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Bicycle Tour Adventure #39: Germany, Day 16

We drove to Munich using Ray's GPS: Midmorning
Maximilianstraße, Downtown Munich. Maximilianstraße, Downtown Munich.
Above Left: Maximilianstraße (looking northwest) - Prime Real Estate - Downtown Munich and National Opera House.

Above Right: Maximilianstraße (looking southeast) - Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski München (5 Star Hotel and the priciest shops; Vier Jahreszeiten = Four Seasons).

Ray and Terry at a Café. Milchkaffee und Schokolade Heiße Schokolade.
Above Left: Ray and Terry at a Café; Letizia just called from Venice.

Above Right: Milchkaffee und Heiße Schokolade. Take a look at the designs on the top surface of both cups.

Schokolade Stirring and Dipping Spoon. King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria.
Above Left: Take a close look at the Schokolade Stirring and Dipping Spoon; it is designed to hang on the cup's lip.

Above Right: King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. Maximilian I Joseph, in the later 1700s had to deal with the issues of changing borders (France, Napoleon, Austria, Bavaria, Rhine, Swabia and Franconia) and changing religions (Catholic - Protestant)

National Opera House. A Munich Street (probably Residenzstraßa).
Above Left: Front of the National Opera House (facing Max Joseph).

Above Right: A Munich Street (probably Residenzstraßa); we were walking towards Feldherrnhalle (about 3 city blocks to the north). Most of the buildings have been re-built since WWII (as the Allies bombed the Hell out of Munich)

A Munich Street. A Munich Street.
Munich Pastries. Munich Pastries.
Above: Pastries (Terry is mentally planning her Annual Winter Party whose theme will be German).

Munich Pastry. Theatinekirche.
Above Left: Hmmm; Terry asked me to be sure to get a close up of this pastry, I wonder why?

Above Right: Theatinekirche (west side of the platz); Feldherrnhalle is visible to the far left side (more in next images).

Feldherrnhalle on the Odeonsplatz. Feldherrnhalle's King Ludwig I placard.
Above Left: Feldherrnhalle on the Odeonsplatz.

A weird thing happened to me that has never happened before, I saw a psychic imprint of a swastika in the circle of the mosaic pattern of the colored cobble. To be fair, I looked at thousands of archived/online pictures of Feldherrnhalle from the 30s and 40s - I saw some gross pictures but none of them ever had a swastika in the Odeonsplatz circles - I cannot explain it.
Above Right: Feldherrnhalle (or Feldherrenhalle, Field Marshals' Hall) was ordered/requested by King Ludwig I. The left and right statues are Johann Tilly and Karl Philipp von Wrede (respectively) and the center sculpture was added in 1882, after the Franco-Prussian War. The placard in this picture is about 2 meters high on the far right column of the preceding picture.

Feldherrnhalle is important for two reasons:

First: Hitler (an Austrian by birth, i.e. Hitler was NOT German) gave his first big speech here and his Political Party started here.

Second: On 8 Nov, 1943, an assassination attempt by Johann Georg Elser on Hitler (and Göring and Goebbels too) occurred at the famous Beer Hall (Bürgerbraukeller) where the Nazi Party got started (NSDAP). Elser placed a bomb in a hollowed column next to the podium (by his own doing) on a timer and the timer was set to explode in mid-speech. In the mean time, unbeknownst to Elser, Hitler had canceled his speech and then later Hitler re-agreed to an earlier speaking time. The bomb did go off and killed eight people and injured sixteen seriously but Hitler was on a train to Berlin.

Johann Georg Elser just wanted to end the hate and the potential war. Oddly, Elser's motivation was that he felt that Hitler was going to take Germany to war again and he felt that Hitler really was going to do something about all the people that he spoke against (those who betrayed Germany in WWI, or that is where the hate would start). Oddly, ten days earlier, Hitler started WWII and during his speech Hitler initiated Kristallnacht (the night time roundup of Jews).

Johann Georg Elser was captured by the Gestapo and he was saved for a special trial that never occurred. He was tortured regularly as Goebbels never believed that he acted alone (as he only had a grade school education). Elser was imprisoned in Sachsenhausen (See Day 8) at first as a political prisoner and later at Dachau where he was singled out for assignation just before the Allied Armies arrived.

9 November, 1923 was the anniversary of the clash between Bavarian Police Force and an illegally organized march by the followers of Adolf Hitler. Johann Georg Elser reasoned that Hitler would show up for the anniversary of this event. Four Policemen and sixteen Marchers were killed and Göring was also wounded in this episode (leading to a lifelong dependence on pain medication and narcotics).
Dennis and Terry Struck having fun at the Feldherrnhalle. Dennis and Terry Struck having fun at the Feldherrnhalle.
Above: Dennis and Terry Struck having fun at the Feldherrnhalle (picture by Ray - Thanks!).

North facing photo at the Feldherrnhalle. North facing photo at the Feldherrnhalle.
Above: North facing photos at the Feldherrnhalle.

Plenty of construction and facade/face changing. Viewing east from the Promenadeplatz in Munich.
Above Left: Plenty of construction and facade/face changing on Munich's square efficient cement post war boxes.

Above Right: Viewing east from the Promenadeplatz in Munich.

The Frauenkirche roof line is the far roof. Tomb monument of Emperor Louis IV.
Above Left: We are on our way to see the Frauenkirche (Dom zu unserer lieben Frau or Cathedral of Our Dear Lady). The church is so big that we are already too close for a picture; The roof of the church is above the roof of the building in the at the end of this street; The roof that we are looking at here in this picture is for two different buildings; the far building is the church, it's HUGE!.

Above Right: Tomb monument of Emperor Louis IV, created by Hans Krumpper.

We are looking at a wing of the main church of Frauenkirche. Aluminium sculpture of Maximilian von Montgelas.
Above Left: We are looking at a wing of the main church. Frauenkirche of Munich is a Huge accomplishment considering that the church can hold 20,000 people and that it was started in 1468 and completed around 1488. The church was modeled on the design of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Above Right: Terry is holding the aluminum sculpture of Maximilian von Montgelas at the Promenadeplatz (created in 2005 by Karin Sander). Montgelas' importance in this role was only learned in recent history with the discovery of some unknown letters. Maximilian von Montgelas and Marshal Wrede (one of the statues at Feldherrnhalle) helped the King turn against Napoleon's Empire in 1814 (to return Bavaria to its own Monarchy).

Even the Police go Green in a Mini-Cooper. Terry and the Giant Catfish.
Above Left: Even the Police go Green in a Mini-Cooper.

Above Right: Terry and the Giant Catfish.

Frauenkirche (Munich): One of two Domes. Building with beautiful flower baskets.
Above Left: Frauenkirche: One of two Domes; no building structure in Munich is allowed to be taller than this church steeple.

Above Right: Building with beautiful flower baskets.

Dennis takes pictures of pretty glass colors. Wormland.
Above Left: Ray does some shopping while in town, Dennis takes pictures of pretty glass colors.

Above Right: Wormland; It is Theo Wormland's Last Name and it is primarily a Men's Fashion Store just in Munich, but they are opening a new store in Hanover.

Munich Rathaus.
Above: Munich Rathaus; there is a Green Movement Demonstration going on; we were asked in English if we wanted to help. Dennis took some pictures; the Demonstration consisted of making a big net (network) showing that we are all tied together. The kids were very well behaved and purposeful.

Green Movement Demonstration. Green Movement Demonstration.
Above: Green Movement Demonstration.

Green Movement Demonstration. Green Movement Demonstration.
My favorite interactive statue in Munich. Rathaus Apotheke/Pharmacie.
Above Left: My favorite interactive statue in Munich; we spent some time together.

Above Right: Rathaus Apotheke/Pharmacie.

Tunnel of conflicting signs. Nice Entry-Door Mats.
Above Left: Tunnel of conflicting signs. The bike sign with a red circle means NO Bikes allowed, period. The Bike Path and Bicycles indicate otherwise. I'm confused - BTW, it was Ray who had to point out all of the Humor to me.

Above Right: Nice Entry-Door Mats.

World Famous Hofbräuhaus.
Above: World Famous Hofbräuhaus. This location is Ground Zero in the entire world on 1 Oktober of each year, it is Oktoberfest central. We are here for Dinner.

Um-Pah, Oom-pah, Oompah or Umpapa Band. Um-Pah, Oom-pah, Oompah or Umpapa Band.
Above: Um-Pah, Oom-pah, Oompah or Umpapa Band.

Hofbräuhaus Patrons. Hofbräuhaus Patrons.
Above: Hofbräuhaus View and Patrons.

Terry and Ray find a table. Ray, Cheers.
Above Left: Terry and Ray find a table at the Hofbräuhaus.

Above Right: Ray, Cheers.

Hofbräuhaus menus. Hofbräuhaus menus.
Above: Hofbräuhaus menus; details below.

Hofbräuhaus History.
Above: Hofbräuhaus Story.

Hofbräuhaus Chronicles.
Hofbräuhaus Chronicles.
Above: Hofbräuhaus Chronicles.

What Terry and Ray ordered. What Dennis ordered.
Above Left: What Terry and Ray ordered.

Above Right: What Dennis ordered.

Pretzel Lady. Pretzel.
Above Left: Hofbräuhaus Pretzel Lady.

Above Right: Pretzel.

Hofbräuhaus sign. Hofbräuhaus sign.
Above: Hofbräuhaus signs.

Map of Munich.
Above: We are, more or less, following all of the pink trails; we are about half done. The Hofbräuhaus is on the right-side middle.

Deserts. Roof Architecture and Artwork.
Above Left: Hofbräuhaus Deserts.

Above Right: Hofbräuhaus Roof Architecture and Artwork.

Hofbräuhaus' Patron Bier Stein Storage Bar with Locks. Hofbräuhaus' Patron Bier Stein Storage Bar with Locks.
Above: Hofbräuhaus' Bier Stein Bar and Patron's Bier Stein Storage Bar with Locks.

the Orlando Haus. another Munich city street.
Above: Just a block away, the Orlando Haus and another city street.
Note: See the Pigeon caught in F-111 mode, flying straight away, located dead center of the Orlando Haus' Roof Triangle.

Isartor. Isartor.
Above: Isartorplatz München, Germany; Isar (River Name) Tor (Gate); it is one of the four main gates of the medieval city wall and only three remain (Isartor, Sendlinger Tor and Karlstor). We have a view from each side.

Homemade enclosed side by side tandem riding bicycle. Closeup of the enclosed riding bicycle.
Above Left: Homemade enclosed side by side tandem riding bicycle.

Above Right: Close-up of the enclosed riding bicycle. This bicycle has an electric assist and is very sophisticated.

Probably Tal Straße (Munich). The Victaulic Markt Platz (Munich).
Above Left: Probably Tal Straße (Munich).

Above Right: The Victaulic Markt Platz (Munich).

The Victaulic Markt Platz. Victaulic Markt Platz; hundreds of Pigeons on the roof.
Above Left: The Victaulic Markt Platz.

Above Right: East side of The Victaulic Markt Platz; hundreds of Pigeons on the roof.

Victaulic Markt Platz; Wooden Geese Flock. Victaulic Markt Platz; Blumen = Flowers.
Above Left: Victaulic Markt Platz; Wooden Geese Flock.

Above Right: Victaulic Markt Platz; Blumen (Flowers) Baur.

Colorful yard/haus decorations. Commerce signage pole of the area. Interesting knotted and preserved tree on the markt platz.
Above (L-R): Colorful yard/haus decorations; Commerce signage pole (Maibaum - Tree of May, learned from Ray);
Interesting knotted and preserved tree on the markt platz.

The Victaulic Markt Platz: Vegetables. Blumen Pflanzen.
Above Left: The Victaulic Markt Platz: Vegetables.

Above Right: Blumen Pflanzen (Flowers Plants).

Bavarian Dress Styles. Bavarian Dress Styles.
Above: Bavarian Dress Styles.

Interesting building (in southwest old town Munich). Interesting building (in southwest old town Munich).
Above: Interesting buildings (in southwest old town Munich). Later, I noticed that a police car happened to be in each picture.

Sendlinger Tor (southwest of old town Munich). Sendlinger Tor (southwest of old town Munich).
Above Left: Each side of Sendlinger Tor on the old city wall (southwest of old town Munich).

Munich building balcony placements and overlook. Munich building balcony placements and overlook.
Above: Look at the various balcony placements in this section of town (southwest old town Munich).

Asam Church. Asam Church.
Above: Asamkirche; St. Johann Nepomuk, better known as the Asam Church (German: Asamkirche), built 1733-1746 by the brothers Egid Quirin Asam and Cosmas Damian Asam as their personal church. The brothers were forced to make the church accessible to the general public. Egid was a sculptor and stuccoist and I assume that we are looking at his own works. It was the brother, Damian, that provided the property purchase for the church.

The Church has a feel like the Roslyn Church of Scotland. There are visual treats for the eye everywhere that one looks. The Church is long and narrow, perhaps an afterthought, as it attaches to the family residence. The church location's property became available after the residence property construction started. St. Johann Nepomuk had just been canonized (a 14th Century Bohemian Monk that had drowned in the River Danube).

View of the overhead ceiling in the Asamkirche. Possibly sculptures from Egid Quirin Asam.





Possibly sculptures from Egid Quirin Asam.
Above Left: View of the overhead ceiling in the Asamkirche (picture source from Sacred Destinations, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/Munich-asamkirche). There were people praying in the church when we arrived, so we were respectful with our picture taking from the back of the church.

Right Side: Possibly sculptures from Egid Quirin Asam.

Well crafted iron work (art) at the church entrance/narthex. Asamkirche: A view of the alter through the nave.
Above Left: Well crafted iron work (art) at the church entrance/narthex.

Above Right: A view of the alter through the nave.

Asamkirche; A view of the alter through the nave.
Above: Wow.

Terry asked me to take this picture.
Above: We visited a book store and Terry asked me to take this picture.

Hundskugel (Dog's Ball). a giant photograph is placed over the scaffolding.
Above Left: Hundskugel (Dog's Ball) with the Flag of Bavaria (Blue and White Diagonal Checkers with historical ties to the Catholic League's similar flag background).

Above Right: This form of construction is very common in Munich; a picture is taken of the old facility and the giant photograph of the building is placed over the scaffolding while the face of the building is re-modeled.

Karlstor and Karlsplatz. Karlstor and Karlsplatz.
Above: Karlstor and Karlsplatz on the old city wall (west-northwest of downtown Munich).

Karlsplatz area of Munich. Karlsplatz area of Munich.
Above: Karlsplatz area of Munich.

Karlsplatz area of Munich. Karlsplatz area of Munich.
Above: Karlsplatz area of Munich.

Impromptu Memorial for Michael Jackson.
Above: Impromptu Memorial for Michael Jackson at Promenadeplatz (about 50 meters west of Aluminum Man, above; we have walked full circle again). Michael Jackson had performed at Munich. The two Ladies on the back right were monitoring and managing the memorial and playing ipod music through a little amplifier.

we will refresh ourselves at the outdoor café. Hofbräuhaus.
Above Left: We are heading back to our parking garage but will stop at the end of this road and we will refresh ourselves at the outdoor café - Terry and Ray are in the foreground.

Above Right: Our vehicle is parked around the corner of the Hofbräuhaus (pictured here from yet another angle).


From here, in Munich/München, we will drive back to our place at Schwangau.
Tomorrow we will say Goodbye to Ray and then we will we drive northwest to Frankfurt
by way of the Weinstraße along the Black Forest side of the Rhine Valley.


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