Munich by train. 6 days in bavaria. Places to visit and things to do.

I last visited Munich in 2016, this trip I revisited a couple of the same places, but saw different parts of them. I only spent one day in Munich on this trip compared to 3 days the last visit. I discovered visit a city app, that allowed me to plan my itinerary and download the maps so they were available off line.

On arriving in Munich, getting off 2 stops early, I entered Starbucks into Google maps knowing it would lead me to the city centre and sat having coffee by accident over the road from the Asamkirche, a baroque and Rococo creation by the Asam Brothers in the 1700's

a skeletal image of death with scissors about to cut through the life-thread of a poor soul

Peterkirche or St Peter's Tower This visit I don't go up the tower, but if you click on the link you'll see the marvellous views. Inside the church is wonderfully decorated.

Patron Saint of Spinsters

Marienplatz is the Central Square and is surrounded by historical buildings. The queues for the tower were too long so I skipped that it gives me another excuse to go back.

Astronomical Clock

The Toy Museum, I visited last year.

Frauenkirche - Munich's Cathedral. constructed in 1468. Legend has it that this is the Devil's footprint. He struck a deal with the builder to finance the construction as long as it contained no windows. He stamped his foot in temper after discovering the church had windows cleverly hidden behind pillars and there was originally a high alter that obscured the end window, that was destroyed along with most of the interior during World War II.

At this point I finished my visit a city tour and went off in search of some of the lesser known historical sites to visit.

Museum of hunting and fishing, Neuhauser Street.

Munich is full of churches and open freely to the public, I did leave a donation for each one I visited and many places also requested no commercial photography or to pay a donation to take pictures.

The architecture is stunning, so many fountains and statues to discover, you could almost walk past quite a lot without realising.

No idea why this Michael Jackson memorial is located here.

Viscardigasse - golden cobblestones mark the place and time when this alley was used to avoid having to give a Nazi salute.

Markets

Maypole

Pubs

The Hofbrauhaus House I didn't venture inside this time, but I did manage to sample quite a few of their beers during my stay.

Restaurants.

I didn't get time on this trip but it's also worth planning in a visit to the English Gardens for a spot of surfing and naked sunbathing.

Where can I walk my dog in Pretoria?

There aren't many places you can go with your dog in South Africa. A lot of open spaces contain wildlife of some description and the rules can change from one week to the next. I've found several places I can walk Bob on a lead, including the golf course that with live on, but there are few places where I can let him off the lead to run free.

Our favourite place is Magalies Sleepy River, we've been there for day trips and camping, but it's an hours drive away and I need somewhere local for daily walks.

I love taking Bob to Irene to Jan Smuts House which is a 5 minute drive from our house. Entrance is R5 to park, there are toilets and lovely tea gardens. There is also a museum that charges R10 for entrance, but you can't take your dog in there and the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month there is a market (dogs welcome)

You have to remember and you are warned about the dangers of walking on your own and there have been a few incidents in the past, but there have also been incidents inside the security estate that we live in. 

There are places on the walk where you are requested to put your dog back on the lead, but they are clearly signposted. Walk as far or as for as long as you like and I always stop for a pot of tea and give Bob some water before we leave.

I'd love to hear from you if you know of other local places where a dog can run off the lead in safety.

Mossel Bay on the Garden Route

In 1500 Pedro de Ataide left a letter in a shoe, under a large tree in Mossel Bay. In his letter he warned of troubles near Calcutta and a year later it was found by Joao da Nova on route to India, who took head of the letter and turned back. This was South Africa’s 1^st post box and is still in use today. You can find it in the Diaz Museum.

 

Mossel Bay is the half way point between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, approximately 400kms between the 2 cities.

The approach into Mossel Bay isn’t the most endearing with gas towers on the approach, but you really can’t see them when you get to the beach.

 

This year we arrived a little earlier and it wasn’t as busy as last December. Near the lighthouse is a campsite which fills quickly, making parking and getting a table in a restaurant a little tricky.

We stayed slightly out of the town, but still in walking distance, visiting the Diaz and Shell Museum, exploring the side streets and a market. The town centre is currently undergoing modernisation and there are few main street shops there.

We spent time on the beach which is full with an array of shells and scrambled over the rocks, also climbing up to the caves under the Light House to learn more about the San people who originally lived there.

 

 

I cannot recommend highly enough the Kingfisher Restaurant, with amazing food and sea views and the occasional seal in the bay.