Let's break bread at the Hofbrauhaus!

Most of the beers served at the Hofbrauhaus are served in liters. This was the ONLY beer they served as a half liter...

The pretzel/ginger bread cookie girl...

Giant pretzel and beer!

Apple strudel

Pork knuckle and dumplings! Magically Delicious!

The Hofbrauhaus!

Liter beers from The Hofbrauhaus...

Hofbrau menu

The Hofrauhus was founded over 400 years ago by William V, Duke of Bavaria and remains one of the largest and well known beer halls of Munich... This famed beer hall also has beer halls outside of Germany. They even have one in Las Vegas!

This portico of the Hofbrauhaus once served as a meeting place for the Nazi party...

P.S. Want more info about the Hofbrauhaus Google it! This is one of Munich's most popular beer halls. It's a top tourist attraction! There is so much history at the Hofbrau even Mozart and Johnny F. Kennedy visited this beer hall...

Surfing... In Germany???

YES, believe it or not PEOPLE DO SURF IN GERMANY! Locals have found a way to surf in this land locked country without every having to set foot on a sandy beach. Within the English Garden The River Isar is home to one of Germany's standing waves. Of course this curious sight is a tourist attraction. There were lots of on lookers many of whom were amazed with the talented surfs ripping it up on the narrow river.

Next surfer waiting his turn...

P.S. Would you ride the river wave??? In front of a crowd? They only suggest experienced surfers on the river waves. But, just in case you get the urge here are some river surfing etiquette tips: http://www.ehow.com/how_4822854_go-surfing-munich_-germany.html

The Lion's

Lions seem to be a central theme all around Munich. However, there were some very special lions, like the one above, we spotted in the city. These artsy lions are part of the "Children In Need" charity. Since 2005 more than 400 "Leos" have been purchase by sponsors to raise money for this charity. Even the Hofbrauhaus had its own Leo!

P.S. To find out more about the "Children in Need" charity and the Leo's click on the link below:
http://www.leo-parade.de/

Let's break bread - Munich!

Along our bike tour we stopped at a beer garden inside Munich's English Garden. This beer garden also gave us a taste of Germain cuisine....

P.S. I took random photos of food other people ordered. Please do not email me to tell me I eat like a pig. With the exception of the beer THIS WAS NOT MY FOOD! :)

Delicious Radler (wheat beer and sprite)

This visit to the English Garden started my obsession with pork knuckle!

City Bike Tour

Part of our trip was a city bike tour through Munich where we got to see the highlights of this great city...

The National Theater

Maximilian I

Me and the tour guide

Marien Column

Holy Trinity columns are seen very often in Europe. These monuments were erected to signify the city overcoming major adversity.

The Marien Column is an example of a Holy Trinity column. It sits right in front of the New town hall. This particular column has a golden Virgin Mary and baby Jesus at the very top.

Around the bottom of the column are 4 little soldiers representing Munich overcoming its adversity depicted by an animal of some sort...

This little soldier is slaying a rooster. The rooster represents pestilence...

...a snake represents religious dissent...

...the dragon represents famine...

...and the lion of war.

The Glockenspiel

The Glockenspiel is located at the top of Munich's "New town hall" which was built between 1867-1908 (the Old town hall was built 1394 and oddly looks much newer than the New town hall).

Ye ole' Glockenspiel! Everyday at noon the grand Glockenspiel chimes and re-enacts two 16th century stories: One story is about the marriage of Duke Whilhelm (founder of the Hofbrauhaus) and his bride Renata of Lorraine. The other story is depicted by a Bavarian and an Austrian warrior, each jousting each other on horseback...

This 12-15 minute show ends with a golden bird signaling the end of the show.

Detail in the facade of the building...

The very top of the New City Hall

Entry to the New City Hall

Day 5...Into Munich...

Our hotel!

Here, in Munich? Police drive BMW's...

Bavarian State Ballet right next to the Hofbrauhaus.

Love the arts!

Random restaurant in the town square...

St. Goar city photos

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. This sign, although not written in English, explains why the Upper Middle Rhine Valley is so important to European history...

P.S. Find out more information about the Upper Middle Rhine Valley or other UNESCO World Heritage sites! visit the UNESCO web site. Who knows you may get inspired to visit one of the sites it mentions!: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1066

I took some random photos of the streets of the quaint little village of St. Goar...

Walking through the park by the Rhine River...

St. Goar is also home to the largest Cuckoo clock

Hand made cuckoo clocks...