Hallertau

"OUR Munchen Beer Festival" Spo_rt's photos around Munchen, Germany

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• published: 26 Apr 2011
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Preview of Spo_rt's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spo_rt/1/1275808469/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Munchen, Germany Entry Title: "OUR Munchen Beer Festival" Entry: "Had been in touch with our friends Kat and Henning about possibly joining us at the beer festival since it was close-ish to where they are. Kat contacted us and let us know that due to renovations, they would have to work late into the afternoon and probably wouldn't make it (we know how that is, renovations never respect time boundaries or plans). Since they weren't coming, and we were all the way in Munich, and the weather was looking a bit dicey after some overnight rain, we decided to possibly give the beer festival in Hallertau a go tomorrow, and do some Munchen site seeing today (with of course the inclusion of Munchen beer halls - the reason Munchen is so famous. Its not for the art, the dark Nazi history or being a centre of cultural excellence - its Oktoberfest and beer related festivals! Come on, admit it - everyone thinks of Oktoberfest first when someone mentions Munich). Got on the metro which was only about 10 minute walk from our campingplatz and it was quick and easy 5 or 6 stops to the centre of town. Started off on the Lonely Planet walking tour. We got off the train at Marienplatz, and started at the first stop on the tour - Michaelskirche. There were thousands and thousands of people out today (Saturday), and it took a bit of negotiating space through the crowd. The church would have been magnificent I imagine - unfortunately it was completely covered by scaffolding and hessian. There seems to be so much building, restoration or repairs going on around all of these major international attractions - you have to give them credit that they have put the image of Michaelskirche on the material covering the church but it really does take away an awful lot of the magic that would otherwise accompany being there. It was a beautiful sunny day, which was different to how it looked as though it would turn out this morning (we packed jumpers and raincoats). Deciding that I needed to remove a long-sleeved layer, we went to the next spot on the walking tour which was, conveniently the Augustiner-Grossgaststatte. We sat at a table after wandering through the sprawling expanse of rooms and gardens trying to find a table which wasn't set (apparently it is a cardinal sin to sit at a set table if you aren't intending on eating). Ordered a couple of brews and I went to get rid of a layer. On the way, a couple of very delectable looking pork knuckles and sausage platters went past held high up on dirndl-wearing waitresses shoulders, and the wafting smell from the kitchens was all a bit much to bear. We ended up ordering a wurst platter and a pork knuckle (which was delicious, but disappointingly only a part of pork knuckle, not the whole thing - we've become pork knuckle snobs). It was actually a brilliant place for people watching - watching the food that local people were eating, and the big family gatherings that were happening on the long bench seated tables. The tourists are also funny to watch - kids obviously straight off the Contiki buses pulling in, quickly downing 3 of the biggest beers they can get (but with no previous tolerance - I have no problem with people that can hold their alcohol), and then stumbling out making big gooses of themselves. The beer hall is full of huge wooden tables, some antlers and hunting trophies on the walls, and enormous bars with walls just full of different types of huge beer glasses ..." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spo_rt/1/1275808469/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "Marienplatz" 2. "St Michaels church scaffolding" 3. "Meaty goodness at Augustiner" 4. "Golden Mary Marienplatz (another plague monument)" 5. "Bikes parked under Altrauthau gates" 6. "The beer garden at the Hofbrau Haus" 7. "Beery goodness at the Hofbrau Haus" 8. "Painted walls of the Alter Hof" 9. "German sense of humour on scaffolding at Residenz" 10. "Where's Wally. Spot the king and queen." 11. "More painted walls, at the Residenz" 12. "Give way to pianos on Munchen streets" 13. "Oompaa band at the Latino Festival." 14. "Street performers. He scared so many kiddies.." 15. "The crowds at the Latino Festival" 16. "The Chinesischer Turm and beer garden" 17. "The beer garden proper" 18. "The beer garden after the storm broke" 19. "The Chinese Pagoda" 20. "Martin, Rach, Panni and Tommy" 21. "Discussions in the bar" 22. "Seano and Tommy" 23. "Martin hamming it up" 24. "Seano and Tommy camping it up....." See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0159-ed0a-2996?ytv4=1