I arrived in Munich on a cool rainy day on the 1:23 p.m train from Innsbruck. I was now past the midpoint of my three-week tour of Europe and about to begin a brief visit to the capital of the German state of Bavaria.
I checked in at the Pension Hungaria, which I noted in my trip diary was clean, comfortable, very friendly and helpful. Then I paid a visit to the Alte Pinakothek art museum where I saw paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Brughel.
The next day I walked through the 14th century Karlstor Gate into the old city shopping area. I noted the Cathedral, Old and New City Halls, the Glockenspiel that chimed at 11:00 a.m. and the Alter Hof which dates from 1255.
Karlstor Gate, Munich (1981) |
New Town Hall and Glockenspiel (1981) |
Old Town Hall (1981) |
Alter Hof (1981) |
After shopping for sweaters in the Hertie (shut down in 2009) and Kaufhof (now owned by Canadian Hudson's Bay Company) department stores I enjoyed tea and a good, light cheesecake at Cafe Hag.
Next my diary notes the jewelled skeleton of a martyr at St. Peter's Church which was rebuilt after it was destroyed in WW II. Oddly I don't remember the relic.
On my third and last day in Munich I headed to Nymphenburg Palace, summer residence of the Bavarian rulers. I noted that this baroque palace was similar to Schonbrunn (but the grounds are not as attractive). I also visited the Amalienburg, a fancy hunting lodge, and admired the extravagant court carriages in the Marstallmuseum.
Nymphenburg Palace, Munich (1981) |
Nymphenburg Palace Grounds (1981) |
Palace Swans (1981) |
Palace Fountain |
In the afternoon I went to the Schatzkammer, or Treasury where the jewels and treasures were even more impressive than in Vienna. I took special note of a small statuette of St. George with it's huge rubies, emeralds and diamonds. I still remember the beautiful statuette today (even without a photo!).
At 8:47 that evening I boarded the Orient Express to the last city on my itinerary, Paris.
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