David was very keen to go see a real Christmas market so we met up with our friends the Warner family in Munich, one of the top-rated markets. It did not disappoint. While it had been completely blanketed with snow just 2 weeks prior (even closing the airport, which is well-equipped with a heated runway!), that had almost all melted (except for some lingering dirty piles the children adored) and we enjoyed crisp blue skies and appropriately chilly temps.
This trip was very short—just a day and a half—but we certainly accomplished our goal of getting in the Christmas spirit. Munich DOES Christmas. Every nook and cranny of every street and restaurant and shop was decorated to within an inch of its life.
We met up with Chris, Shar, Autumn, and Alex for breakfast at the Mozart Cafe. From there we strolled down a charming pedestrian street to Marienplatz, home to the main market. Along the way we picked up ceramic mugs and drank Gluweihn (hot mulled wine). Just after we reached the square is was noon, and the Rathaus-Glockenspiel did an approximately 15-minute long performance with moving parts and all.
After that the market was packed with wall-to-wall crowds so we strolled on out and over to do some ice-skating. Only the kids and I took part, but had a great time skating along to the American holiday classic music while David, Chris, and Shar enjoyed some beverages and weinershnitzel.
After that we climbed up the Frauenkirche cathedral towers for a spectacular 360-degree view of Munich and the Alps. We also stumbled across a Nativity scene made completely out of stones, which was rather creative.
Finally, we had a late lunch-early dinner at Augustiner Klosterwirt, a classic Bavarian-style restaurant served by staff in full regalia. David and Chris got liter-beers the size of their heads. After that, we were exhausted after a day with so many crowds and retired early. Shockingly, we only bought each maybe 1 Christmas ornament or something small. We were really there for the festive scene and people-watching.
On Sunday after breakfast we wandered up to Hofgarten, behind Resident München, where there was another clock display (apparently this happens hourly, or even every 15 minutes, depending on the clock!), some festive live music (Feliz Navidad on repeat, but in harmony and with a lot of enthusiasm!), and a really nice walk.
Next time we need to learn more about the history and visit the surrounding countryside…
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