On Friday we drove through to Germany, firstly stopping 45mins out of Munich at Dachau concentration camp. We spent an hour looking at the concentration camp that the German Nazis used in WWII to imprison, torture and execute Jews and other minority's groups from across Europe. The camp remained as it was when it was in operation but had a number of memorials built on it and also plaques with information describing the horrific experiences of the prisoners. It was a really sad and scary experience to see the camp and the gas chambers which were used to execute hundreds of thousands of Jews. The visit to the camp really made me think about how lucky we are to be here today and living peace as described in the song that our tour manager played as we left the concentration camp.
45minutes later we arrived in Munich, home of the Oktoberfest in Germany and the capital of Bavaria. The weather in Munich was so nice, it was pleasantly warm and still. Perfect for a bike tour! Tim and Jack from Mikes bikes tours showed us around Munich and took us to the second biggest beer hall in Munich for a stein of beer and traditional German food.
The tour was very fun and entertaining with Jack and Tim constantly cracking crude jokes and they also had some silly games that we played. One of the games was, if they were talking to us and some strangers try to listen into the talk, someone needs to scream "stranger danger" then everyone crouches down as fast as they can and stares at the stranger. We did this a few times and got some funny reactions including people crouching down with us.
On the tour, we went to the main square of Munich, Marienplatz and also through the English gardens on the way to the beer hall. The English gardens looked like a fun place to have a picnic and go for a swim. However, they were interesting in that it is legal to be nude in the gardens and we saw a couple of interesting sights as we quickly passed on our bikes.
The beer hall was cool in that it was well organised, there was a variety of traditional German food and the atmosphere was vibrant with live music and people saying "Prost" (cheers) and clinking their steins everywhere. Although I don't like beer I tried something similar to a Chaney (beer with lemon soda) and still didn't like it but I did enjoy a bratwurst sausage and giant pretzel.
After the beer hall we rode back to where the tour started then walked to the most famous beer hall in Munich; Hofbrauhaus where I opted for some white wine rather than another beer and we again enjoyed some live music before heading back to the hostel.
Memorial statue in Dachau concentration camp
The tour was very fun and entertaining with Jack and Tim constantly cracking crude jokes and they also had some silly games that we played. One of the games was, if they were talking to us and some strangers try to listen into the talk, someone needs to scream "stranger danger" then everyone crouches down as fast as they can and stares at the stranger. We did this a few times and got some funny reactions including people crouching down with us.
House of Parliament that was bombed in WWII and was rebuilt with glass to represent transparency
English gardens
On the tour, we went to the main square of Munich, Marienplatz and also through the English gardens on the way to the beer hall. The English gardens looked like a fun place to have a picnic and go for a swim. However, they were interesting in that it is legal to be nude in the gardens and we saw a couple of interesting sights as we quickly passed on our bikes.
The beer hall was cool in that it was well organised, there was a variety of traditional German food and the atmosphere was vibrant with live music and people saying "Prost" (cheers) and clinking their steins everywhere. Although I don't like beer I tried something similar to a Chaney (beer with lemon soda) and still didn't like it but I did enjoy a bratwurst sausage and giant pretzel.
Enjoying beer and pretzels at the beer garden
Tour manager Kelley dressed in the traditional Diandl
Surfing in the rivers in the English gardens
Music at Hofbräuhaus
After the beer hall we rode back to where the tour started then walked to the most famous beer hall in Munich; Hofbrauhaus where I opted for some white wine rather than another beer and we again enjoyed some live music before heading back to the hostel.
Giant German pretzels, yum! Sounds like heaps of fun :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe all the incredible experiences you are having - you will return so knowledgeable and cultured!
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