Munich

After Prague we spent two nights in Munich and had a ball sampling the local beers at the various beer gardens - our favourites Augustinerkeller and Hofbrauhaus, the latter was also a popular hang out of Adolf Hitler's. After the war the owners had to paint the ceiling twice to cover the swastikas that had adorned the place (after the first coat they were still obvious). The beer hall also had a big vomit trough in the men's bathroom. Vomiting is an acceptable way to keep the party going, just not in the beer house as it will cost you a cool fifty Euros. Another idea which seemed very civilised to me but not so much to Emily was that in the old days there were drains running under tables for those who felt the need for relief. Very medieval.

We did learn a bit about May Poles though. Apparently they are everywhere in Bavaria (we saw heaps on our next train ride) and if one gets stolen from a village then in order to get it back the village has to throw a big party for the thieves and it will be returned.
This tradition caused bit of a furore not so long ago as the Munich Airport's May pole went missing (yes the airport at Munich is also a brewery). Rightfully so they were a little concerned that a 10 meter tall pole could go missing from a "secure" airport and so approached the police in confidence to see if the matter could be sorted out quietly to avoid media scrutiny. The police flat rejected this proposal as they were the thieves! They promptly informed the airport that the only way to get it back was to throw a party and the media would help ensure it happened. So the May pole was returned and the police got their booze up. I'm not sure if the story is true but we also heard that the May poles are also Bavarian "pick up" poles, if a young lad fancies a local lass then he would head out to the forest and cut down the biggest straightest tree, remove its branches and then stick it in the front lawn of the object of his affection's house in the middle of the night. In the morning if she likes the cut of his pole she'll come out and dance around it. Then you can take her on a first date! Too bad if it the wrong sister!

We also did a walking tour of the city that basically consisted of Churches and Beer halls/Beer gardens with the odd unremarkable memorial to those that suffered in the war. It was an expensive and strangely prosperous place with all that beer drinking and leather short wearing going on. We left early in the morning to avoid blowing our budget on beer again :P

Juilet statue, put a flower in her arms to be lucky in love

The Germans are so neat and tidy, this is a market stall

A May Pole

Emily excited as me to be in Hofbrauhaus

Mmmmm leather pants...