Munich day 2

Day 2 of our Munich trip, jet lag reigns, but its all about getting going and moving. This is an easy city to visit a local bakery for breakfast on the go. Our main plan of the day- go to the Residenz Palace Museum.

The Residenz Palace was heavily bombed during WWII, but most of the items were well hidden and relocated during the war and the palace was reconstructed. Some of the treasures were lost forever, but a good chunk made it through the war. One word to the wise, when it comes to visiting museums with me, there should be the expectation that you will catch up with me at the end. I read all the placards and enjoy the sights and art, but I somehow move through the museums at a rapid pace, so I'll be waiting at the end for you. Anyways, the Residenz Palace is the former palace of the Bavarian monarchs. I took a handheld device audio tour. One of the first sights when walking in is of the Grotto Courtyard. Overall, there are 10 courtyards within the palace. There was a sculpture of a slayed Medusa, icky reliquaries (seriously, people just need to leave the parts of people with their original owners already). Another section of the museum, the treasury, is dedicated to the royal jewels and other precious antiquities. One of the best pieces is Renaissance Saint George's statue, which is a bejeweled knight and horsemen over a slayed dragon. My personal favorite part was a long hallway, called the Baroque Ancestral Gallery, which had the family trees on the walls corresponding with the painted image of the relative next to it. One of the other areas we went to was the rebuilt Residenz Theatre, which was a rather small theater, but pretty neat inside.

Rebuilt church

A slayed Medusa

One of the large halls

Renaissance Saint George's statue

Theatre

After getting some lunch, we decided to climb the nearby St. Peter's Chuch tower. Upon paying the token entry fee, we climbed a requisite number of steps to the top, where we had a view of virtually the entire city. A bit windy, and caged in by fencing, but a beautiful sight. We then trekked through the city park and wandered around until dinner. Either this night or the last night on the trip, we went to Augustiner Grossgastatt's restaurant (one of the brew houses), were Bavarian goulash was consumed (yeah yeah yeah, goulash is traditional to Hungary, but the German's make it too). This variety had bell peppers in it.

My hefeweizen

Pepita soup for lunch... yum

I win

The day wouldn't be complete though without a visit to Hofbrau Haus and meeting up with friends of friends. Of course there were some interesting characters at our table as well. One of the oddest conversations of the trip by far. A guy and his wife. He was a former sales guy for a cell phone/pager company, and talked about his lifetime use of various drugs, and proceeded to give us unwanted advice about using x, y, z drugs. Crazy. But makes for an interesting story. Especially the one of his about if you are going to try shrooms, to be in a safe place, indoors is ok, but outdoors are better, but to beware of being out in the middle of nowhere.... .OOOOOOOOKKKKKKK random! Pass me another hefeweizen please.

Hofbrau Haus

Next up on our trip was Oktoberfest, a very fun day filled with some good times.... I recommend people go at some point... beyond that, I just have tips and tricks for them :)