Entries about 13 july

Arrived in Munich on time. I had no problems retrieving my luggage or finding the train station. Not too much trouble with the ticket machine (hey, the first one was broken, and I don't read the language!) and then got to sit back for a 45-minute train ride. My first impression was that the cliche of German engineering is true... this was the smoothest, quietest and cleanest train I've ever been on!

Navigating from my final train station to Mark's apartment was going to be the tricky part, but turned out to be a non-issue, as Mark met me there. Woohoo!

We walked to his apartment--stopping first at a meat place for some yummy sandwiches and second at a cheesemonger's--then chilled out until Laura, his wife, returned home from work. She'd just received news of getting a new job, so we all celebrated with a Viennese drink made from white peaches--it was delicious. Then we headed out and strolled through the heart of Munich: Marienplatz, churches, the palace, Hofbrauhaus, and more.

A dragon, symbolic of the Black Death, attacks citizens on this sculpture (if that's the correct term) on the side of a Marientplatz building.

The Munich National Theatre, an opera house on Max-Joseph Platz.

Outdoor dining near the National Theatre.

Rubbing the nose of the Bavarian lion outside the residential palace. It brings good luck! Why? Read about the legend here: http://munich-greeter.de/en/2013/06/munich-only-die-residenzlowen/

The infamous Hofbrauhaus. It was a lot less "tavern-ish" than I'd anticipated; I just thought there would be less artwork and more wooden timbers, or something.

This is where the regulars of Hofbrauhaus store their personal steins--a practice I have seen mirrored in certain coffee shops back home.

Laura and I pose beneath the gorgeous ceiling. We didn't stay--way too loud.

No official tours, just strolling until we found a good Bavarian restaurant for dinner. I managed to down a litre of Schneiderweisse with my dinner--a savory pancake with vegetables that was quite good.

Prost!

What strikes me most about Munich is how safe it feels... no creepy feelings. We just walked around anywhere we pleased, even after dark. Also, it's clean. And old. The restaurant we ate in is older than the United States, and is still owned by the same family that has always owned it!

As we strolled, we came upon an unofficial Michael Jackson memorial, located outside a posh hotel where he liked to stay. [Note from later: the memorial is quite controversial, to the point of violence between fans. Here is an article about it, written two weeks after my visit: http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-disputed-german-michael-jackson-memorial-may-have-to-beat-it-2015-7 ]

I'm tired, and can't get on wi-fi to post this; will do so when I can.