Being A Tourist!

With assistance of our hotel concierge and good maps, 

We were heading out to be a tourist in Munich.  

He circled the most important highlights to visit

And also gave us Ubon train info

This is our station--I took photo to remember

We arrived at Marien Platz @ 10:50 AM-- there is work taking 

Place around the town hall.  Large groups of fellow tourists from 

Various countries were standing around the area; some guides, some like us on their own

You can see a quiet protest taking place with the 3 with signs--no idea what they

Were protesting.  We've seen several of these small groups in other cities

I

Here we are--looking up at the Glockenspiel!  

How lucky to arrive before 11--it only shows at 

11, noon & 5.  Quite by chance did we arrive at this time

The town hall was built in 1870's--glockenspiel was built in 1908

The church bells nearby ring at the stroke of 11 and we wait

Nothing happens till 2 minutes after the bells and the

Presentation begins!  A story unfolds of a marriage

Lovely to watch this action, even if you must crane your neck to see

The town hall is quite impressive 

We venture to St Peter Church and then toFrauenkirche (Dom)

Where a large art installation is featured in the middle.  This is called 

Heart oNumberOne by Michael Pendry.  

Life on the streets are busy with various street performers--all waiting for a euro or two

We found the huge  Viktualien Markt wonderful fruits, veggies, meats, etc.  

cherries are seasonal fruit--we've even had them for breakfast and 

Featured in many desserts

Transportation of locals--bikes of all kinds--watch out for cyclists 

We stopped in Hofbrauhaus for an afternoon beer

People are friendly and helpful--an E German couple sat next to us and we visited

They speak very good English!  Where I speak no German!

We head back to our train station --jump on first one headed in our direction--only

To find two stops up, everyone disembarked and we are left sitting in an empty

Car!  One up guy popped his head in and indicated we should get off

Have no idea where we would have headed up if we'd stayed on!

Next Stop On This Adventure!

We are finishing up our stay in Frankfurt

At each hotel we are given a gift--this was our gift for this stay--

A box of breadsticks 

Then last nite we had knock on door & found an hotel employee 

Handing us two mini Bon bond!  

Okay--that's interesting!

We take taxi from hotel to train station, only

1.6 miles.  We had reservations for our next train to Munich

We had to learn the ticket machine, but there are many 

Languages to choose from--tickets in hand, we find our

Train and track

Mm

This is a large station with platforms--no need to go up or down

Stairs for the right track

The train is 6 minutes late arriving in Munich!  Unbelievable!

We find taxi stand, tell driver our hotel and 25E later

We are there.  It seemed like he took the long way round but

When you are in a strange city, you are in the hands of the taxi driver

Who might want to make an extra E or two! We did see some of 

The city though!  Just don't know where we are!

Next Stop On This Adventure!

We are finishing up our stay in Frankfurt

At each hotel we are given a gift--this was our gift for this stay--

A box of breadsticks 

Then last nite we had knock on door & found an hotel employee 

Handing us two mini Bon bond!  

Okay--that's interesting!

We take taxi from hotel to train station, only

1.6 miles.  We had reservations for our next train to Munich

We had to learn the ticket machine, but there are many 

Languages to choose from--tickets in hand, we find our

Train and track

This is a large station with platforms--no need to go up or down

Stairs for the right track

The train is 6 minutes late arriving in Munich!  Unbelievable!

We find taxi stand, tell driver our hotel and 25E later

We are there.  It seemed like he took the long way round but

When you are in a strange city, you are in the hands of the taxi driver

Who might want to make an extra E or two! We did see some of 

The city though!  Just don't know where we are!

Moving On

One of the best ways to travel in Germany is by train.  They are always on time. 

We took first class seats--little money but on a long ride

It is much quieter in the #1 car

This car had an upper area & lower section

I planted myself in the lower--didn't want to lug 

My suitcase up any more stairs!  

We had to go up to tracks, over and down stairs 

Again to get to right train! 

The train made many stops in small villages & 

We traveling along the Rhine River again

Where we saw the same castles and passed several

Caravan parks--these must be permanent locations 

For campers or maybe permanent homes--don't know

But, there were many along the river

Once we settled into our hotel on 40th floor, 

I like to see the view.  Across there sporting and

Entertainment venues

The other direction were banks

And more of this Frankfurt city!  

A Might Fortress

We are off the river cruise after 7 days--

We stayed on night in Luxenbourg

We took taxi from the port, costing 70 E

While others were continuing onto Paris

We are heading to Franfurt by train

We walked a short distance into the city--marveled

At the town fortress built around

We found a "hop on hop off" bus in

Order to see some of city.  Our walk back to

Hotel took us by this historic church

It is Cathedral of Our Lady

It was a rainy afternoon but we able to avoid 

Showers as we rode bus or stopped in for lunch

In French restaurant.  Here you will hear many 

Languages spoken.  Luxenbourg is the financial 

Center of Europe with many banks and financial 

Institutions 

I thought you'd like to see our shower--red and blue lights. 

The shower sits in the middle of the room! 

The elevator changes colors with each floor advancement 

Quite modern hotel with contemporary features.  Of course, 

For security you must insert room key to go up in elevator

And as all European hotels, a key is required for electricity in your room

Let's Talk German Wine!

Most people think of beer when you say Germany

But, to us, we think of wine--white wine, mostly 

Riesling.   

Everywhere!  I do mean everywhere you see 

Vineyards!  In the most unusual places--the steepest 

Hillsides. 

Neat rows of grape vines

One day we took tour of vineyard--hiking up the pathways 

We had Four tasting spots, each with a different Riesling-- 

Each with little more sugar residue 

Our sampling glass

You would think that the huge vineyard was own by

One person, but not the cause--there are small plots

With each a different owner or a town

This wine tasting was held in an old cellar--dark and filled with barrels

Each sector has a wine queen and a wine proctor.  It is a great honor to 

Be a wine queen, usually a daughter from one of the wine families in that area

Beauty of German Villages

In every village, there absolutely fantastic gardens, whether it was small

Plots of ground, window boxes or the buildings themselves. 

The flowers drip off the sides and overflow-- such a nice sight!

Even the window shutters add an artistic touch

We walked through many a rose garden

This house along the bike path (continues all along the river)

Had a small area to plant their flowers 

The sidewalk cafes are also colorful either with their planters or awnings

The cemeteries are bursting with color--everyone we saw in Germany 

Were maintained with family money 

There are many timbered houses, each with their own beauty

This was the blue haus