Munich|Germany

The city of beer and pretzels: Sept. 19-21



Stop 4 of 7

Tour Day 6

Phew! Philippe did a wonderful job getting us through the narrow mountain roads in Switzerland. A surprise turn led us to Wangen, a beautiful historic city in Germany. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch and continued on our journey to Munich.  
We wonder if the King ever stayed here?

Bavaria 
A quick walk around the city was just what we needed to stretch our legs. Our trusted guides gave us a tour of the pristine train station. We made our way to the city center and knew we had to pay a visit to Augustiner for an Oktoberfest brew and some hearty Bavarian food. 
A delightful evening out

Tour Day 7

We spent the morning at the Viktualienmarkt and watched the locals go about their day. This colorful market housed flowers, bread, cheese, meat, and handmade crafts.  
A local enjoying her fresh juice

Dachau

We met up with some of our friends from the tour group and a local guide for an afternoon tour of Dachau- the first Nazi concentration camp. After jumping on the train with the local guide, an Irishman, things seem to quiet down. We were heading to Dachau on a train just like so many previous travelers, but at one time these tracks seemed to only travel in one direction for some. 


Once we stepped foot on the grounds of Dachau, Tom and I immediately felt that we should not take photos here. This was not just a museum, this was a place where many lost their lives. Interestingly enough, Tom felt that he remembered this part of the tour the most because he wasn't viewing it through a few pieces of glass. 

More food and more beer

Back to the city for our final night in Munich. The official start of Oktoberfest was the next day but it felt like it had already started! There were crowds everywhere, guys and gals in lederhosen, and plenty of food and beer. We grabbed a table at the packed Augustiner (yes, we came back) and even shared it with Nancy and Scott (our tour friends) who came in a bit later. 
Note: Tom found his beer and could not be happier :)
Looks like Dave made it in the photo with us.

Tour Day 8

We consolidated our bags so Tom would have an easier time manning the bags in Venice :) We escaped Munich as the Oktoberfest crowds were taking over the city. Time for a warm Italy but not without a bonus WC stop! 
We have officially stepped foot on Austrian soil. Ok Tom, you can add that to your list of countries visited.