and we carry on around Munich

So we headed off to see the sights of the city, mostly on foot, in the rain. Marienplatz is the famous christmas market, and we did go there, but to be honest it was OK but would have been much better in the evening. We did watch the glockenspiel go through the motions, but it took ages, so sore neck for me!.

Our tour then offered an extra trip to Salzberg, and everyone opted to go. It was 1 1/2 hours away in rain, but the tour guide told us loads of history and what to look at out the windows. We kept seeing these weird brown mounds of something out in the fields. (Training myself not to say paddock as people look at you as if you are strange!) Anyway... they are MOLEHILLS. What a hoot! Never seen anything like it. It's like a cluster of maybe 20 piles of dirt, say cowpat size, in an area of a field. The tour guide said the farmers can't poison them as their stock eat the poison so they try things like sticking garlic down the holes.... but I don't think it's working!

So on to Salzberg. What an unbelievable place. Amazing history, loads of Mozart and Sound of Music stories. We walked for ages and got to see all kinds of places. The best for both of us was walking through this incredible cemetary where all the graves look like this.








And then on to the Christmas market, which was waaay better than the last. Watched ice skaters fall on their faces, and watched all the weird and wonderful people going about their business. I saw the most wonderful stores selling lederhosen and traditional outfits for women, and they are current fashion stores, not costume shops. The best pair of lederhosen, costing about $1,100 were made of deer skin and were just amazing.







Then back to Munich to go to the Hoffbrauhaus. Now if you have been to Munich, you MUST have been here. It seats hundreds and hundreds of people, you just sit down with anyone and order these 1 litre steins. There is an ooompah band, frauleins in their frocks and just a vibrant atmosphere. We tried to make the waitress smile, but no luck. K was happy with this stein, but even happier when Irina and Natalia from Russia joined us at the table!!!

Home to hotel late, tired out, ready for early start the next day.