of food and no less than 8 large beers each...I lost count after a while.  They were quite shocked when their bill was brought at the end for over 200 euros...they thought that all of the drinks and food on the train for 1st class were free.  Quite a costly lesson to learn.

A few shots from the train...

Leaviong Prague train station:

A look back at Prague:

Crossing one of the rivers out of Prague:

This one was at one the stops along the way, I thought it looked very much like a Communist-era train station...and really there were people that got off/on at this station...and this was the main portion of it!  I think it was very close to the Czech/Germany boarder, on the Czech side:

Once we arrived in Munich and I was off the train, I found the ticket office so that I could purchase my train ticket for Saturday to Vienna.  The lines were quite long...not the easy experience that I had in Prague.

Next was to figure out how to get to my hotel.  I knew which station it was near, but couldn't determine if I took the S train, the U train or the Tram.  I couldn't find a huge map of the city that showed all stops...they only had small brochures for each individual line.  I looked through brochures for about 8 different trains and still couldn't find the stop I needed.  Finally, when I was about to give up and just take a cab, I found it!  Since it was only two stops away, I could actually take any of the three options.

The walk from the train station to the B&B was about 10 minutes and only one close call to falling with the bag in a sidewalk pothole.

I'm staying at a B&B as all major hotel chains were sold out for Oktoberfest...or charging an outrageous rate.  The place looked pretty nice as I approached.  The lobby was modern and very clean.  I rang the bell and a nice guy came out to help me.  His English was pretty good, check in was efficient and I was off to my room.  The room was pretty nice - the bathroom was probably the best part.  All very modern and nice, new fixtures.  There was very cool accent lighting throughout the room and bathroom.  There was also the major metal shade on the outside of the window.  I saw these throughout South America and Spain and just assumed they were seasonal residents who closed off their places when gone.  They are just a different type of shade to block out the sun.

I unpacked and looked through the book of info of nearby businesses.  I discovered that there was a Post Office nearby...what a perfect opportunity to ship stuff back home.  This also made me think about doing laundry.

I went back down to the front desk to ask about the Post Office, laundry, and restaurant recommendations. 

After relaxing for a bit, I headed out for the evening.

As I left the hotel, I wanted to do a drive by the various places for tomorrow - laundry, post office, etc. before making a dinner selection.  After walking for about 15 minutes, I finally found the great burger joint the front desk guy mentioned and it was packed and the music was incredibly loud...so I passed.  I ended up passing on every place in that area.  It was raining, I was hot and was just sort of ready for the evening to be done.

I headed back to the hotel and ate in the hotel restaurant.  I had 3 sausages with spaetzle, a side of very tasty mustard and two glasses of wine.  At the end of dinner I was working on my Prague blog post, adding the pictures and publishing.  I ultimately got kicked out of the restaurant - they needed to decorate for Oktoberfest.

Off to bed around 1:45 AM.  

Sept 19, 2014:

Before going to bed, I had decided that I would get up and be at the post office by the time it opened at 9 AM.  I would go exploring and then head back to the hotel around 2 PM to do laundry.

My initial plans didn't exactly work out.  I didn't get up until about 8:30, then had breakfast.  I got to the post office around 10 AM.  After waiting in line a few times and packing the box, it was after 10:45 by the time I left.  The laundry mat opened at 11:00, so I could be the first one there.  

I went back to the hotel, loaded up my clothes and went to the laundry mat.  It was much larger and a bit more confusing than in Barcelona.  The attendant had to help me since everything was in German.  The hottest cycle was going to take 1 hour and 45 minutes for the wash...WHAT?!?!...while the others would be about an hour.  So she said that I didn't have to stay.  I headed out and explored a few blocks around the laundry mat.  I got back just as two loads were finishing and I put them in the dryer.  The hot load still had about 40 minutes left.  The attendant had to help me with the dryers too.  Interesting that there are about 20 washers, but only 6 dryers.  Perhaps people don't dry their clothes here?

The laundry mat is also a coffee shop - called Wash & Coffee.  The laundry prices include coffee.  Doubtful that I'm going to get a discount for not drinking coffee.

I stayed in the laundry mat during the drying cycle since I wanted to check my shirts and pull out my pants to avoid wrinkles.

When the hot wash load finished, I opened the door to find that many of my white socks were discolored to a light grey...but only the elastic portion of them.  I've washed all of this stuff together several times and never had an issue, so not sure what happened...something in the washer? water much too hot that caused a strange reaction with the elastic.  We set it at 80 degrees celsius.  Note to Mom and Dad - white socks will be at the top of my Christmas list!

Finally all of the clothes finished washing and drying...total time in the laundry mat was almost 3.5 hours.  More than double what I had expected!  

One of the key things I've learned on this trip - both in South America and Europe - that simple things that I estimate based on US experience, takes about 2-3 times longer.  The post office, laundry mat, getting the check in a restaurant, getting the menu in a restaurant...the list goes on and on.  After six weeks, I still haven't adjusted my expectations and am still surprised by the delay.  Will be interesting to see if that trend continues in Asia.

I walked back to the hotel with all of my clean, folded and lovely smelling laundry, even if some are now slightly discolored!  The small things can really make me happy these days.  I loved repacking all of my packing cubes with clean things...plus there is so much extra space with the box of souvenirs and old guide books sent back home.

When I returned to the room, I had special gingerbread treat on my pillow for Oktoberfest:

I texted with my friend Lisa about meeting up this afternoon for a drink with her and her boyfriend Jeff.  I've worked with Lisa at the same client for the past 3+ years and was excited when we figured out a few months ago that our time in Munich would overlap by a day.

This is the weekend start of Oktoberfest.  I had not specifically planned to visit Munich for Oktoberfest, the timing just coincidentally worked out.  I hate beer, so obviously would not have scheduled my entire round-the-world trip to be in Munich at this time.

However, being here at this time is pretty incredible.  There is a buzz and vibe in the city that is amazing.  The streets, squares, restaurants and especially the beer gardens are packed.  There's an abundance of Lederhosen, everyone is friendly and you hear lots of English at the various places.  Having seen this, I appreciate it, but certainly would not plan a vacation back here at this time to experience is again.

I headed out to see a few sights around Munich.  I can't have traveled all the way to Munich just to go to the Post Office and do laundry!  

First stop was Viktualienmarket.  Tons of flower markets, food stands and a huge beer garden.  This was just about 2 blocks from my hotel.  

And so much sausage:

Then on to Peterskirche.  I was just stumbling on things at this point.  I could tell from the map that as I walked north, I would run into multiple things.  I ultimately wanted to go to Marienplatz and suddenly I was there!  The towering New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) and nearby was Frauenkriche.  I took several pictures and relished the crowds.  I found many postcard vendors and got a proper Christmas tree ornament for Munich at a store named Kaiser.

This is another church I stumbled on, not sure of the name:

Around 4:30, I decided I should have a little lunch.  Sausage and other Bavarian foods just sounded so heavy.  I settled on a slice of pizza and a Coca Light.  Since Amy left my Coca Light consumption has drastically decreased...but a little jolt from time to time is good.  It is typically more expensive than wine, so that makes the decision even easier!

I headed back to the hotel at this point to get wifi...Lisa had texted and we continued to text a few times to make plans.  Ultimately we met at a restaurant in Marienplatz  She and Jeff were sitting with a pair of random guys, but those guys left within about 15-20 minutes.  It was very fun to catch up - on my trip, on their travel plans, on work, etc.  I was really glad that we avoided work talk for quite a while.  I've grown quite accustomed to not working (and got my last pay check about a week ago, yikes!...for those inquiring minds - I took vacation for the first month of my trip, but have gone on a leave of absence without pay for the last two months of the trip), but still think of work often.  I miss my friends, the daily routine, the client interaction...plus I know that I will return to work, so need to keep up to date on opportunities.

We talked about me joining them around 8 PM at one of the beer tents.  She was going to text me if they got a table.

Jeff took a few pictures of Lisa and I so that she could make the blog!

I walked back to the hotel and redeemed my coupon for a free glass of Presecco.  With the large quantity of people in the hotel bar, I took my drink to the room and enjoyed it in some peace and quiet.

After about an hour, I texted Lisa to see if they had gotten a table at the Hofbrauhaus tent.  They were still searching for seats at 9 PM - an hour after they arrived without reservations...so I headed out for dinner.

It was raining quite heavily, accompanied by lightening so I had no interest in going far.  I went across the street to an Italian restaurant - had a mixed green salad and the pasta special for the night - bow tie with lamb pieces.  I thought I was ordering pasta with lamb ragout sauce, but I supposed the pieces were close enough.

There was a group of four people at the table in my direct view and I watched them from the time that they arrived.  Only one person ate.  Two just drank beer.  The fourth, a female who brought 3 oranges with her, lined the oranges up in front of her and ate them like she was fending off scurvy for the entire restaurant.

The restaurant finally got quiet enough for me to hear the music...the German, female version of "Against all Odds - Take a Look at Me Now" was playing...a little different from the Phil Collins version.  That song is from like 1985 or earlier, right?  If nothing else, this trip has provided a flashback to 1980's music. 

I heard from Lisa towards the end of dinner - they had eaten at one Beer House after finally finding a table and were moving on to a different house.  It was around 11:00, so I decided to skip.

After finishing at the restaurant, I headed back across the street and wanted to grab a quick glass of wine in the bar to take up to my room.  A glass of wine was possible, jut not the quick part.  I just walked up to the bartender and ordered a glass.  He did quickly pour it and gave it to me, but he wouldn't/couldn't take payment - I had to wait at a table for a waiter.  The same waiter seemed to serving the entire restaurant.  It took about 15 minutes to finally pay.

Off to bed around 12:30 AM.