As soon as we arrived in Munich, we knew that we had come on the right day. The entire city was in party mode. The Chelsea England Soccer team was playing the Bayer Munich team for the European championship. Usually I try to avoid crowds with the kids, but we were thrilled to be a part of this memorable event. People filled the streets in real leather lederhosen and the market place was packed with fans. Some grabbed us as we walked past, sharing their excitement in the form of hugs and photos. These gentlemen had clearly been celebrating German style, which I am sure included a few stines of beer!
Although the main excitement in the market was the impending game, there were still Germans selling their goods. White asparagus was in season as we passed through. We had ordered some the night before at the most authentic little German restaurant, so we were excited when we saw it in the market.
We stepped out of the crowds briefly to visit the Deutsches Museum which is the world's largest technology and science museum. I remember coming to this museum with my grandma when I was just eleven, so it was fun to revisit with my own children. The kids loved the airplanes and helicopters.
Before we left town, we fit in dinner at the Hofbrauhaus. This iconic beer hall took all of the excitement on the streets and put it under one roof. It was actually a little overwhelming for the little ones. The crowds were chanting for their teams, shouting German mixed with a few English words that I hoped the kids wouldn't pick up. We ordered our bratwurst, apple cider and sauerkraut, tried to listen to a little traditional um papa music and kept our eye out for the most authentic Germans in the hall.
We would have liked to have stayed in Munich a little longer, visiting some of the top sites, but the rambunctious crowds had taken over the city. We decided that although our experience in Munich really was about the celebrations, it was worth giving up a few landmarks for real European culture. I am sure that our day in Munich will always be remembered and European Football will have a new meaning for all of us. We snapped a few photos with the street performers on our way out of town, found our car and returned to the hotel to watch the soccer game on TV.
1 comment:
What a very fun day, celebrating the European soccer championship game! I agree, when some wonderful festival or event is taking over a city, it makes sense to make that the sightseeing focus. Dad and I were in Amsterdam when the Dutch played someone (France?) in a major soccer game. Orange balloons and banners were everywhere and we heard cheers into the night from who-knows-where! Mom
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