Munich March 2014

We flew to Tbilisi from Houston through Munich and were looking forward to our 12 hour layover there on our return flight to Georgia.  A whole day to take the train into the city and maybe take a tour. Well...... as we were landing, remember that stomach flu?...... 
Needless to say, our layover was extended, return flight rescheduled for the next day and we camped out in the thankfully nearby Hilton.  

I did feel better enough the next late afternoon to take a short walk around the 'Inner City' and Marienplatz (Mary's Square) - the main square in the city center,  and see some outdoor markets. 

The trains are very clean, quiet but not cheap!  A round trip from the airport into the city center was 11 Euros (~$17) each. 

The new City Hall 

The Glockenspiel (clock tower)

Every day at 11 a.m. (as well as 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. in summer) it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century to the amusement of mass crowds of tourists and locals. It consists of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures. The top half of the Glockenspiel tells the story of the marriage of the local Duke Wilhelm V (who also founded the world famous Hofbräuhaus) to Renata of Lorraine. In honour of the happy couple there is a joust with life-sized knights on horseback representing Bavaria (in white and blue) and Lothringen (in red and white). The Bavarian knight wins every time, of course.

This is then followed by the bottom half and second story: Schäfflertanz (the coopers' dance). According to myth, 1517 was a year of plague in Munich. The coopers are said to have danced through the streets to "bring fresh vitality to fearful dispositions." The coopers remained loyal to the duke, and their dance came to symbolize perseverance and loyalty to authority through difficult times. By tradition, the dance is performed in Munich every seven years. This was described in 1700 as "an age-old custom", but the current dance was defined only in 1871. The dance can be seen during Fasching (German Carnival): the next one is in 2019.

The whole show lasts somewhere between 12 and 15 minutes long depending on which tune it plays that day. At the very end of the show, a very small golden rooster at the top of the Glockenspiel chirps quietly three times, marking the end of the spectacle. (thank you once again, Wiki)

We were there to see the 5pm "show". Very fun.   

Mary's column built in 1638

Sun dial 

This was the outdoor markets with many stands full of fresh fruit and vegetables and what struck us was how perfectly ripe and beautiful everything was in the farmer's stands.  We've been told that Germany loves Easter and there were many decorations for sale along with hundreds of branches of fresh pussy willows and pussy willow wreaths and bouquets (we brought one home).  Wonderful!

May Pole? 

Ahhhh, no, we didn't buy it.