Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall & Town Hall Views in Munich

"Tourists don't know where they've been, travellers don't know where they're going."- Paul Theroux

It took us a wee while to find this famous beer hall but well worth it for the food but also the people watching.  

The Hofbrauhaus is just down from the Christmas Market in the centre of Munich.  Originally built by the Bavarian Duke Maximillian I in 1598.

One tidbit I found was that Mozart lived around the block from this beer hall in the late 18th century.

Another infamous tidbit, the Nazis, including Hitler, in 1920, held a meeting of the National Socialist party on the third floor of this beer hall.

Very interesting to me how we seem to be visiting places that all intertwine together to write history.

Views from the balcony at the Town Hall.  Really high and tight quarters.  Spectacular views on a beautiful, sunny, cold, Munich day.

Cost was only 2.50 Euros.  Elevator whisks you up.  This is the balcony just above the famous Glockenspiel that rings every day at 11 am.

Enjoy the views from the top.

Munich Christkindlmarkt in the Evening

"The only blind person at Christmas time is he who has not Christmas in his heart."- Helen Keller

It becomes magical at night!

The Munich Christmas market roots go back to the 14th Century.

Each day from the Munich's town hall balcony, the huge cathedral looking building, music lovers can enjoy the special alpine Christmas Market concert.

We heard it, but couldn't see where it was coming from.

Thoroughly enjoyable.  Highly recommended to all if you get a chance.

Munich's Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz in the Daytime

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."- Hamilton Wright Mabi

Traditional and historic German Christmas markets began the last week of November until Christmas Eve and spark the Spirit of Christmas.  Non-commercial, with homemade toys, candles, candies, sweets, wood carvings, christmas decorations, lambskin shoes, as well as all sorts of sausages and cheeses.  Many people enjoy the mulled wine or non-alcoholic warmed sour cherry punch.

Hot chestnuts which are now one of my favourite things.

Marzipan everything and traditional German gingerbread called Lebkuchen.

Open everyday from 10-8pm sometimes 9pm, always full of people enjoying the festivities.

The view from the balcony of the Town hall.  The Christmas Market goes on forever down many streets in the area of the Marienplatz, a pedestrian only walking area.  This picture below is just one small part of it.

Wear good walking shoes and dress warm.

Litty's Hotel in Munich, Germany

Arriving in Munich via train from Vienna, it was a beautiful sunny day.  First day I actually needed my sunglasses here in Europe.

Litty's Hotel was an oasis in a very chaotic, little sketchy, part of Munich.  Inside was lovely.  Our room was huge in comparison to other places we have stayed.  The view from our window, from the fourth floor, is below.  Only about a 10-20 minute walk, with luggage from the train station.  Very central to many sights including the Christmas Market area.

However for me, if I feel unsafe I have a difficult time taking in the sights.  Once we were off our street, it was better.  I look at the other people walking at dusk in our area and I try to be a big girl.

But, I would not chose to stay in that area again.

Randoms of Vienna

"When the soul looks out of its body, it should see only beauty in its path.  These are the sights we must hold in mind, in order to move to a higher place."- Yusef Lateef

Random pictures of Vienna that didn't make the posts.

Leopold I built St. Peter's Church as a thank-you for surviving the 1679 plague. It is Baroque at its best.  Deb and I attended an organ concert in the afternoon.  The organist played four classical pieces including Mozart and Strausse.  Unbelievable acoustics.  I was afraid to cough.

As we walked towards this artwork, unbeknownst to us, it was a staircase.  Awesome.

Rose stain glassed window from St. Stephen's Cathedral.

The windy day on the North tower at St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Freezing cold, windy as all get out, scared at how high we are, but happy, happy, happy girls.

Christmas booths with food and drinks in the pedestrian only area near St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Incredibly, everyone attends these.  Not only tourists, but young people, families and people on their way home from work.  They are opened everyday and all day into the evening.

Below is the Holy Trinity plague column.  It is 60 feet tall covered with angels and cherubs and a golden Father, Son and Holy Ghost at the top.

Leopold I also commissioned this be built as an additional thank-you for surviving the plague. It was a massive epidemic of the bubonic plague which claimed the lives of over 75,000 Viennese.  At the time, one third of the city of Vienna.

This random shot was taken while walking the city;  found as a decoration on a building.

I just could not decide on what to wear for the Opera.  I opted for this little number that I had hanging around.

At dusk, St. Stephen's Cathedral is decorated with spot lights that make the neatest colours on the church and ground.  The little children love it.

Deb giving this fellow...who looks like one of the Baldwin boys....a helping hand.

I made a wee mistake in a previous post.  The Sacher Torte was originally made at the Cafe Sacher.  It is in our "1000 Places To See Before You Die." 

You got it...we had to go and try it.

Chocolate heaven.

When we are lost, we love to cut through a tunnelled area we have never been to see where it leads.

You never know what treasures are beyond the darkness.

For the life of me, I know this guy, but what is his name?  Looks so familiar?  Maybe an acquaintance? Family? Co-worker, boss?

I will remember.

Everything in Vienna was about Mozart, but in the Vienna Opera house they did have a bust of this fellow who we all know.

We did do the tour of the Opera house but didn't get to a concert there.  But we heard an awesome tip from our tour guide.  If you show up three hours before the show starts, you can get in line to purchase 'standing room' tickets for 3-4 euros a person.  They start at over 25-300 + euros for seats.

We did get to a concert at another Palace one evening.  No photos allowed.  Classical music, waltzing, ballet and opera singers were all included in the production.  Front row seats as we made a deal with a seller in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral.  I am usually leery of these sellers, but we saw no other option to hear classical music in our short time in Vienna.

In a word:  Awesome.