The Day After Rarecation: Munich

We exited from one of many escalators at the station. The station serves both the S-Bahn and U-Bahn train system, hence the U and S at the exit of the station and it's one of the most important in Munich.

Marienplatz...

From the map I purchased very much earlier and gauging time we had, we could only cover just a few area. The area tourist most likely to visit and it's a pedestrian zone too! I had tried earlier using visitacity.com to see what would it suggest for a day tour and true enough, a visit to Marienplatz. 

Marienplatz....
Mary's Square (refers to St. Mary), then called Schrannenplatz when the city was founded in 1158 by Heinrich the Lion.

Rathaus

The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)

According to the guide "the square is the lively heart of the city and, because of the Glockenspiel, the most popular meeting place for tourists from all over the world"

The Rathaus (Town Hall) was built between 1867 and 1908 in Gothic Revival architecture design. The said Glockenspiel added in 1908 is the crowning glory of the Rathaus and certainly a crowd puller to this historical square. It is a clock with 43 bells and 32 full sized mechanical figure depicting scenes from olden times. Two actually.. The top is about the marriage of Duke Wilhelm the Fifth to Renata of Lorraine, plus full sized men on horseback jousting at the wedding in honour of the couple.

The lower half....it was a scene or rather from a myth. It was said in 1517, there was a 'plague' in Munich and these dancers  originally were coopers (makers of casks, barrels, drum out of wood). The dance was to symbolize the firmness of purpose and loyalty (to the Duke) during the difficult point in time. It's mentioned that the dance is performed (in Munich) every 7 years and the next one will be in 2019 during German Carnival.

the Glockenspiel

Glockenspiel and the clock tower

other side show in front of the Rathaus

The 'performance' lasts for 15 minutes and only at 11am, additional shows at 12pm and 5pm in summer. We were there in October 21st, and it was already autumn but managed to watch the 5pm show. 

Right opposite the glockenspiel on the square, there was a cafe and we took the opportunity to sit and relax while waiting for it to begin. 

Haron chilling out

we had coffee, tea and apple strudel 

The moment came when the bell rang five times. Followed by the Glockenspiel show. 

Thousand apologies....I couldn't find the video myself. But there are a few from Youtube...

We walked around the square, snapped photos for memories and..ahem..blog. Well, you can climb the clock tower for a fee. But the Rathaus itself...I mean the facade is interesting to look at. Lots of human sized sculpture of effigies around the building and the usual gargoyles projecting from the gutter as  a spout for rain water from the roof...

Tower of the Church of St. Peter

There are a lot of towers in Munich that offers great vantage point of the city. Two of them are in Marienplatz! The Neues Rathaus tower and the one at Church of St. Peter. The map mentioned another one which is the Olympic Tower in the Olympic Park. Of course taller than the former and the ones at the square, you must climb every single step...in the case of the St. Peter, all 306 of them to a height of 56 metre.
We entered the church first to take a look of the interior. Nothing wrong with it. Tourist in Malaysia come to see the masjid/mosques, vice versa as long as properly attired and quiet. Respect is the order of the day.

the main hall and altar in the distance

right corridor of the church

A reminder, if you travel with a video camera (the ones used for proper recording, not the mini version)... the caretaker of these building were a bit reluctant or even might refuse entry without letter of approval from the local authority. 
We paid our fee of 2euro to climb the all the way up. Word of caution...please please please make sure your bladder is empty and just bite the bullet for a few seconds when you enter the tower because it can be quite claustrophobic. Be nice to everyone....take turns to climb up or down...and just imagine the view above.

tight fit even for Saiful Nang...and I am half
size bigger....madafaka!!!

Then it opened to a bigger space which I welcomed and it was a relieve! We made steady progress that we managed to catch up with a couple that was in front of us...

Every few steps, I did not count unfortunately..there's a landing where you could catch your breath or wait for a group to come down (vice versa). Be patient...and don't bother to count the stairs (some say it was only 299 steps) to pass time..you would be very tired. Just 'enjoy' the trip up... one step at a time because up there.... it's amazing!

The Neues Rathaus and Frauenkirche
(Cathedral of Our Lady) on the left

St. Mary's Column built in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish
occupation 

just a grill separating me and terra firma...

one for the post...

Roof of Church of St. Peter, Church of the Holy Ghost and
the Old Town Hall (L)

last step 

Remember the empty the bladder advice I gave before climbing the steps?....Had the urge on my way down. Just look at the following picture, Saiful was basically walking as fast as possible to get to the nearest toilet.

toilet..toilet...

after the toilet session...checking out the
CLA class Benz as taxi in Munich

Maybe I am not that fussy...even the walk around the area was quite enough. I walk very slow during travel. I love to inspect the architecture, buy book about the city..read inscriptions on the statue, wall etc. Absorbing as much as I can...sometimes a bit too much. Like in London, I can still smell the house where my uncle and his family (Dato' Kamal  Yan and Datin Sabrina) reside...and that was 1983. Good memories do stay on, I believe.

Toy Museum

wind chime

Not far but within the vicinity of the museum, a lone figure but recognisable from one of the place we went before we head for Venice. It was Juliet...from Verona. The exact copy!

If in Verona, you're supposed to touch her breast..in Munich, you lay flowers at her feet for quick fix at your love life. The one in Munich was a gift from the city of Verona in 1974.

Juliet bronze statue in Munich

Juliet in Verona

Anyway, we snap pictures of the square...the people, building...anything of interest..frozen in time in our memory card. Saiful did gave pointers on picture taking. Must have STORY he said. Something to tell..of course good composition helps too.
I tried to follow...but it was a bit too hard to imagine and do it at the same time. Maybe next time..but I just took photos which I think at least I would enjoy watching it again and again. It was him who also said, if you're happy with your picture...you're almost there. When you enjoy...then the effort will come to make it better, finer...

large gate at the side of the Rathaus

We loiter around the square a little bit longer as the first participant of the next trip was on her way to Marienplatz. She flew in from London, if I'm not mistaken. Doing her PhD. 

first participant of the next trip

As soon as she arrives, we brought her back to Markt Schwaben. The other camper van were empty and she had one all to her self. Tomorrow would be my last day with the group and my flight back to Lagos, Nigeria will be in the morning the day after...Maybe another round at the same place..Again? Hey I'm not that fussy..after all, I might missed something else back there.