Munich: Christmas markets

I really like warm weather. In fact at this time of the year, I’m found mostly on a beach beneath a clear blue sky sweating away in temps of 30 plus. I don’t ski or toboggan or do any of those winter sports. A northern hemisphere winter has never on my bucket list.

But it has been on my husband’s for a very long time and as we’ve just celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary (and given I’d like to celebrate a few more with him), it’s in my best interests to embrace the freezing cold with all the mulled wine, log fires, apple strudel and Christmas markets that are thrown my way. This bloke of mine has never once said no to any of my holiday ideas and some of my travel destinations invite mixed comments and raised eyebrows.

So, here I am soaking up a bunch of chilly delights on the other side of the world in Germany before heading into Austria and France.

My backpack (I bought an Osprey a few years ago and highly recommend) is full to the brim with thick socks, coats, layers of thermals and boots. For this shorts and t shirt girl, I feel heavy. But the challenge will be to stay warm throughout December in Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Nuremberg, Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Fussen, Strasbourg and Frankfurt.

We touched down in Munich courtesy of Singapore Airlines and in double quick time found ourselves out and about in this very walkable city. Rick Steve’s Germany 2019 guide with walks around Munich’s sights was worth its weight in gold. Munich was rebuilt after World War II and many buildings have been nicely restored to their traditional Bavarian form.

I’ll leave you with these pics.

20191209_202408 — New Town Hall in Marienplatz with its famous glockenspiel and gothic features. Fabulous Christmas markets are found here as well as cafes and shops.

20191209_193357 — Christmas markets galore

20191220_161203 — The smell of cinnamon, star anise and cloves hangs heavy in the Munich air

20191207_205947 — Viktualienmarkt – a fabulous open air market

20191207_212258 — Platzll Karree – worth having a drink at their fabulous bar

20191207_212332 — Loads of wonderful cafes all decked out in the Christmas spirit

20191207_205814 — Haufbrauhaus Beer Hall

P1280161 — Theatinerkirche – the burial ground for many Bavarian rulers including 49 members of the Wittelsbach family

P1280203 — The Residenz was the home of Bavarian royalty from 1508 to 1918. The Hall of Antiquities above is breathtaking. Buy the combined ticket which includes entry to the palace, treasury, museum and theatre.

P1280193 — The grotto made from thousands of shells

P1280183 — Crown in the Residenz Treasury

P1280176 — Statue of St George 1599 – a very precious piece in the Residenz Museum

P1280285 — The beautifully restored Cuvillies Theatre is part of The Residenz

P1280229 — Christmas markets near Residenz

P1280307 — Bliss it most certainly is when I curl my fingers around a glass of good German wine. The dumplings, sauerkraut, pork and obligatory pretzel were delicious.

We enjoyed Munich very much and especially enjoyed the surprisingly comfortable day time temps of 7 degrees.

Munich’s cosy weather jars cruelly with the horror unfolding in my own country Australia where an explosive summer is well and truly underway. Temperatures are in the 40s (celsius that is) and fires are raging out of control. Homes, stock, agriculture, towns and lives have been destroyed, smoke has engulfed cities and extended across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. Experts are predicting this will be the pattern for several more months. This photo tugs at the heartstrings – our tireless volunteer rural firefighters working around the clock rescuing, always rescuing.

Tomorrow we bus to Salzburg in Austria.

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