Travel Archives '06: Munich, or, Munchen on Bratwurst

I didn't have a specific itinerary planned out while visiting Munich, because I didn't quite know what the city had to offer in advance. Rather, I had two principle objectives in mind for my stay in the capital of Bavaria: drink beer and eat sausage. Both of these objectives were met with resounding success, as beer flows freely through the streets of Munich like rivers winding through the lush Bavarian Alps, and the Germans here observe a strict diet of pork and pork by-products which was made law by King Ludwig II in 1846. The only exception to this rule, of course, are the giant salted pretzels, which are only allowed due to their role in facilitating beer consumption and as a source of fibre.

The beer and the food in Munich was simply amazing, and enough to bring me back for those two reasons alone. I would have no problem spending an entire day in a Munich beer garden just drinking beer, but sadly such a superhuman feat could only ever be accomplished by a born and bred Bavarian. You see, the Bavarians don't meausre their beer in measly pints or sleeves, but rather in litres. If I were to do my math correctly then, I most likely consumed about 6-7 litres of beer in three days. For many people, drinking from the mugs in which the beer is served in require both hands, and in some cases an elaborate pully system, which I didn't require, but nonetheless endured a substantial workout. I've never tasted beer so good, and when I finished off the last mug of beer the day before I left, I felt as if I were saying goodbye to an old friend.

Thankfully, I didn't have to drink all of this beer on my own, which would have been an early indicator of alcoholism. Rita, a former colleague of my mother's, and her partner Stefan, graciously offered to have me stay with them while I was in Munich, allowing me a brief respite from the hostel scene, and giving me a few opportunities to experience the region from a more local perspective. Rita's cousin, Lisa, was also visiting at the same time, and provided good company while taking excursions into the city and the countryside.

Rita and Stefan live just outside Munich, thus a stone's throw away from the many lakes, parks, and bike trails that dot the region. On the second day I was there, Lisa and I went on a day-long cycling trip through the many trails south of where we were stayingwhich offered us a chance to view the beautiful Bavarian countryside a little more closely. It was a vry relaxing trip, one that was a welcome departure from the usual time spent in the city. I was feeling pretty good after a swim in one of the nearby lakes and a big meal in a small restaurant in a village with the population of four, when all of a sudden, as I was cycling down a small hill, my rear tire blew. With no spare, I had no choice but to walk the bike back the rest of the way home. This was no small feat, as we were roughly 15 km or more away ,and in the middle of sprawling farmland that stretched for mile with no end in sight. I trudged along, dear readers, despite the hot, blazing sun that beat down relentlessly over the Bavarian countryside that was void of any shade, apart from the few patches of forest, that nevertheless contained even greater threats in the form of wolves and old women that eat small children. I have no idea how lond I spent walking, but Lisa and I finally came across a town that linked to the train line leading to Munich, allowing us to get home hours earlier than if we had walked the whole way.

I've been meaning to say a few words about German fashion, simply as a a point of interest in terms of exploring the different cultural trends that can be observed while travelling through Europe. For those of you who have been to London or Paris, you may have observed that people there dress incredibly well. Sure, most of it is knock-offs, but they still look good, and make the rest of us pale in comparison. The Germans, on the other hand, have still not learned that sandals, sock, and 3/4 length pink pants are not a good combination. In fact, this is considered high fashion in many parts of Germany, especially in Berlin. Personally, I'm a big fan of Laderhosen and feathered hats, but sadly I only saw one person in Munich wearing the full gear, while he was drinking his beer at 10:30 in the morning. I tried to get a picture of him, but he realized very quickly what I was trying to do, so I backed off. One thing you learn early in Germany, is never disturb a man while he's drinking his beer. The results would not be unlike taking a dog's bowl away in the midst of its meal.

Next: "What do you mean you're out of strudel?"