Munich - Marienplatz to Karlsplatz & Oktoberfest Journal & Photos - Germany 2006 - Lynx Travel

Marienplatz 19 Photos	Frauenkirche 26 Photos		Karlsplatz 6 Photos
Neues Rathaus 19 Photos	Neuhauser Strasse Pedestrian Street 18 Photos		Oktoberfest Miscellaneous 12 Photos
View From Neues Rathaus Clock Tower		Schottenhamel Festzelt - Oktoberfest

I woke up fairly early and went down to have breakfast. It is nice to have this included, especially when it is a buffet. I can, in my friend Matt’s description, “camel up” and make it to dinner before eating again. I was running low on Euros so went out to cash some traveler’s checks. But once again, nothing is ever easy. The first bank I went to had a sign “We do not accept any type of traveler’s checks”. Bank number 2 is closed and doesn’t open for another 15 minutes at 9:15 AM, talk about banking hours. Bank number 3, I almost succeed. Until I notice and they notice almost simultaneously that I hadn’t signed my traveler’s checks. They were training the girl and Sandy Spring National Bank when I got the traveler’s checks and they usually don’t let me leave until I sign them. It was taking so long to get them I just wanted to get out of the bank. So this leads to bank number 3 telling me they can’t cash them. It’s not their fault, just a stupid mistake on my part. They tell me to sign them before trying another bank. I get their pen and sign them right there. Off to banks number 4 & 5 in the train station which again are closed. Finally, bank number 6 in the train station cashes my traveler’s checks. Only I can go to 6 banks before getting someone to give me money for my traveler’s checks.

I get back to the hotel, call the Marriott to find out what train station they are at and promptly call their fax machine first. Nothing is ever easy. After checking out I take the U-Bahn to the U6 line Nortfriedhof station. It’s about a 3 minute walk from the station to the hotel. Thank goodness I came up from the station and saw the Marriott sign right away. I get to the hotel and of course they don’t have any rooms ready. It’s about 11:00 AM so I just wait for the next room to be available. I wanted to have my key and everything in my room for when I got back in the evening and not have to try and check, in after going to Oktoberfest.

A room opened up fairly quickly so I put my bags away, chilled out for about a half hour then headed to the Marienplatz. This is the beautiful main square of old town Munich. I wanted to take a bunch of pictures. Last time I was hear I had my Sony camera and had bought a wide angle lens for it but it badly distorted everything around the edges of the pictures. It was also another absolutely gorgeous day. A weird thing though about German’s is it can be a beautiful day and people will still be dressed in winter parkas. I might have already written this but it really does need to be said. These people are Anti-Bedlows.

I wandered through the square then went up to the tower of the New Town Hall. It’s got a great 360 degree view from the top. I saw the new soccer stadium they built for the World Cup, it really close to the Marriott. I might have to go check it out. They have one of those new fields that are on rails and roll out of the stadium. The view of the Frauenkirche is amazing as it sits right under the Town Hall. I was up in the tower for about a half an hour. I realized the 2x adapter for my lenses will be a real pain in the ass to attach quickly which was one of my concerns. But I really don’t take too many pictures at 400 mm. I’ll probably use it mostly for sporting events. From the town hall I went to the Frauenkirche. They had some sort of ceremony going on. I noticed they already had put a plaque of Pope Benedict on the opposite column of the church near the front entrance of where Pope John Paul’s plaque is located.

From the Frauenkirche I went down the pedestrian road towards the Strachus Gate and Fountain where I got on the subway and went off to Oktoberfest. One thing I have to say is the last second decision to bring my cell phone was genius. I’ve got all my music downloaded and it’s nice to listen to while walking around. Of course it hit me that I had Korn, Metellica and Limp Bizkit blaring in my ears while inside the Frauenkirche. Maybe my next church I’ll turn it off and just enjoy the sights.

The Oktoberfest grounds are packed again. I walked around for quite awhile and then a whole table opened up for me at the Ambruschenfeltzen, it didn’t last long. A group of 9 French students joined me quickly. Arrgghh, the French, actually they were pretty nice. The table across from me is packed with a bunch of Irish guys. What a difference, let me go over a few.

I finally had something to eat at this tent. A guy at a table had this, what looked like, huge deep

fried thing that looked amazing with a dumpling. It was expensive 15.50 Euros but well worth it. It was a roasted pig knuckle and was incredible, huge and tasty. After a few beers I decided to head back. I had an early day scheduled for tomorrow. I just didn’t know where. When I got back to the hotel I loaded my pictures and made my choice between going to Neuschwanstein, Berchtesgaden and Rothernberg while downloading my pictures. I also had bought a bunch of cokes to enjoy because the Marriott has an ice machine. Almost a week into the trip and I finally got a cold drink. The hotel refrigerators are all set to room temperature almost. They might as well not exist.