MUNICH STOPOVER

ON TIME FOR OKTOBERFEST - SEPTEMBER 2006

Travelling from Chania to Lisbon, we made a stopover in Munich on September 16th, 2006. It was the first day of the 2006 Oktoberfest. Having experienced the Fest in 1986 (no pictures, however, due to the confusion to get there - just to give you an idea, the ladies in our party had their feet in the air while going up the escalators of the subway station; and we avoided Theresienwiese station, which uses to be «the most highly frequented»...), we didn't try it again. Still, the Fest ambiance could be enjoyed throughout town...


"MARIENPLATZ is the heart of old town Munich"



"RATHAUS - The façade of the City Hall, with the famous Glockenspiel (a carillon with 43 bells) is huge and misleading. In fact it was built only in the late 19th century, between 1867 and 1908, one example of the German «Gründerzeitstill»"


"FRAUENKIRCHE - Just around the corner from MarienPlatz is the Frauenkirche, the largest church in Munich and a real piece of late Gothic architecture, as it was built between 1468 and 1488. The building's domes atop each tower, modelled after the Dome in Jerusalem, were built only in 1525. The cathedral suffered severe damage during World War II and the restoration was completed only in 1994"



"STROLLING AROUND"



"HOFBRÄUHAUS is probably the most famous of the German Breweries, and deservedly so"


"NATIONAL THEATRE, an opera house, is home to the Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Bayerisches Staatsballett"


"THEATINER CHURCH ST. CAJETAN was built between 1663 and 1690, in Italian high-baroque style, to commemorate the birth of the long-awaited heir to the Bavarian crown, Prince Max Emanuel, in 1662"


"RESIDENZ - The Munich Residenz was the seat of government and the residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918"


"STREET MUSICIANS - The picture is blurred, as the day was ending and I didn't want to use the flash. But I couldn't resist the magic of the Kusturica-style players..."


"HIRMER - «Willkommen bei Hirmer GROSSE GRÖSSEN – dem Spezialisten für Herrenmode in Übergrößen»"




"LÖWENPARADE - There were CowParades in many cities around the world. Munich had a LionsParade"

OKTOBERFEST IST SCHON VORBEI...

MÜNCHEN - NEW YEAR 2002


"MARIENPLATZ - There are several Bierhäuser around"


"STROLLING - There is also a Bierhaus in the back"


"LÖWENBRAU - Schweinshaxen, Bier und Kartoffelnpüree: Getting ready for the Euro!"


"FEUERWERK - Waiting to get Euro banknotes from an ATM machine"


"NYMPHENBURG - Freezing after the fireworks, already with Euro banknotes in your pocket"



"PALMENHAUS - Warm yourself at Nymphenburg's Palmenhaus"


"BOTANICAL GARDEN - Not much to see with all this snow"