This is our last morning in Munich before we headed out to Nuremburg. Not wanting to waste the price we paid for our hotel due to Oktoberfest, we decided to return for one last time.
Taking the U-bahn to Theresienwiesen station
The bird's eye view of Theresienwiesen where Oktoberfest is held every year.
View larger
Long queue in front of the Hofbräu tent before it's open
We settled on the Hacker Festzelt tent, unlike the Fischer Vroni tent we visited few days ago, the staff here is less friendly.
The Hacker Festzelt Tent in the morning at about 9:30am
The large kitchens
Beer points, there are four of these
No Smoking Sign, this is the first Oktoberfest that is smoke-free
Loads of grilled chicken at the back
Specialty grilled chicken, apple juice and Hacker-Pschorr beer
Always amazed at how many they can carry
Some morning songs
This is the third litre this person is swallowing. Unfortunately, unlike his first two litres, he couldn't finish it leading to some jeers from the crowd.
Around 11am, packed at the walk-in area
People pouring out from a subway station at around noon as we were leaving
Crazy crowds as we were leaving at around noon
The six beers that are allowed to be sold in Oktoberfest.
It's goodbye to Oktoberfest. Next, we are heading north to Nuremberg, a nice town that still retains its medieval walls.
After visiting parts of the city, we went back to the jetty by the river for the Salzach river cruise. The cruise takes us somewhere near the Schloss Hellbrunn (Hellbrunn Palace) where some bus will take us to the palace itself. Hellbrunn was built in 1613-19 CE by Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, in the Baroque style. It is a day use summer palace with no bedrooms. The main attraction of the palace is the trick fountains in the gardens -- the many mechanisms that spray water and are operated by water. The cruise and subsequent entry into Schloss Hellbrunn is covered by the Salzburg Card.
While waiting for the cruise, the jetty is in fact a bar and they serve cocktails from far away like the Singapore Sling.
One of the nice buildings along the river. I'm not sure what it is
University of Salzburg
Houses by the Salzach River
Destination of cruise, from here a bus takes us to Schloss Hellbrunn
At the castle, walking to a side entrance where the trick fountain tour starts
Ticket for the trick fountains, free with the Salzburg Card. If you do not wish to view the trick fountains and would rather be surprised when you get there, click here to skip this section.
Up ahead the infamous beer table
The infamous table where the Archbishop entertained his guests with beer
Sleep while having your beer and this is what happens, the only dry seat is the Prince Archbishop's
Video of the table in action
The ceiling of one of the many Grottos here
Grotto with face sticking out tongue
The tongue in action
Bird cave, all bird sounds are made by water
Video of the chirping in the bird cave
Trapped!
Stuck again
Watch out!
The entire moving town scene, powered by water mechanisms complete with background music
The entire thing is water powered!
Water powered rising hat
You will not get wet as long as the cap is in the air
Another grotto, surrounds the flying hat
Watch out again!
They are so small it is hard to see them
Schloss Hellbrunn Gardens
Pink roses
Long bed of red flowers
Orange flowers
Purple flowers
The gazebo featured in one of the scenes in the Sound of Music film.
The main building, there's an exhibit in here which we'll visit.
The Chinese room
Decorated roof
One of the heavily painted rooms
Small castle built in a year at a whim on an opposite hill
Leaving the castle, heading back to town
Back in town
At the famous Schloss Mirabell Gardens, the palace was built in 1606 CE and the statues of mythological characters since 1730 CE.
Very nice gardening
Hohensalzburg from Schloss Mirabell
The flower patterns
Strange statues supposedly based on mythology
The garden fountain and the palace building behind
Panorama view fo the front entrance to the garden
The Morzart chocolates sold everywhere here. I heard it doesn't taste so good so we didn't buy any.
Clock at the side of the Salzburg Cathedral
The New Residence
Inside the Salzburg Cathedral
The Cathedral Dome
Organ
A roof panel
Morzart's Residence
Some famous cake
Sunset
On the way to the Augustiner Bräustübl Tavern at Mülln. The Augustiner brewery was founded at the same location by Augustinian monks in 1621 CE. They brew beer using old methods. For some reason, we found the rear entrance to the tavern.
Map of the beer tavern relative to the city centre. View Larger
Grab your mug, pay its volume, get your Bräustübl beer from the barrel, drink, rinse, repeat
At the tavern's beerhall with my litre of beer in a stone mug
Beer warmer, the beer here tastes better when it is warmer
Food stalls
Spiral shaped horse radish!
Nice peppered sausages
The seemingly rear entrance
Our Railjet ride back to Munich
Back in the Munich Hauptbahnhof, an Oktoberfest casualty
The Munich Augustiner, every convenience store is packed full of it for those who haven't got enough at Oktoberfest
So ends our day trip from Munich to the UNESCO city of Salzburg. Indeed it was one of the nicest cities I have visited. The Salzburg Card is a very reasonable price for the number of attractions it covers. Tonight will be our last in Munich and we will be headed to Nuremburg tomorrow. But not before a final stint at Oktoberfest in the morning!
