Munich

It had been snowing in Mannheim during exam prep and the day we left Mannheim for Munich, it started to snow heavily. For the entire train ride, Patrick and I watched snow fall on the fields and forests. Munich was freezing cold and a foot deep in snow! We went to the Tollwood festival (at the same location as the Oktoberfest is held) and tried Feuerzangenbowle to warm the throats. Like all markets there were a huge number of stalls with felt hats, different hand crafts and of course Wurst and Gluehwein!

Gisa was a very kind host. Her house in Schwaginen was not only a very nice apartment but a great base to see Munich. We visited the German Technology Museum on the Saturday seeing a huge array of intricate models and technological advances in German history. From planes, mining models, bridge-building and even nano-technology the few hours that we spent there didn't cover the majority of what there was to see. The city is also very beautiful under snow. We didn't see all that much simply because visibility was low and so was the temperature of our fingers and toes however it was nice to wander the city. Being a city in Germany that didn't suffer from extensive bombing the old buidings do seem to reflect how live was back in time.

Saturday evening dinner was Fondue! Bavarian style. We were guests along with a few of Gisa's Munich friends. Not only was the Fondue great but so too the company. We headed out to a small bar called Pomp before finishing off the night catching a cab home driving through the snow.

A traditional sunday morning breakfast for German's is Weisswurst und Suesser Senf. So when in Rome: we took much amusement in easting the white sausage. The skin shouldn't be eaten to the eating technique is actually to cut the end off and suck the meat out. So many jokes could have been made but were witheld so as not to offend the cultures of the Bavarians! We walked off the Weisswurst with a wander through the Englischer Garten. It's a beautiful park where people take trips around in horse drawn carriages and predictably drink Gluehwein! Patrick and I had a very romantic walk through the snow...before getting our gear ready and heading off to the train station to Switzerland. The only thing wrong with our visit to Munich was that it was too short.