Some times you see something you want to photograph and have to work to get the right angles, focus, depth of field and so on. Other times, you look and immediately see the shot you want.

This is one of those times. We were walking down a street in Munich, and I was looking over at the building site on our left. I looked up and to my right and saw this shot waiting for me to capture it.

Other than “somewhere in Munich”, I can’t really remember where this was. The data from my GPS unit is available but I am still having trouble processing all 130,000-odd points from our trip.

Taken from a second-floor window in Schloß Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. The lake really is that colour, I believe it’s from the limestone in the area. This part of Bavaria is an incredibly beautiful place.

Some of the stitching isn’t perfect (right next to the castle, unfortunately) but I still think it’s come out pretty well.

It’s very difficult to find interior photos of either Hohenschwangau or Neuschwanstein as the tours of both castles are guide-led and prohibit any kind of photography. Since the groups are very small and the buildings quiet, it’s hard to sneak in any shots.

Shortly after I took this shot, the heavens opens and the rain began falling; at first lightly but not long after it was pouring. We hurried to the bus stop and, with another three bus loads of people, waited for the next bus to arrive.

When the next bus finally did arrive, everyone pushed and shoved in the street, all the while being soaked, to get on to the first bus. Lucky for us we did. At the connecting train station, we ignored the first train but soon realised even though it wasn’t going any way near Munich, it was the train we had to catch as we’d be stuck there for hours if not overnight!

We were lucky enough to be sitting near other travelers heading to Munich as well, and one of them understood enough German to know where we had to switch trains.

I was surprised at how many very small cars there are in Europe. People will tell you there are a lot, and that the small ones are really small, but I was still surprised.

The smallest cars were in Italy, but I loved this little car in Munich, too. Note that it’s also parked on a pedestrian crossing.

This was definitely not the worst parking job we saw. In Italy, there are cars parked in motorcycle lanes (hey, they fit, so why not?) as well as on corners, on footpaths and generally where ever they will fit. It’s absolute madness but unlike here in Australia, Italians just don’t care as long as you’re not in their way.

I’m not sure what building this is. Munich’s town hall, perhaps?

The fountain is actually across the road from this building. It’s in a large square and is outside the original outskirts of the city. Behind where this was taken is part of the original city wall.

For our time in Munich, this central square (which is actually circular) was passed through many times. We bought strawberries here (I asked for “une” punnet before quickly being corrected and offered “eins” punnet; then slapping my forehead and politely asking for “eins” punnet) as well as eating McDonald’s here when all other food options had run out.

On either side of the fountain is an escalator, partly open to the air, which runs under the wide street. Below the ground are a number of shops, as well as a tunnel to a nearby train station.

The main park in Munich is so large that there are tunnels underneath main roads to connect each section.

On two separate occasions, we walked until we were tired and still failed to see the entire park. I think we saw half (two thirds at most). The park has numerous lakes, a river running through it, manicured gardens, fountains, flower gardens, scrub and bush sections, riding trails (horse and bike) and even sandy beaches on the river where people sunbake. It really is amazing.

This was taken the day we arrived in Munich. In this vicinity are a number of large buildings, which were possibly palaces or at least or some importance long ago, as well as a beautiful pagoda and fountains surrounding it.

Looking through the shots of Munich tonight reminded me that our trip really started getting great in Munich. I’m not sure whether we were finally in “holiday mode”, or if the other places hadn’t taken our fancy (Paris did, upon our return later, that’s for sure), or if we just began to relax.

Either way, we were both taken with Bavaria and it’s beauty.

Day Thirteen
Munich
20 August 2007 22:47

The weather today was awful, it rained all day and was quite cold. So much for summer!

We didn’t leave the city but saw another of the royal family’s castles today; they made a lot of fancy ones and they are only under two hundred years old.

The one we saw — Schloß Nymphenburg — was built by king Ludwig when he finally had a son born. The castle, which is in the middle of the city (almost, a little bit out) is massive and the sprawling gardens so large you literally can’t see the other end. We walked through them for a while but could have spent far more time there but for the weather.Earlier in the day, Justine bought a new pair of Birkenstock sandals (they’re German shoes) for 20€, which is half the local price and after currency conversion around a third Australian.

After visiting Nymphenburg we took a tram to a small cafe — Tractenvogl — which has thirty-seven different types of hot chocolate. I ordered a whiskey (flavoured, unfortunately) and Justine ordered a praline but got a choc-mint one. Both nice but maybe not worth the hike out.

Later we went to a Chinese pagoda thing in the massive (bigger than Central Park or Hyde Park) English Garden. There are places for literally thousands of people in this open beer garden but because of the weather not one other person was there. Spooky.

We took the tram back (I love the trams here, they turn 90° corners at breakneck speeds and even lean because of it) and had dinner for the second time at “Bloom” where I had another half litre of beer.

Tomorrow is our last day in Munich; though much of the city is new, the old parts are charming and Bavaria as a whole is an amazing area to tour. People speak enough English that we’ve been able to get by just fine.