Schloss Nymphemburg

Forget the impressive facade of this Baroque masterpiece that served as the summer home for the rulers of Bavaria for 500 years. It's the 490-acre garden that interested me, with what seemed like 300 acres covered in lilacs. We could smell the delicious aroma from our bus!

The BMW Showroom -- Fantasies for Fun (Even for Me!)

A Liberal City in a Conservative State (Bavaria)

Munich is considered one of the most livable cities in the world, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a big city with small-town friendliness and charm. Our elegant hotel (Hotel Regent) sits across the street from the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), where you can rent a bicycle for about 15 euros per day. You can ride all around the entire city that way, through the beautiful Englisher Garten, where you can stop at one of the shady biergartens for lunch, on to the BMW museum and showroom and to the Olympic Village.


Our capable guide, John Mountain, came to Munich in 1972 from London to work at the Olympic games. He and his wife somehow stayed, even after the horrific experience of the murder of the Israeli hostages by terrorists. The whole story is documented in the Academy Award-winning movie “Munich.”


Today, the Olympic Village is a beautiful park. Hills were created from the rubble of WWII. Every structure is still used today. The swimming pool costs a few euros to use, and concerts are often given in the main stadium.
\

Ladies Night Out in München -- Otherwise known as "Toytown"

Janet chose this restaurant because she was so intrigued by the chickens rotating on a spit in a window. When we couldn't find chicken on the menu, we finally realized they weren't chickens at all, but pork hocks! Several of us decided to go native and ordered them. I'm embarrassed to say, they were delicious, especially with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes.

Mozart's hangout in Salzburg

We had coffee at the oldest coffee house in Salzburg (1706) where Mozart used to hang out. According to our guide, he had nothing good to say about it, yet he went there every day. We found it to be delightful.

I love this old cemetery in Salzburg

Our delightful Salzburg guide, Gabriella