Munich - Residenz Museum & Oktoberfest
September 26, 2006
 

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My watch alarm went off early but I ended up sleeping until about 9:30 AM.  I showered quickly and went downstairs to have breakfast.  My 10 day string of great weather ended today so it was a good day to sleep in.  After breakfast I went upstairs to grab my camera then ended up not going out until about 11:00 AM.  I took the U-Bahn to Odeonsplatz so I could go to the Residenz Museum.  After looking at my Munich guidebook I realized I was right there the day before.  It is opposite the St. Cajetan Church.  I took some pictures in the square in front of the Residenz Museum including pictures of the National Theatre and the statue of Maximillian I Joseph in Max-Joseph-Platz.  This statue was erected 10 years after the king’s death in 1818.  Maximillian I Joseph was the first king of Bavaria who drew up the Bavarian constitution.  Apparently the king knew of the statue but did not want it put up because he thought it did not convey sufficient majesty. 

The Munich Welcome Card gave me a discount on the entrance to the Residenz Museum.  It cost me 8 Euro to visit Residenz Museum and Schatzkammer which held the crown and orb of Bavarian kings along with other royal items.  The nice thing about both is they give you a free audio guide.  There are numbers at each room and various items of interest.  You dial in the number and the audio guide tells gives you a description of what you are looking at.  

The Residenz Museum was the home of the Wittelsbach dynasty up until 1918.  The buildings date back to 1385.  The Antiquarium was the oldest in tact room that was built in the 16^th century.  The Antiquarium is a huge room that was built between 1569 and 1571.  At 70 meters long it is the largest Renaissance ceremonial hall north of the Alps.  It is massive and each side is lined with a collection of sculptures or the greatest rulers of antiquity.  The room was bombed extensively in the war but is mostly as is.  A lot of the roof has been replaced.

There were many beautiful rooms in the Museum.  Many rooms remind me of Catherine’s Palace outside St. Petersburg.  Some of my favorite rooms were the Portrait Gallery, Green Gallery, Princely Chapel and the Grotto Courtyard.  I spent a good 3 hours walking through the Residenz Museum.  My writing can never do justice to what I saw.  This is why I take so many pictures.  A picture is worth a thousand words as the say.

I left the Residenz Museum and walked down Maximilianstrasse to see the Monument to Maximilian II.  The walk took be by the hotel I stayed with Scott during my first visit to Munich.  The Four Seasons and Maximilianstrasse is definitely way out of Scott and mines league.  Maximilianstrasse was like walking down Rodeo Drive.  There was no store on this road I could afford anything in.  The statue itself is 42 feet high and was carved by Ferdinand von Miller to a design by Kaspar von Zumbusch in 1875.  The statue is surrounded by figures symbolizing Peace, Liberty, Strength and Justice.

I took the Number 19 tram from the statue back to the train station and hotel.  I grabbed a couple of slices of shrimp and spinach pizza to have while downloading my pictures.  I don’t know if it’s the crappy weather today or if I just wearing down but I’m just really tired today.  I went back over to Oktoberfest by train this time which was madness.  I thought maybe not as many people would head to the festival due to the weather but once again the tents were packed.  I walked through a few and took some pictures inside the Fischer-Vroni and the Winzerer Fahndl tents.  I bought a Fischer-Vroni beer mug for Dave Fischer.  I thought he would like it for his Oktoberfest on the Saturday after I return. 

I didn’t feel like fighting the crowds or the rain so I bought a bratwurst and a two waffles with a crème filling that was dipped in chocolate on each end.  I enjoyed that back at the room as I typed up the last 2 days journals.  I’m watching V for Vendetta right now and I’m going to try and call home.  I’m going to try and get an early start tomorrow since it’s my last full day in Munich.  I hope I get good weather again.  I want to get some pictures from the giant Ferris wheel and some of the tents on the side that gets good sun in the morning like Hofbrau.  I want to go up in the Bavaria statue also.  I might try to go over to Dachau also in the afternoon.  We’ll see what happens.

Return To Munich - Old Town North Ludwigstrasse & Oktoberfest
September 25, 2006

Continue To Munich - Oktoberfest
September 27, 2006