Unexpected

A day or two ago, the weather forecast was for a hot sunny day. However, suddenly the forecast showed it would be full of thunderstorms. The plan had been to spend the day in the Alps or at Lake Constance but both these trips would have put us in places where the storms tend to be worse and doing things which would mean we were out in the open.

So, a last-minute change and we set off to Munich where there was enough on offer to do in- or outdoors. Instead of hiring a van as in previous years, we used two cars as J had anyway rented one.

Agreed to meet at the Oktoberfest site just at the edge of central Munich but we in fact managed to stay in convoy for the 100km. Took a quick stroll and those who had brought a sandwich made at home tanked up after the longer than expected drive caused by eternal road works along the last 30km of autobahn. Work on erecting the Oktoberfest "tents" started last week before the opening in 9 weeks time.

Back into cars for the 5-minute drive into the centre. I thought being a Sunday it would be dead. The place was heaving and alone finding two car park spaces split us up for about an hour until we regrouped at the Mercedes showroom at Odeonsplatz. Shame I don't like red cars as the children are looking for a birthday present for me.

Strolled to "the" central point of Munich at Marienplatz and the town hall. By this time hunger dominated some of the party and they separated to have a pizza in a restaurant while the rest enjoyed sitting out in the famous Viktualienmarkt beer garden. The choice of food on a Sunday is less than on other days as the majority of food market stands are closed but enough on offer from the normal German food stand and from a speciality fish shop. The six Munich breweries take it in turns to supply the beer garden with beer, hence the beer glasses not being branded. Like all other official beer gardens, everyone is free to bring their own food but must buy drinks.

Just as we finished & the pizza team arrived, the heavens opened with a brief thunderstorm which we sat out in the renowned Heiliggeist (Holy Spirit) church. Then a stroll to the Hofbräuhaus to simply walk in & back out to experience the atmosphere. I learnt London has one too - probably Munich's is a copy.

Then stroll back towards the cars, passing a large environmental demonstration that was building in the Odeonsplatz. Then I managed to really mess things up:

As the two cars were at various places, told J to head for the "Eisstadion" (Ice Stadium) at the Olympic Park, not more than 10 mins drive away. Stupidly daughter Kate helped him out with the spelling as he entered it into Google Maps by saying just put in "Sea Life" as it used the same car park. Instead of driving there myself by instinct/memory, I decided to enter "Eisstadion" in my Google Maps especially as the police were blocking off roads for the demo. Off I set. About 30 minutes later, we arrived at the Eisstadion but not the Olympic one! Another bad case of blindly following navigation systems. J found it in 10 mins with Kate's Sea Life, I needed about an hour!

We then strolled over the Olympic park which was being cleared up after two simultaneous pop concerts & fireworks display the night before, to the 25-day-long Tollwood Summer Festival having its last day. An Environmental, Food, Drink, Music event having its 30th anniversary. However, slowly the heat was having its effects on the feet and after a quick walk around we headed home.

I quickly stopped off at home to collect Luna for her evening walk while the rest went to the Greek restaurant in Ottobeuren for an apparently good meal. We met up in the square where they were enjoying another ice cream before returning home for bed (after a short drink/talk session).

(Sadly in the hectic, I didn't take a single photo at Tollwood - some other impressions as an Extra Photo)