Munich

Three trains to Munich via Steinach and Wurzburg. We met an Aussie living in Wurzburg who informed us we were going the long way if we were going to Munich. He then explained we could have caught the train south from Steinach and saved ourselves an hour of travel. Ah well, that's life and we do love the trains! We arrived in Munich and proceeded to the taxi rank with the idea of catching a cab, but made the mistake of telling the cab driver where we wanted to go BEFORE we got into the cab. He told us the Atlas Residence was not 2 minutes straight down the road! I wish I could find him again! It was NOT straight down the road, and actually none of the THREE Atlas Hotels were straight down the road. We actually trudged to the other two before finally finding the right one!  Lorelle and Kiryn were already there (of course) as Kiryn actually knew where it was. I hadn't bothered listening to directions because I had the intention of catching a cab!

We settled into our room which had a separate double bedroom for Elizabeth and me, and a divan for Keeley. It had a kitchen with a stove, an oven, a microwave, a dishwasher AND a full-sized fridge! Keeley was in heaven. She couldn't wait to cook! We headed down to the LIDL supermarket and stocked up on supplies. I think we went a little overboard as everything looked so yummy and so cheap! Bought a bottle of Jim Beam, two bottles of champagne, and a bottle of Californian Zinfandel for less than 20 euro. Bargain! Also bought ham, cheese, eggs, bread, milk, juice, and fruit salad and ice-cream. Keeley cooked a meal of scrambled eggs with capsicum, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cheese on toast. We all agreed it was a meal fit for a king! We were all exhausted so were asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

We slept late which was great as we needed a catch up on sleep, and were able to make our own cuppa and breakfast. Keeley cooked French toast which caused the room to fill with smoke so we opened all the windows even though it was 1 degree outside. It soon dissipated but the concierge came up to tell us the smoke alarm had gone off three times and we needed to leave our door open as well which we did. I was tempted to tell him if suitable cooking equipment were provided, it may prevent the alarm going off but I didn't. I had to go to Lorelle's room to borrow a couple of cups and knives as we only had one of each. Lorelle and Kiryn had decided to change plans and head off for the salt mines today so I took their kettle too as ours wouldn't work.

Keeley headed down to do all of our washing while Elizabeth and I prepared ourselves for the search for the Holy Grail- either a new suitcase or to get her wheel fixed. It was a fruitless exercise; exercise being the operative word as we walked MILES in search of Mister Minit only to be told he couldn't fix it! We then started looking for a new one, scales in hand. We found two likely candidates but Elizabeth couldn't decide and decided to discontinue the search until tomorrow. I was half dead on my feet so we bought some tuna and rolls for lunch and headed back to our suite for an afternoon nap.

Stacey arrived in from Neuschwanstein ( the castle that Disney based his castle on) asking for volunteers for the Science and Technology Museum. She promised me a cab so, even though my feet were killing me, I agreed. I must have got a second wind because we ended up walking to the hop on-hop off bus, doing the full tour before deciding to walk to Marienplatz ( St Mary's Square) - the centre of the old town which we had just glimpsed from the bus. On the way, we spied the Karstadt Sports store where Stacey bought me a pair of walking sticks ( the other option was a wheelchair!) and a pair of special socks which are purported to delay the symptoms of fatigue, forward regeneration and stabilise muscles, joints and tendons. Let's hope they work as they were 29.95 euro reduced from 44.95.  Just the thought of them must have spurred me on as I was walking with a spring in my step, also I was keen to find the Hofbrauhaus ( the only reason I came to Munich! ) We did find a fruit stall with HUGE mangoes for 1.79 and strawberries for one euro, as well as some delicious seedless mandarins. We then hopped in a bike rickshaw and asked him to take us to the Hofbrauhaus which he did for 6 euro- bargain!

At the Hofbrauhaus, we were greeted with music from the oompahpah band and the cacophony of 2000 voices all talking at once. We eventually managed to find a seat, then all we had to do was get the attention of a waiter. We ordered a beer if you could call it that ( the most beer I have ever seen in one glass!) and the beer cheese with "music" plate. The music comes much later. :-) We managed to cab it back to dinner cooked by famous chef Keeley. Pasta in a delicious sauce with mangoes and ice-cream for dessert accompanied by 2 bottles of champagne and a bottle of Zinfandel! Superb! We then had a quick game of bloody mary ( Elizabeth mounted a very strong challenge) before hitting the sack, thoroughly worn out ( and a little tipsy!)

After a sound night's sleep, we awoke refreshed. Stacey came up for breakfast which was scheduled for 7.30 but we still hadn't washed up from last night so first things first. She thought she'd cook the sausages first to create a little fat to cook the eggs. After our experience with cooking breakfast yesterday, we opened the windows and the door, but apparently not wide enough, because next thing we know, five fire trucks have pulled up outside our hotel. Stacey ordered me to get dressed in case the hotel had to be evacuated. At no stage did we think it was us who had caused the fracas until seven hunky German firemen entered our room ( well only 5 could fit in, the other two stayed in the hall) and found the cause of the fire alarm- 4 slightly burnt sausages. I tried to take a photo as we thought no one would believe us but I was shaking too much! The chief said we didn't need to cook them any more- they were done- and Stacey and I just smiled sheepishly offering profuse apologies. I eventually said it was lucky I wasn't cooking as there would have been a real fire and Stacey explained I was a terrible cook! I just hope we don't get charged a call-out fee!

Well that was our excitement for the day! We ate a delicious breakfast ( not burnt at all!) before heading off on our various itineraries. Stacey to Berchtesgaden, Elizabeth to the hop on- hop off bus and Keeley and me to the Dachau Memorial Tour. We arrived early, checked where we had to meet, and then I had to head off to find a toilet. I eventually found one on the other side of the station called Rail and Fresh- really professional- and I had to pay 1 euro into a machine to gain entry. At this stage I would have paid whatever they asked. The "music" had started! I eventually made it back to find the tour group waiting for me. How embarrassing!

We trained it to Marienplatz, then changed trains to Dachau, then bussed it to the Concentration Camp. The group all introduced themselves. Lots of people from Texas, a few from Brazil and Holland, and 2 other Aussies- Scott from Sydney who's travelling Europe on his own for 4 months- he's off to Salzburg on Monday and Rowan from Melbourne who's off to Dublin via Zurich and Birmingham! A very friendly group. The sisters from Texas travel a lot together as one of them is a dog show judge and is invited to different countries to judge. Our guide Stefan was a political studies student and really knew his history. I learnt so much that I didn't know; probably more than Keeley as she has been reading up on it and knew a lot. Dachau was the first concentration camp established in 1933 for the containment of political prisoners and was originally supervised by the Bavarian Police Force, but after one month Himmler decided to put the black shirts, the SS in charge, and from thereon,  things got tougher. The camp was designed to house 4000 prisoners but at liberation in 1945, there were more than 32000. These were under guard by only 150 SS officers. I learnt lots of other very interesting facts but have just been told in no uncertain terms by my roommates that no one wants a history lesson! :-(

Keeley and her knight in shining armour

Rothenburg street

Snowballs

Keeley with a nutcracker man

O Christmas tree!

Christmas pyramids

My teddy bear!

More teddy bears...

Keeley and her teddy bear at the Christmas museum in Rothenburg

The building where the Munich Treaty was signed in 1938... not worth the paper it was written on.

The fire-trucks that attended our sausages

The fire-chief with Stacey

More fire-trucks

The tower that comes alive at 11am, 12 noon and 5pm.

The prisoners barracks at Dachau. There were 2 rows with 16 in each row. The road lined with poplars between them was named the Road to Freedom by the SS Guards

A sculpture to the memory of all those who died here at Dachau

Done in 1968, this represented all of the types of prisoners except gypsies, homosexuals, and criminals.

One of the towers at Dachau

We bought a cooked chook and chips for dinner, but ended up eating them as soon as we got back. We actually ended up with 3 times more chips than we wanted but didn't have the heart to tell him! We are still eating chips and drinking Jim Beam and coke, just so we don't have to carry it tomorrow. Another excuse for drinking!  Well now I have to go and pack- the part I hate the most about this trip is packing. I wish I had a handmaiden to pack for me. Then I could travel like Real Royalty! :-)