Brauhaus, Lederhousen and German History

Mein German Kampf,

So after saying goodbye to Hollands kindest and most accommodating, as well as Canada's most spontaneous (and ridiculous), it's off to Germany.

With close to zero research or planning, just a little advise from a fellow Hess, Munich it was. The hope was to dip into some Nazi history and dive into some German bier culture.... Jackpot.

Along the 8 hour train ride closer to southern Germany I noticed the number of trees with white branches start to increase. From inside the warm train I was just hoping they were a neat kind of tree until I realized.... Holy mother-nature, I better start wearing an extra layer of underwear.

If you ever end up in a city and don't have a clue to the significance of this room or that street, the" free" walking tours put on by hostels are HIGHLY recommended. Best decision I could have made while in Germany. Not only did he spit out great information about this room and that street for a solid 4 hours all over the city, but it leads to meeting more people.

A lot of history in this room

The goal: "Get us local"

•Beer and bratwurst before noon in a local beer garden

•Clear the Beerfest movie stereotypes from our heads

•Catch the showat Mariahilfplatz at noon and learn beers role in the black plague simultaneously

•Go to the famous Hofbrauhaus and see where the regulars in lederhousen and hats with €2000 feather decoration atop drink bier from there badass bier steins.

•Above the Hofbrauhaus, stand in the very room where Hitler started the Nazi movement back in the 20's threatening murder and suicide of those in the room if they did not follow



New technology room in Deutsche Museum




The famous nude bathing Englischer Garten was closed this time of season for shrinkage sake, so we went to the Deutsches museum since it was warm inside, and we thought it was open late that day.





Decided to go back to the museum alone the next day to see anything I had missed the day before. From the first automobile to the first electric dynamo and the very work bench where the first atom was split, this place has it all. Would be a fantastic place for a school field trip, if it were not located across the ocean.


Small half litre for some people watching in the market

 

Basement beer cellar @ Augustiner Keller

Went for dinner one night with some new friends I met on the tour. Some were American so wanted to have their very own thanks giving dinner in Germany. I had been to the Augustiner Keller the night before and loved it,so suggested we go there. So there we sat in an old beer cellar below ground under the restaurant. Strangers the day before, and now having "Thankgiving" dinner with an aerospace engineer from Los Angeles, a guy from England, an Auditor from Russia and a brother sister combo that were History teachers from the southern states. I guess this is backpacking? Love it. The Americans had turkey schnitzel which likely the best turkey I have EVER tried, whileI had pork leg sausages with sauerkraut and mustard with a liter of german beer.

AND THE MOST THOUGHT PROVOKING, AND CREEPY STREET ENTERTAINER/BEGGAR AWARD GOES TO:

See if you can figure it out.. I eventually clued in

The last day was filled with some more wandering, my new skill, which I now consider an expertise. I came across my first taste of the Christmas spirit while strolling through the somewhat famous Munich Christmas market. Again, kind of felt like home...








Next Stop, then heavenly mountains of Switzerland...