[Europe Trip] Day 7 - Munich (Marienplatz, Glockenspiel, Hofbrauhaus)

30th July 2015 (Thursday)

We took the ICE train at 8.40am at the Berlin Hbf (please be on time!) to Munich. As we booked early, the ticket prices for Class 1 and 2 had little difference, so we went for the Class 1 (i.e. business class)! 

Bahn train ticket - it will show the class, no. of passengers, wagon number and seat no. (if you reserve seats). You must remember to have your passport and credit card that you used to purchase the tickets on hand, when they check your tickets.

Train journey

Munich

Munich was so sunny! It was very different from London and Berlin.

We finally got to see the blue sky!

We stayed in Vi Vadi Hotel (Munich). It was near the Munich Hbf. At first we were a little apprehensive as it was at the red light district. But the area we stayed seemed to be pretty far away from the noise and activities. We booked comfort twin room with garden view and air-con, but there was no garden nor air-con. I think they have since changed their description on Agoda.

We walked to Marienplatz to see their landmarks, which include the Glockenspiel. It was a beautiful carillon that is over 100 years old. The Glockenspiel would chime and and the 32 life-sized figures would reenact historical Bavarian events during 2 timings - 11am and 5pm.

Unlike Berlin, Munich was filled with tourists, especially the Chinese. Marienplatz had a lot of shops (i.e. H&M, Zara, Ecco...etc). It was really "people mountain people sea".

Trying to dine like the Bavarian, we went to the famed Hofbrauhaus. There was beers (& drunkards), music and pig trotters.

Something to note about beer halls:

1. Each waiter or waitress was in charge of specific tables. You could not ask other waiter or waitress to serve you, not even taking the menu. 

2. You have to pay when each item arrive at your table, not at the end of the meal.

3. Beer would always be served first.

Our waitress went missing for an hour after serving us. The other tourists all seemed lost and the other waiters or waitresses were not willing to serve them. That's when we figured point no. 1. The customers had to change tables to be served.