We decided we wanted to travel over our true Thanksgiving holiday as Patrick has that day off. It was a good time to travel since it is NOT a European holiday - the worst time to travel around here is during European holidays.
One of the things we wanted to do before we move back to the states is visit a German Christmas Market. So we flew to Munich for three nights.
First, I need to share what it takes for us to get somewhere from here. I know we seem to have this jet-setting lifestyle, and we certainly have gotten to go to some great places. This is partly because we are close to lots of great places to visit, and it is partly because it is so much cheaper to get to those close places from here!
However, let me give you a run-down on what we have to do to get somewhere. Since we live in Cheltenham which has no airport, we have to get to an airport. If that is Heathrow, as it was for Munich, we have to take a train. Well, we could drive, but then we end up paying at least 100 GBP for parking for a few days. So, it is more cost-effective to take the train.
We have to book a cab to get from our house to the Cheltenham train station, and we have to make sure it's not just any cab, but a cab that will seat five extra people. (They call those kinds of cars 'people-movers' here). Then we get to the train station and catch our train. We really try to make sure we have reserved seats because finding five seats together can be a problem. When we moved here, we bought these great L.L. Bean suitcases that are duffel bags on wheels. Even Aidan can pull his. So, it's boarding a train with at least three suitcases, usually.
Two hours to get to Paddington Station, where we have to catch another commuter-type train to Heathrow. This isn't particularly difficult as they leave ever 20 minutes or so.
Then, the airport. Which is the usual. Standing in line at the check-in. Going through security, etc. All in all it's about a five hour ordeal BEFORE we get on the airplane. Fortunately, most flights to the destinations where we are going are not usually long than two hours.
So, all this aside, we made it to Munich on Thursday night. Where we caught yet another train to take us into the city. We had to change trains once to get to our U-Bahn stop. Our flat was less than a block from the U-bahn station which worked out great!
The first night, we just dropped our bags then went out for a good, German meal at The Hofbrau Keller. Just what we all needed: Spaetzle, Knodel, and Wienerschnitzel, plus a Pils, of course!
Friday morning we got up and went straight to the city center to check out the Christmas Market:
We toodled around the city center for a couple of hours, then decided to go to Olympiapark - where the 1972 Olympics were held. We went up the Olympic Tower in the high-speed elevator, we were able to see the Olympic Aquatic Centre, and we could see the Olympic Stadium from the top of the tower.
Yes, we went all the way up to the top of that tower. It took less than one minute on the elevator.
The kids at the top!
If you look closely at this photo you can see the Alps in the distance.
This is the "Rock Museum" that was at the top of the Olympic Tower. Weird.
The Olympic Stadium from the top of the tower.
After this detour, we went back to the city center where we had a light snack at a bistro in the square. The kids had hot chocolate, and Patrick and I enjoyed some mulled wine.
We went back through the Christmas market at dusk so we could see the lights better. It started raining just as we were heading back. Perfect timing!
We went out for Italian food that night. Mainly, because it was close, the Greek place was full until 8, and we were pretty much full of bratwurst for the day. It was a fun, relaxing, family evening. Kids had fun, we had wine, it was nice!
On the way home from dinner, Joshua had one of his "I'm too cool for this family" moments, which are coming more frequently lately, and he decided to wait for the train on the other end of the platform. I decided to document his independence:
He was not happy with my snapping his photo ...
On Saturday we spent several hours at the Deutches Museum. It was humongous, and we couldn't have seen everything in it if we had spent days there. It was fantastic, though. German in every way: clean, efficient, and full of massage chairs where you could sit and get a very realistic back massage by sticking 2 Euros in the coin slot.
After the museum, we went to two more smaller Christmas Markets in Munich. They are everywhere - there is even one at the Munchen Airport - complete with an ice-skating rink!
All in all we had a wonderfully busy, tiring, lovely time. We're so glad we made that trip before our time here is finished.
Do you like Artur's earrings? He's trying on Lael's new set.
