Week 3: Our 2019 Europe/UK adventure
17/11/19: An early start this morning as we had quite a drive; we ate breakfast, packed the car and were off before 8am! We took the A171 across the top of the moors, where the only towns are bypassed, soon reaching the M1A, which feeds into the M1 and took us south. We reached Andrew and Hilda’s house at Flore about midday and took a walk along the Grand Union Canal for a late Sunday roast lunch at “The Narrowboat Inn” overlooking the canal. Later, as darkness fell, we walked home along the narrow roads, needing a torch as there were no street lights! That night we sat and talked for hours, forsaking dinner for cheese and crackers - we were all too full from our magnificent lunch.
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| Two wise monkeys? |
18/11/19: We woke to a clear but chilly day. A lie in was followed by a walk around the village and a late breakfast. Later we drove to Stoke Bruehn, on the Grand canal, where we walked along the towpath, passing numerous boats locked up and tied against the banks, and a few cruising along and passing through the many locks along the way. We stopped for lunch at the Boat Inn, a popular stopping point on the canal. Later we drove home for a quiet afternoon and a delicious home cooked dinner.
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| The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruehn |
19/11/19: Breakfast at Blisworth this morning, followed by a walk and morning tea in Towcester. Home for lunch then a drive to Bracksley, a pretty little village with a couple of large private schools! On to Silverstone, where the Grand Prix track is, then home to change before an Indian dinner in Towcester.
20/11/19: After breakfast it was time to pack up, farewell Andrew and Hilda, and move on, first to Stoke Bruerne to visit the Canal Boat Museum, then onto the Fancott Inn, in Toddington, for a delicious dinner. Time to drive to the airport, get rid of the car and catch the plane to Munich! We arrived just after 8pm, caught the train to Karlsplatz, then walked up the stairs and into the hotel - very convenient!! After unpacking, we went two doors away to a Munich Hofbrauhaus, “35mm”, for a light dinner and a couple of drinks, before going to bed.
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| The view from Alter Peter, Munich |
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| Munich Rathaus |
21/11/19: We had a short walk around the block, stopping at Aldi to buy some juice and bread for breakfast. Today is going to be a big walking day! We are in such a great location, just outside the Karlstor, where the old city of Munich begins. We walked along the mall, admiring the buildings’ Christmas decorations, and on to Marienplatz, watching the workers setting up the Christmas markets, which open next Wednesday :-( We marvelled at the “Rathaus” (town hall), with its beautiful stone work and watched the chimes and puppetry at 11:00. We climbed the 14 storeys up the tower of Alter Peter, where we saw the whole city set out before us, and walked around Frauenkirke, the beautiful Church of our lady. We wandered around the Viktuallmarkt, admiring the stalls of meat, small goods, fish, flowers and vegetables. As midday passed, we made our way to the Hofbrauhaus for lunch - sausages, washed down with Bier and Rotwein and accompanied by an oompah band. Fantastic! Later we walked past The Residence, with another beautiful Christmas market already open, into the Hofgarten and onto the English Garden before retracing our steps through the city and back to our hotel for a well-earned rest! Later as darkness fell, we walked back into the city for dinner at Augustine, another beer hall and restaurant. On our way home we stopped to listen to Scherzo, a classical group busking in the shopfront. Their music was beautiful!
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Scherzo
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| The Residenz |
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| Munich shops by night |
22/11/19: We rose late, had a quick walk to pick up our breakfast, then got organised for the day. We walked around the old botanic gardens before heading to the Hauptbahnhof to meet Petra, coming from Nuremberg. It was a very happy reunion! We dropped her case at our hotel, then made our way into town, wandering along the main thoroughfare as we caught up on all our news. We stopped for lunch at the Ratskeller, under the town hall. Later, Martin left us to walk around the shops, although we did more talking than shopping but it was nice to see all the Christmas specialties. We met up again at 4:30 and wandered a bit more, before having an early dinner so that Petra could catch a train and meet Detmar. Before going home we enjoyed an evening drink back at Augustiner, in the Bierhall, then we lingered in front of our favourite classical busking group, watched some ice skating in the rink near Karlsplatz, then made our way home to bed.
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| Concert at the Residenz |
23/11/19: After another short walk and our “usual” Aldi breakfast, then we walked through the city to meet Petra and Detmar - another happy reunion! Today Detmar was our “tastes of Munich” guide, starting with a brunch at Schneider Brauhaus - traditional Bavarian Weisswurst and beer (for the men, anyway!). Then we were off on our first adventure, a train and bus ride to Nymphenburg Palace, a magnificent complex away from the city which was home to many royals, including Ludwig ll. We wandered through the extensive gardens past magnificent waterways which would be beautiful in the summer when the fountains are running. After a reviving drink at the Palm house, we walked back to catch the bus to the city again, where we wandered around to find another of Detmar’s favourite Brauhauses - some have changed or disappeared since he was a young student in the city! Finally we stopped at Hacker-Pschorr, where there has been a brewery for 500 years! We enjoyed some traditional Bavarian hors d’ourves including salami, Schmaltz (goose fat) and Obatzda (a delicious cheese dip), with a drink, of course! Revived, we walked to the Residenz, another extensive royal house, where we listened to a string trio in the Hofkapelle. They played a beautiful selection of classical music, including Vivaldi, Mozart and Rossini’s “Barber of Seville”. It was fabulous! We returned through the city streets and stopped for dessert at Donisl before bidding our tour guides farewell for the day and returning for a well earned sleep.
Sue and Petra enjoying life
Four friends in a Munich Brauhaus
17/11/19: An early start this morning as we had quite a drive; we ate breakfast, packed the car and were off before 8am! We took the A171 across the top of the moors, where the only towns are bypassed, soon reaching the M1A, which feeds into the M1 and took us south. We reached Andrew and Hilda’s house at Flore about midday and took a walk along the Grand Union Canal for a late Sunday roast lunch at “The Narrowboat Inn” overlooking the canal. Later, as darkness fell, we walked home along the narrow roads, needing a torch as there were no street lights! That night we sat and talked for hours, forsaking dinner for cheese and crackers - we were all too full from our magnificent lunch.
23/11/19: After another short walk and our “usual” Aldi breakfast, then we walked through the city to meet Petra and Detmar - another happy reunion! Today Detmar was our “tastes of Munich” guide, starting with a brunch at Schneider Brauhaus - traditional Bavarian Weisswurst and beer (for the men, anyway!). Then we were off on our first adventure, a train and bus ride to Nymphenburg Palace, a magnificent complex away from the city which was home to many royals, including Ludwig ll. We wandered through the extensive gardens past magnificent waterways which would be beautiful in the summer when the fountains are running. After a reviving drink at the Palm house, we walked back to catch the bus to the city again, where we wandered around to find another of Detmar’s favourite Brauhauses - some have changed or disappeared since he was a young student in the city! Finally we stopped at Hacker-Pschorr, where there has been a brewery for 500 years! We enjoyed some traditional Bavarian hors d’ourves including salami, Schmaltz (goose fat) and Obatzda (a delicious cheese dip), with a drink, of course! Revived, we walked to the Residenz, another extensive royal house, where we listened to a string trio in the Hofkapelle. They played a beautiful selection of classical music, including Vivaldi, Mozart and Rossini’s “Barber of Seville”. It was fabulous! We returned through the city streets and stopped for dessert at Donisl before bidding our tour guides farewell for the day and returning for a well earned sleep.
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