In early December Lisa, Win, Jane and I whizzed to Munich to get ourselves into the festive spirit with some Christmas markets.
Friday night we hit Tollwood which is a more alternative Christmas market - organic and fair trade food and not really a Christmas decoration in sight. There were lots of people and a good atmosphere, kartoflepuffas (no idea how to spell it), gluhwein and bratwurst.
Saturday was a real highlight, we departed early on a bus tour to the Bavarian royal palaces high in the Alps. Ludwig's hunting lodge was a real surprise - relatively humble from the outside but inside, so amazingly opulent, a homage to the French sun king with even a mini hall of mirrors.
We stopped for a schnitzel and a shop in a cute village where we stocked up on decorations...
We heard the tragic story of King Ludwig and decided we were firmly on his side - outsted cos he was 'mad'? We decided just misunderstood. If only they had the foresight back then to see how many people Ludwig would attract to Bavaria with his dreamy castle Neuschwanstein. Only eight rooms were finished before Ludwig was taken away from there but they were pretty magical. He was quite the architect and decorator!
Saturday night we hit the more traditional markets and with a bit of patience we finally got into a traditional beer hall for a real Bavarian meal. Sunday was more markets (you can never have too many) before it was time to train to the airport, our bags clinking with our collection of mulled wine cups...
One of the world's most famous castles, Neuschwanstein
Welcome!
Reindeer skins were popular at the medieval market
There were some characters...
Very cute market at the Residenz
Decorations galore
A crepe, a bratwurst, a kartofflepuffa, a fruit kebab? What to have...
