Dreary rainy day in Munich. We started the day at the Neue Pinokotek art museum, which was very nice. It had a bunch of Romantic and Impressionist paintings, including a few Van Goghs, Monets, and that wonderful one by Walter Crane with the waves crashing on the beach as horses, "Neptune's Horses."
Next we had lunch of brats and kraut at a beer garden, after failing to find anything like a grocery store. Lonely Planet listed a couple "self catering" options that turned out to be anything but cheap. Leading us to ask, not for the first time, if the author of the German section had ever actually been here. We also saw a pretty cool clock that we didn't have any info about.
After lunch we toured the Residenz and Treasury. The treasury was excellent, including the royal scepters and crowns, medals of honor (such as the Order of the Golden Fleece) and crystal ware. That stuff that looks like etched glass is actually carved rock crystal. And would you take a look at that travel toiletry set!
The Residenz was seat of Bavarian rule. The tour was long and extensive, and we were palaced-out by the end of it. However, the palace was extraordinary. We toured through a variety of bedchambers, antechambers, the audience room and others.
This is the hall that was built to house the sculpture collection.
The best part of the whole place was this dinning room with an amazing Trompe L'oeil ceiling. It looks a little funny if you are off center, but from near the middle of the room it's completely believable. Except that as you move your head back and forth it looks like the building is shaking and about to fall in on you. Anyway, it was awesome.
Also, is this Versailles in Germany?
Afterwards, we headed over to Englisher Gardens, a huge city park. As it was a cloudy day, the park was seeing little use (the promised nude sunbathers weren't there). The ducks were out in full force however, especially near the large pond the garden sported. There were beer gardens within the park, and people were watching the World Cup.
We also found this cool clock. Did the engineer from Venice get away?
Oh, yeah, and you'd never guess the holy book provided for us at the hotel. The life and teachings of Buddha.
Oh, yeah, and one final cool thing about Munich? There are two sidewalks most places.
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If only I knew you were here - I love to see my city through others eyes. We also did an around the world trip.
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