Saturday, February 19, 2011

Europe 2010 Day 5 - Munich - Final Oktoberfest


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30 Sep 2010

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

Hofbräu tent
Long queue in front of the Hofbräu tent before it's open

Hacker Festzelt tent
We settled on the Hacker Festzelt tent, unlike the Fischer Vroni tent we visited few days ago, the staff here is less friendly.

Hacker Festzelt tent
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

Hacker-Pschorr beer
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.

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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Europe 2010 Day 4 - Salzburg - Schloss Hellbrunn & Around the City


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29 Sep 2010

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.


Overview of the Salzburg Salzach Cruise route. View in a larger map


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

trick fountains, 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

trick fountains, bird cave
Bird cave, all bird sounds are made by water


Video of the chirping in the bird cave


Trapped!


Stuck again


Watch out!

trick fountains, town hall scene
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
Schloss Hellbrunn Gardens


Pink roses


Long bed of red flowers


Orange flowers


Purple flowers

Schloss Hellbrunn Gardens, Sound of Music Gazebo
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
Hohensalzburg from Schloss Mirabell


The flower patterns


Strange statues supposedly based on mythology

Schloss Mirabell Garden fountain
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

Augustiner Brewery at Mülln
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 Lagerbier Hell
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!

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