We arrived in Munich late at night. Jeff's second cousin, Florian, picked us up from the airport and took us to their house in Austria (just a few minutes from the German/Austria border). We went to bed right away since it was quite late. The next morning we woke up and saw a beautiful view of the Alps from the back of their house:
We had a nice relaxing morning. Florian's wife, Daniela, put together an authentic Austrian breakfast for us. We had Weisswurst (white sausage), a selection of various hams and cheeses, and rolls/bread with a special kind of cheese spread that she prepared.
After breakfast, we went to the train station near their house and went to Munich.
The Golden Friedensengel:
The Eisbach is a small man-made river that we walked along. A manmade wave has been created on one section of it where experienced surfers hang out:
The New Town Hall is a town hall in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It hosts the city government including the city council, offices of the mayors and part of the administration. Since 1908, figurines representing stories from Munich’s history twirl on two levels daily at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. We were lucky enough to hear the clock chime and see all the figurines come to life.
We sat outside at one of the charming outdoor areas and ordered Eiskaffee (which is German for Ice Cream Coffee). This is a classic German treat consisting of strong, chilled coffee, milk, and ice cream. It was delicious!
In Germany, there are charming areas outside many restaurants called a "Biergarten" with patio furniture in a garden setting where people gather for beer and local food.
Hofbrauhaus is a famous royal brewery in Munich, owned by the Bavarian state government:
While in Germany we learned about the maypoles that were on display in the villages. In Germany and Austria, the maypole is a tradition going back to the 16th century. It is a decorated tree or tree trunk that is raised on May 1 each year. Each village has their own tradition of celebrating around it. The pole is usually painted in Bavarian colors of white and blue and decorated with emblems depicting local crafts and industry.
A maypole at the Viktualienmarkt:
After walking around Munich we had a late lunch at a Biergarten.
Jeff and I with Florian, Daniela, and their daughter, Emma:
Jeff and I ordered Brats, Kraut, Spaetzle, and a Bavarian Pretzel:
It was a wonderful day visiting Munich. We took the train back and spent the rest of the evening relaxing and talking together.
The next day we went to Memmingen to visit family and the village where Jeff's late grandfather grew up. Jeff has been wanting to go to Germany ever since he was little.
We first went to Florian's parents house for a delicious German lunch and then went to the house that Jeff's grandfather grew up in. The house has been rebuilt and one of the brothers of Jeff's grandfather now lives there.
Jeff with two of his grandfathers brothers, Helmut and Freddie (they all have the same nose!):
Memorial plaque for Jeff's grandfather which is in the garden at the house:
Jeff looking at pictures of his grandfather when he was younger:
The older blonde boy on the left is Jeff's grandfather when he was a little boy:
Dessert (Strawberry Cake) and Coffee set up for us:
The Hug Family Crest:
Jeff with his second cousins (brother and sister: Florian and Katrina):
We had a great time visiting Germany and are so thankful to Florian and his wife for hosting us. Jeff appreciated getting to learn more about his grandfather and seeing where he grew up.
