Day 2 – München at last
A 05.00 taxi took us back to Gatwick. I felt as if my head had just touched the pillow when the alarm went off for the early morning rise. Whose idea was this? I watched the sun rise in the moments between open eye and shut eye. I read the newspaper. Six hours into the flight we had only be airborne for a half hour. How can easyJet call this a two hour flight? This was turning into the longest European flight ever. Eventually we landed in München and took the S Bahn into town.
Knowing we were scheduled to reach the Hotel Royal just after 10.00 I had emailed to ask if any rooms could be ready. Three out of four were and so we checked in.
We arrived at Marienplatz just as the 11.00 Glockenspiel got under way. It’s what one does in München. We retired en masse to the Cafe Piemonte (Petersplatz 9 80331) for the ritual hot orgasm: hot white chocolate. Well two of us shared this pleasure, dont go there… The rest had coffee…
A noon Curry-Heute had been written into the Tin-Tinerary, only Eleanor was up for this and so we left the others at a bright and sunny Viktualienmarkt and strode down in the direction of Isartor.
Afterwards we rendezvoused at the same place and some went off to the Stadt Museum. Marg and Hector toured some shops before Hector realised that shopping can be very tiring. If quality Bier was to be consumed later today, a WLD was required, now.
In München Steht Ein Hofbräuhaus
There was a plan to meet up after 16.00. Marg and Hector arrived at 16.30 and toured every seat to establish that we had arrived first. Actually Emma had been on time but chose to wander off. Eleanor soon joined us and we were four balanced on a table of eight. The others arrived and squeezed on to an adjacent table before we were all joined together. A band I had never see before played the Tirolean Schuplatten, my favourite all Bayerische tunes, I suppose it must actually be Austrian.
A litre of Hofbräu Helles was the starter for ten. By the time we were quorate a litre of Dunkles had been ordered. Marg had a Bier! Her second ever Bier in the Hofbräuhaus, the first having been bought by Rheinhold Frank the band leader. She even drank it. Now this must not be encouraged. This union needs one of us to be sensible.
Our dinner reservation had been booked online by Hector at the start of the week. All part of the service. The food at the Pschorr Haus is always excellent despite not being Curry. Eleanor walked up the road enthusing wildly about the Wiener Schnitzel that would await her. She had me sold on this. Marg joined the Veal party too but asked for the smaller portion, one huge slice instead of two. Winnie also ordered the Full Monty. Dom ordered the full Schweinhaxe. There were audible gasps when it arrived, who could eat all this? Al had a Schnitzel variant, Emma had the Fisch.
The food was mostly washed down with Pschorr Helles (Dir) served straight from the large wooden Barrel on the counter. Whether it had a plastic lining, Hector knows not.
Our waiter came over as a bit churlish. He did not look too happy when asked to provide cups of tea for Marg and Emma. It was just his way. I hatched a plan to get our own back. As a linguist, Emma speaks German. I suggested she ask for a tea to take out after we had sorted the Bill. This forced a smile. He was worth his generous tip after all.
There was a decision to move on. The Augustiner Großgaststätte was around the corner, well almost.
Hector went on to find the group a table. But half the group disappeared off to church. WTF? We were all re-assembled and then the usual folk started to disappear. Emma was wondering if she could have a Bier smaller than a half litre. ‘Have a Schnitt!’ I suggested. ‘What is a Schnitt?’ And these people think they speak the language? Maybe of the textbook, not of the Bierhaus.
The Bad Boys Club
Dom, Al and Hector bade the ladies farewell as we turned on to Schillerstrasse, The Office was calling. For some there was a kebab to be consumed later.
The Brewery Taps visited today:
Der Pschorr München Wirtshaus – Viktualienmarkt 15, 80331, München
Hofbräuhaus – Platzl 9 80331, München
Zum Augustiner – Neuhauserstr. 27 – 80331 München
Sport-Café Schiller – Schillerstrasse 3, D-80336, München