Prost to Munich: My Journey in Germany

Frohe Oktoberfest!

As you all may know, we are now in the month of October! Fall is near, and with it comes many traditions happening all around the world. One such tradition is Oktoberfest, a festival celebrating German music, food, and culture. The festival originated from a single wedding celebration between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. They held a huge celebration in Munich celebrating their wedding, and the festivities continue to be carried on! The picture to the right is the famous Munich clock tower located in Marienplatz in Munich. Because of the time of the year, I thought we’d kick off our country of the week series with Germany! 

I had the pleasure of visiting Munich earlier this year in February. The city is the capital of the country’s Bavaria region, known for the region specific food and culture. My family and I are huge history geeks, always watching World War II documentaries together. So, we decided to visit Munich for its historical and cultural goldmine waiting to be explored! This blog will be about what we did each day!

Where we stayed: Hotel Augustin – right next to Bavariapark! The hotel offered a breakfast buffet for an additional price, which was great quality.

My Top Experiences in Munich:

Hofbräuhaus München is a must-do dining experience in Munich. The restaurant is a 3-floor beer hall dating back to the 16th century! You walk in, find your own table, and sit back and listen to traditional music amongst the buzzy conversation of everyone there. I ordered the roast pork with crackling, which is served with dark beer gravy and a potato dumpling (YUM!!!!!)

Munich wouldn’t be Munich without the beer. To the left is a picture of my sister, Mariana trying the Hofbräu Original — a “beer with character” just like her 🙂 I felt that this restaurant really captured the traditional German/Bavarian feel that is known all around the world! 100% recommend!

Are you a history buff? During our time in Munich, we embarked on a walking tour that explored the city’s deep, and at times troubling, history from World War II. Munich played a pivotal role in the rise of the Nazi regime, making it a significant but difficult chapter in both the city’s and the world’s history. While on the tour, we visited sites where it was impossible not to feel the weight and devastating impact of the Nazi regime. Our tour guide, Jake, was sensitive and knowledgeable, being sure to handle these topics with care. The tour was impactful and educational, teaching us vital parts of history that must never be forgotten!!! To the right is a picture of us with our tour guide, the best!!!!

Here’s a link to the tour on Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g187309-d11447825-Third_Reich_Walking_Tour_Munich-Munich_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html 

Day Trip: Neuschwanstein Castle

One thing about the Del Rio family is that we are big Disney people. We try to go to Disney every year, creating some of the best memories I have. When my dad was staring at Cinderella’s castle in awe, it prompted us to start googling its origin story. Did you know Walt Disney’s inspiration for the Cinderella castle was the Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau, Germany? (If you’re a Disney park expert you know the castle is also featured in the “Soarin'” ride!!) We knew this was a must-see while in Germany, and turns out its an hour outside of Munich! We rented a car and made the trek through the German countryside. You hike up 20 minutes to the castle entrance (or take a bus ride up which I didn’t know until I was winded and sweaty at the top), and buy a 18 euro ticket inside (free for under 18 or students!). The tour featured a story of the King Ludwig II, who lived and died in the castle. It is a must see, with a quaint little town at the bottom of the hill on which the castle sits upon.

Austria:

Another thing about the Del Rio family is our spontaneity. When we got back in the car after our castle adventure, my sister entered our hotel in the Apple Maps to make our journey home. But… she noticed the unmistakable country border line on the map. Turns out we were 15 miles from the Austrian border! We knew we had to go explore the country, so we decided to have dinner in Reutte, Austria, a small ski town. We ate at a restaurant called Gasthaus Mühlerhof, which is also a hotel. The picture to the left is what I ordered. So full of flavor and beautiful presentation! The waiters did not speak English, but we tried our best with translating apps, and even managed to bond over Mozart and Arnold Schwarzenegger! And GUESS WHAT? The restaurant had a little radio going and the song Tennessee Whiskey came on! God finds weird ways to tell you you are exactly where you need to be. 🙂 

These were my Munich, Germany highlights! Germany was a country filled with respectful, polite people who enjoy their culture and traditions. I look forward to going back and exploring more of the country!

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Auf wiedersehen,

Cristy 🙂