Final Day in Munich

With my last day in Munich, I had many last minutes things to do. I wanted to go on the Third Reich Tour, which was a walking tour through many landmarks of that period in history. Did you know that Nazi Party got its start in Munich?

This is the building where they had their first meetings.

This is the building where they had their first rally, where the infamous Adolf Hitler spoke. This building is better known as the Hofbrauhaus, the beer hall.

After the tour, I ended up hanging out with a couple of ladies who were in my group, Carol from Montreal (I think that is her name), who was also on my Dachau tour and Dawn from Auckland, New Zealand. We took the U-Bahn to BMW Headquarters Complex and the Olympic Center. They are right across the bridge from each other…

It was a nice final day in Munich…. A city I will definitely visit often, but not soon enough….

One of the Best People

My Canadian Surrogate Mother, Joyce tells this story of her visit to Vienna and how she was denied an opportunity to purchase a ticket to the opera because of her dress. The ticket seller told her the opera was for the best people. In Munich, I was one of the best people. One of the things, I have been looking forward to the most with my visit to Europe was seeing the Bayerische Staatoper production of Madama Butterfly. How wonderful it was?!?! Everything was complete indescribably beautiful…the building, costumes, set and performance. Here’s a picture of the view from my seat, which was on the same tier as the Royal Box and one of the many chandeliers.

The Musem for All the Germans

Germans are quite known, or maybe not, for their contributions to science and technology. The Deutsches Museum highlights “the development of science and technology from early origins through the present day.” It is an interactive showcase with many do-it-yourself opportunities. Spread out over 5 floors, there are exhibits on aeronautics, including full-size planes, musical instruments, chemistry, including examples of chemical reactions and the environment. The neatest thing though was the Museum’s logo because I know it would have made Tishana go crazy…

So Tishana, this is for you!

Dinner Date

My tour to Dachau was a guided English-speaking tour. The guide was this guy from England, with the rest of the party consisting of: 2 South Africans (male/female couple), 1 lady from Perth, Australia, 1 lady from Montreal, 1 guy from Madison, Wisconsin and myself. I chatted up everyone during the entire tour and when we were leaving, the guide was giving us directions to wherever we were headed next. The lady from Australia and I were headed in the same direction, so we walked together. Then, we ended up dining together… It was nice having company for dinner. I am enjoying my time here alone, but I do wish I had someone with whom I can share my experiences…

Dreary Day in Dachau

Dreary day as so many days were for those who struggled to survive here... This was the day I was looking forward to the most and least. The day when I face my former self. Some of you might not be aware, but I believe in past lives and in mine I was a Nazi. I was a young man, who believed all of the Nazi propaganda and enlisted, I believe in the Air Force. I died in the war because of a stomach wound, not sure if it was gunshot or stabbing. Anyhow, today I was to face all of those who I wronged and visit the Dachau Concentration Camp. As I learned from my guide, Dachau, which is about 20 minutes outside of Munich, was a prototype of all Concentration Camps and was one of those that was opened the longest. It was a death camp, where people were sent to immediately die, but a work camp, where they were taught that through hard work, honesty and love of the Fatherland they would be free. As the sign that is shown when they enter the camp says, “Arbeit Macht Frei” or work will set you free. Below are a series of photos from my visit…


bunks in one of the dormoritories

the Jewish Memorial, with black rock from Israel

the gas chamber and crematorium

the last view of many...the window inside the disrobing room of the gas chamber.... this was the second hardest moment for me during the entire visit. The first was viewing where the tracks were that unloaded so many in their last moments...

Dissed at Dinner in the City with the Most Difficult Roads

Anyone who knows me, knows that I always get lost! Everywhere I go, I get lost. I tried my best to avoid this in Munich. Within 5 minutes of being in the city, I got lost. I turned the wrong way out of the train station. I ended up meeting this bellman at the Le Meridian who started speaking to me in English. I want to “pass” for European so, I was insulted by this. And, I let him know that. He then attempted to give me directions to my hotel. I walked down the street looking for the side street, on which it was supposed to be. I could not find it. I ended up asking this newspaper vendor and he told me it was like three blocks back the other way. I finally found it.

I had a busy Tuesday afternoon planned. I was going to visit Marienplatz, the Lady Church (or as the German’s and the rest of the world call it, the Frauenkirche) and have dinner at one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the city, Prinz Myshkin. I reviewed a couple of maps and was on my way. After I started walking, I realized I was on my way to know where that I wanted to go. I got so very lost. Not lost to where I did not know how to get back to from where I came, but lost to where I did not know how to get where I was going. I ended walking back to my hotel and asking someone at the front desk for detailed directions on how to get to Marienplatz and the Lady Church. At this point, I was not worried about finding the restaurant because it was nearby. I should have been worried.

I followed the directions the clerk gave me and found the places okay. They are so beautiful! Apparantly the Lady Church was one of the few buildings to survive the War and the Marienplatz is where the famous Glockenspiel is located. After I viewed these attractions, I decided to make my way to dinner. It was around 5:45. My reservation was at 7:00. I made it there at 6:55. In reality, the restaurant was about 4 blocks away. I was lost for an hour! I walked around Munich, looking for a restaurant for an hour! It had nothing to do with me not being able to read the signs, because street signs are street signs. If you can read, then you can read them! Munich is just completely unorthodox in their street layout! Later, I spoke to people who are not as directionally-challenged as I am and they have said the same thing! I know I could have used a GPS on this trip! $200 would have saved me from 2 blisters and extremely sore legs.

When I arrived at dinner, I order the tofu stroganoff, which supposed to be a mix of tofu, mushrooms, carrots, potatoes and broccoli. It sounded very yummy and figured I could pick around the broccoli. While I was deciding on my entrée, I thought I would also have the apple strudel for dessert! Apparently, the German’s should have invited the Super Size. I have never seen such a large plate full of food. I wanted to take a picture, but thought it would have been rude. What I did not think was asking for my check without finishing my dinner?!?! My waiter kept asking me if the food was good. I told him, it was great but way too much for me to consume in one sitting. He look at me like he was a bit disappointed and walked away… I paid and walked back to my hotel, getting lost one last time that evening…. I did not even get my apple strudel! :-(

Photos coming soon…

Hostels are Cheap Hotels

I LOVE my hostel too! I have two twin beds, which I could push together, but do not mind them being apart, for I can use the other bed for next-day clothes staging. My room also has a wardrobe, table and two chairs and a bathroom with toilet, mirror, sink and shower with hot water! Speaking of hot, I also have a semi-private patio that I can access from the 2 doors that are apart of my wall of 3 windows (with the single being a window that partly opens for fresh air). And if it gets too cool, I can turn on the radiator heaters! All of this for 58€ a night!!!!! Did I also, mention I am about 1.5 blocks from the train station? Did I also mention the complimentary wi-fi in the lobby? The only downside is this place has the tiniest elevators I have ever seen in my entire life…. It could only fit me and my luggage, but how many times would I be transporting me and my luggage? Twice.

the beds

the wardrobe (tilt head to left for a better view...I have not learned how to adjust pictures after uploading so, please be patient)

the toilet and you flush by pressing the button above (tilt head to left)

the sink

the shower (tilt head to the left)

one view of the patio window, with one of the windows opened (I quickly closed it after taking this photo.)

another view of the windows....

the elevator...told you it was tiny!

the reason why, it is made for 4 people...

How Thank you Rick Steves for this one!!! I will stay here again!

P.S. This place is so great, I will call it a hotel from now on….