One hundred and fifty years or so after my ancestors left the primitive, barbaric lands of Europe, I return! That right, we're going to Germany, Munich to be exact, during Oktoberfest. Aside from the standard travel show things, what should we do? What foods should we eat? What signals should we avoid so that we don't accidentally wind up in a bondage club? Don't we have some Huns here, @Packard @Aurora tell me of the Fatherland!
You might want to visit the Oktoberfest twice: There's the fares in the daytime, which is fun for kids, families, and anyone still young enough to enjoy Disneyland, and then there's the beer tents in the evenings and nights, where people will usually arrive drunk in order to save time. Very different crowds. Besides the Oktoberfest, make sure you visit the Deutsche Museum, which has something for anyone interested in science and/or technology. Depending on your interests, you might also want to walk through the Englische Garten -- if so, visit both the "English" wild part, including the famously nudist bits that nobody in Munich gets at all excited about, and the "French" precisely groomed part close to Schloß Nymphenburg. Of course, if you're into castles, Nymphenburg, Blutenburg and so forth beckon. And if you're into arts and antiques, the Glyptothek and the several Pinakotheken can keep you busy for years. Some excellent theatres, too, but I guess you don't speak German? I'm told the opera and philharmonics are also world-class, but I can't really judge either of those. The inner city needs to be understood to be read well; if you do it right, you can basically walk through 1200 years of history in two spirals, but you need to know what to point out, as most of it is just beneath the surface. I wish I could be there to show you, but if you get a really good tour guide, it's worth listening. If you want to test them, ask them what the Drueckebergergasse started off as in the early 18th century, and why it's there. If they know, you're good to go.
I have been to Munich, can't say I did anything outside the most typical of tourist actions -- hit all the brewery halls, went to the big park, went to the square with the ghey clock thingy. I was with a large group of people who mostly don't like beer, and I was really the only person who enjoyed the Munich portion of our trip (which involved several other destinations). On the gay bar thing, we actually did accidentally end up in one, but it was the Cheers version of a gay bar, and it was probably our best night there -- just a completely chill place for drinking and conversation. Fortunately I had those chaps Volpone mentions, so everybody was good and friendly.
Huh? Do you mean the Schefflertaenzer? The little figurines moving, as far as they're not broken beyond repair, in the Rathaus tower?
Well I did say bondage club. We're pretty sure the airbnb were staying at is operated by a gay couple, so I'm sure they can steer us in the right direction. We're doing Oktoberfest and plan to hit the beer halls, @Aenea has scheduled a tour of the Ludwig castles, I think. I had seen something about that Deutsche museum, and I definitely want to hit it. Is Munich known for any ethnic populations, aren't there a lot of Turks on Germany? I might want to say hi to the ISIS crowd while I'm there.
Yes, there are a lot of 2nd and 3rd generation Turks, but there isn't anything like a Turkish quarter. If you'd like to try some excellent Turkish, technically Armenian cuisine (but the proprietors have given up expecting customers to know the difference, history notwithstanding), try the Altstadtcafe in Schellingstrasse, which runs right next to the university in the centre.
No. We both have the benefit of living near both of our parents, and in my case I have a monopoly on grandkids. For the time being...
Viel Spaß! Don't forget the Bratwurst... and don't mention the War! Write WF a postcard, but do it before going to bed.. if you do the Oktoberfest right, you may not remember much afterwards
I'm not from Germany and you'd need a whole Roman legion to drag me to Munich during Oktoberfest. Large drunk crowds are not my thing Anyway, Munich has to offer a few nice places. BMW World is cool if if you like their cars. If you want to see a few old (and newer) masters, try the Pinakotheken. There are three, Old, New, Modern. Especially the Old is one mighty fine art museum. If you have a spare day, you can make a trip to Neuschwanstein to see eccentricity in stone. The Hofbräuhaus is a must for tourists too. After a hard night at the Oktoberfest a stroll over the Viktualienmarkt might take your mind off the hangover. It's an expensive but charming farmer's market kind of place. If you're into great landscapes, book a bus tour to Salzburg and the Salzkammergut region in Austria. However, the latter sucks when it rains and it rains a lot lately. My own guilty pleasure when visiting a new city is taking a hop-on hop-off bus. They are the pinnacle of mass tourism and thus something I strongly dislike but they do cover most places you absolutely have to see. Also, if you have more than just one or two days, take half a day off hardcore sightseeing and just stroll around. I find that much more interesting than all the tourist-y places. However, the best tip is to listen to Packard. He's a native if I'm not mistaken.
Not precisely a native, but I did live there for a quarter century. And I'm afraid the weather is completely unpredictable at that time of the year. I remember Oktoberfest in the snow, and in t-shirts dying of thirst. Prepare for everything, unless you can put off packing until a week before, when the weather forecast becomes reliable.
Good to know about the weather, I'll check a forecast before I leave, unpredictability is the norm here in Oklahoma.
Another question, our flight out of Munich is early Sunday morning, like 7:30. What sort of security procedures should we expect. Here in the states the lines can get pretty long to get through the TSA.
My experience in Yurp is that their airport security is very smooth and efficient. No TSA retards to deal with.
Standard advice is arrive at Munich airport t-2 hours. You might not need it, but if you do, you'll really need it, and the airport itself is nice enough, shops, cafés, etc.
Pretty much this. The most offensive security checks I've had anywhere has been in the US. Everywhere else is a breeze.
Wohnen in einer ganz normalen Wohngegend. Soweit Ihr nicht allzusehr über die Stränge schlagt ist alles ok. Möchten aber keine Randalierer oder Leute haben die leicht austicken. Translate Please!
Well, Google translate wasn't too helpful, but I think it is the German way to say mind your Ps and Qs.
Sorry, I was busy. This says : Stay in a common neighborhood. Things will be fine if you're not too rowdy, but no weirdos please. (Author seems to assume you're going to party, possibly together.)
