round-the-world in 2005
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Sept 20 - Oct 1, 2005
We only visited a small part of what we had planned for Germany, but to be in Munich during Oktoberfest would have to be the best part.

20 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Oktoberfesting
We stocked up at the hostels all you can eat breakfast before our train to Munich. With Clare still carrying both backpacks, we easily found our friends place, a short metro ride from the main train station. We headed straight into town to explore the old town centre, which like all European cities has a good collection of elaborate buildings from times past. We headed into the Oktoberfest with our German friends we met in Belize many months ago. After a couple of one litre jugs of beer, and some schnapps, we soon got into the swing of things. We were in a mostly german tent, and it was great to see all the locals dressed in their traditional costumes, and dancing on the tables.

21 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
More drinking in Munchin
We went for a nice stroll in the large English Garden, had a picnic lunch, then explored the Deutsches Museum for a couple of hours. It is a science and technology museum, which we both enjoyed the hands on chemistry and physics displays. Makes a change from art and antiquities. In the evening we went back to Oktoberfest. We were locked out of the tent we wanted to visit, so we headed to the Aussie tent, which is full of 6000 drunken Australians. It was uncomfortable at first being sober, but it only takes one beer, when they are one litre, to join the in the fun. Everyone was so friendly.

22 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Munching in Munich
After a couple of days of touring and partying, Robs back has stopped its slow improvement, requiring another visit to the doctor. He rested today while Clare headed out to another palace to wander in the gardens. It was a great day for it, blue sky for a change, and a little warmer. In the evening we took a break from beer drinking, instead Clare cooked up a chili feast for some friends of our host who came over.

23 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
A new travel partner
Rob visited another doctor, which gave not so good news... a recommendation that he get a MRI and stay longer for follow up treatment. So we will be staying around a while more, luckily we are staying with friends. Clare went exploring with an Australian guy (Tim) we met at Oktoberfest, to Neuschwanstein Palace, which is a 2 hour train journey from Munich. We only just made the train as Tim was late. The little lake side village has the Palace that King Ludwig II grew up in, as well as his own fairytale castle built way up on a hill. What a spectacular site. This place is so picturesque it is made into jigsaw puzzles.

24 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Grand Final day
Last night we learned of a place to watch the AFL grand final here in Munich. A little bar near town was showing it at 6.30am this morning. We jumped on Anja’s bikes and rode over to the pub, which was packed with a couple of hundred Aussies, mostly West Coast supporters. Clare couldn’t help but have a beer, for tradition. It seemed that the majority of people had come straight from Oktoberfest celebrations, and were already drunk, and fired up for the game. It was an exciting game but disappointing finish! Our host, Anja, was going for a bush walk today, so after the game we joined her and a friend Leonie for a trip to the mountains of Bavaria, south of Munich. The walk started near a lake and ventured up to a cabin in the hills. Beautiful surroundings, and again some lovely weather. We didn’t make it all the way, so we spent some time soaking up the sun with a good book.

25 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Lake visit
Another lovely day in Munich, so we took the opportunity to visit one of the nearby lakes. We caught a train to the lake and walked around part of it to the next train station. It was very busy, but once we got a little further from the station and town it was very pleasant by the lake. Funnily enough of all the people we know in Munich (all of around 4) we bumped into someone we know, Toni, Anja’s friend who we also met in Belize! What a small world. We ventured back to the Oktoberfest ‘meadow’ to have a look at the place during the day time. Walking the lanes of the festival is much different to the inside of the beer hall. There are loads of rides, souvenir stores and eateries between the beer tents. Clare went on a ride, and Rob purchased a t-shirt as a souvenir.

26 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Dinner party
This morning we were waiting for the insurance company to get back to us regarding the coverage for all the medical expenses. They are very slow at giving us any information, so we put off following up the recommendations from the doctor. Clare did some birthday shopping for Rob’s special day coming up. In the evening we were very sophisticated and had a dinner party, which is something we haven’t done for a while. Toni came over and we shared some photos from our time in Belize.

27 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Day of doctors
Today we had 3 consecutive appointments with specialists, so we pretty much just sat in doctors' waiting rooms all day. At least we are moving forward with Rob’s treatment.

28 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Rob’s birthday
What a special day... we visited the Museum of Modern Art in the morning, then went to an all you can eat sushi train. Yummo! On the way home we bought a present for our host who has been marvelous, and picked up some traditional apple strudel for dessert.

29 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
More Oktoberfest
Today we did some more shopping for Rob’s birthday, lucky boy! In the evening Clare visited Oktoberfest with Anja and Leonie. We were lucky to get into a tent, as they get very full and close quite early. Luckily Anja was in the know and had some connections! Another happy night of drinking litre beers. At the end of the night, Clare didn’t get told not to take that beer mug outside... so now she has a souvenir as well!

30 Sep 2005 Munich, Germany
Traditional dinner
Today we pretty much did nothing - we are still waiting for the insurance company to give us some feedback. Anja’s boyfriend Olivier arrived back from Japan as a surprise this evening, so we took them both out to dinner at the nearby Augustiner beer hall for a traditional Bavarian dinner of dumplings and white beer.

01 Oct 2005 Munich, Germany
Revelation
We cannot stay at Anja’s for much longer so we have decided to go to England were we have friends to stay with while Rob gets better. We spent most of the day trying to find a cheap way to get there. We are leaving Munich at 8.30 tonight on a flight London town. It feels great to have a plan again after all this waiting. It has been fantastic staying in Munich with Anja though, who has been a wonderful host, and we have discovered quite a lot of Munich’s beautiful sights. We caught our not so cheap flight from Munich to Stansted Airport, not far from Cambridge. We caught the one hour train to Cambridge, where Pete was waiting for us to take us to what will be our new home for the next couple of weeks.
next we fly back to London, UK.