Oktoberfest

I was really excited to see Munich and experience one of the world's best parties when we booked our trip for Oktoberfest.  Interesting fact: Oktoberfest starts in September. So we decided to show up a few days before the beer party started to see the city and its surrounding countryside.

We have seen some very pretty cities lately.  Munich is definitely one of the prettier ones (although Vienna is still at the top in my opinion).  Munich did not have that cold, Nazi-ish feel that Berlin did. It is a very laid back, young city.  It is also super easy to navigate and most of the tourist attractions are in one main location that is walkable.

One of the first things we did once we got to Central Munich is take a selfie in front of the Rathaus Glockenspiel (the Town Hall Clock). More about the clock below... 

 The Rathaus Glockenspiel 

This building looks cartoony to me...

Especially when you go around to the back of it and see the happiest clock in the world! It's buildings like this that make Munich an interesting place to visit.  This is all in the Marienplatz area.

We stumbled into Sankt Peterskirche which is uniquely decorated with doves flying from the alter out towards the congregation. 

One of the must-see attractions in Munich is the Residence.  This is where the kings of Bavaria ruled from.  There are some very interesting rooms.  I learnt that Gaudi (the architect and designer of the famous church in Barcelona (the Sagrada Familia) is ripping off designs from 1581.  Inside the Residence is a Perseus Fountain.

The Residence also has a very impressive room called the Antiquarium.This was used as a library at one point.  The king used to dine here as well while his subjects watched.

One of the attractions that I just had to see was not in Munich but 2 hours outside in Bavaria. I just had to see the castle that inspired the Disney Castles and the company`s logo! Schloss Neuschwanstein was ordered to be built by King Ludwig II in 1868.  He had grown up in a castle basically "across the street" and had created plans for a fantasy castle as a child. Neuschwanstein is based on these plans.  He grew up having no sense of money (like many royals) which explains the ridiculous costs associated with this castle.  Ludwig became king at 18 year of age and was fascinated by the music dramas and writings of Richard Wagner. He eventually became engaged to his cousin but postponed the wedding numerous times and eventually calling off the engagement.  Through his personal letters and diaries, it is known that he had homosexual feelings that he struggled with. He never married.

Because of the debt to create this castle, Bavarian parliament was not happy.  A medical report was signed stating that Ludwig was mentally unstable before the doctor (Dr. Gudden) who signed the report even met with the king. The document was presented to him and the king was removed from Neuschwantein to the shores of Lake Starnberg, south of Munich.

The next day Ludwig asked Dr. Gudden to accompany him for a walk. Their bodies were later found, head and shoulders above the shallow water near the shore. The king's death was ruled a suicide by drowning but no water was found in his lungs during the autopsy report. He was known to be a very good swimmer. His clothing showed a gunshot hole as well.  Gudden's body showed blows to the head and neck. There were also signs of strangulation. No weapons were found at the scene.

The government immediately took possession of all Ludwig's assets shortly after his death and stopped all construction on Neuschwanstein.  Only 14 rooms out of the 200 planned were complete when construction was halted in 1886. Each royal room is somehow connected to one of Wagner's operas. There are also swans throughout the castle, paying homage to Swan Lake which is found below the castle.

We took a bus/bike tour to see Neuschwantein which has got us hooked on bike tours now!

Shea looking happy at the beginning of the bike tour.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Another selfie!

We got to ride these old school bikes. The best part was all the boys bikes had a basket and none of the girls bikes did. So Shea got to carry my purse around!

Neuschwanstein Castle

Swan Lake

I see a lake, I must go into the lake!

 After a nice bike ride, we then had to hike up to Neuschwanstein Castle. There is an option to take a horse buggy ride up but it costs a pretty penny! The hike is not an easy one btw!  

At the top, beyond the turn off for the Castle, you can go onto this bridge and get views of the Castle. 

So worth it to go onto the bridge!

We are a little sweaty from the hike but still smiling!

The bridge you go on crosses a waterfall that is right below you!

A shot of the bridge. It is super crowded but so worth it! Unless you are afraid of heights that is...

This is the castle that Ludwig II grew up in "across the street." You could create a can phone from one to the other.

Inside the courtyard of Neuschwanstein Castle.Because there are only 14 rooms done, the tour is less than 30 minutes long but worth it! This castle is the original fairy tale castle!

You are not allowed to take pictures inside but I found some from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle

I love the rich mahogany throughout. It is a castle like no other I have seen!

Hall of Singers. Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle

Royal bedroom. Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle

Here is a picture from inside the castle towards the bridge and waterfall. 

Our next activity was Oktoberfest! I am not a big beer drinker but I did enjoy this event. To open up the party, a parade of the beer waggons take place. Each brewery will have a beer waggon in this event.

Everyone dresses in traditional Bavarian attire for Oktoberfest!  The men in their Laderhosen and women in their Dirndl.  Interesting fact: If a woman's dirndl does not cover her knees, its really slutty!

One of the beer waggons.

The entrance to Oktoberfest. It was raining in case you couldn't tell.

In order to fully experience Oktoberfest, one must get into a beer tent.  Each brewery will have a tent and/or a beer gardens where you can "sample" their beer. Now, you can book tickets in advance to get a table in a beer tent.  This is what the locals do so they basically have all those tickets booked before us tourists can get organised and decide what date to book for.  Oktoberfest is a big deal to the locals.  Its a time to get together with friends and family and celebrate their heritage.  For the tourists, its a time to get hammered.  I did not enjoy this part of the event.  So if you ever plan to go to Oktoberfest, book tickets well in advance so you can sit with some locals, eat a nice meal, enjoy the music and have a beer.

We stood in line to get into a beer tent. This meant we were with all the drunk tourists which was far from enjoyable. There was standing room only and people were drunk by noon!!! Plus, you are enclosed in this tent.  One of the first things I did was find my closest fire exit!

Inside the tent. It is huge but it is loud with drunks!  The band eventually stopped because it was so loud!  The tent is decorated nice though.

After locating our fire exit, we had to track down a beer maid and buy a beer. They only come in 1 liter steins!!!  That is a lot of beer for someone who does not drink beer often.  But I managed to drink 2 liters. We drank one in the beer tent then left and found a nice beer garden.  Beer gardens are much less loud, less drunks and far more enjoyable! At least Shea had a wonderful time!