Germany Tips and Surprising Facts

Oktoberfest 2018

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, is a once in a lifetime experience where you can feast on local food and beer. Plus you can listen to music, dance, or check out the carnival rides and booths.

Most importantly, the 2018 Oktoberfest runs from Saturday, September 22, to Sunday, October 7. Additionally, check out my photos from the 2017 Oktoberfest and pack your bags for Oktoberfest 2018.

Beer

Germans drink beer like others eat food.  In worldwide beer consumption, not only is Germany ranked number three, but they are also tied with Austria.

During your visit, sample the local beer and tour a brewery like Hofbrau. Moreover, the beer that we had sampled at various locations was not too filling, though breweries sold robust brew for those that prefer a heavier beer.

Beer Halls

For an authentic Bavarian experience, try Zum Augustiner and dine with the locals. Patrons sit at long tables that can hold 20 plus people, making it not only a dining experience but also a social event. Customers converse with their neighbors while they dine on substantial portions of dumplings or meat doused in gravy. As a result of the heavy food, you might prefer a light-bodied beer.

Nudity in Munich’s English Garden or Englische Garten

Leave the city behind and enter Munich’s English Garden that rates as one of the largest parks in the world. You can walk, jog, or bike on the pedestrian path, stop in the Japanese teahouse, catch a football game, or watch the surfers ride the river.

If the weather is warm, don’t be surprised if you see nudists in the park. Most importantly, nudity is cultural and welcomed at designated public parks, swimming pools, beaches, and saunas. Also, if you are clothed in a “textile free” location, an authority figure may ask you to undress.

Three-Story Slide in the University of Technology in Munich

Another option is to stop by Munich’s University of Technology on a weekday.  Not only had the efficient-savvy Germans developed a functional piece of art but it’s also a sliding board. The sliding board transports students from the third floor to the first within seconds. Most noteworthy is that visitors are welcome to give it a try.

Car loyalty is a lifestyle in Germany, and it’s not uncommon for adult children to choose the same make of car as their parents. Furthermore, the Mercedes-Benz Museum capitalizes on this loyalty by offering hands-on-design opportunities and activities for children and their families.

Car competition is stiff, and some car brands made in Germany include Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Opel, Porsche, BMW, and Volkswagen. While traveling, look for cars covered in camouflage. Notably, when manufacturers test prototypes, they disguise their design from the competition.

Also, when you climb in a taxicab, chances are it’s a Mercedes-Benz.

 Mary’s Square or Marienplatz  Honors the Virgin Mary

 

Marienplatz Town Square offers an excellent place to shop or drop by a cafe for a bite. Additionally, check out the golden sculpture of Mary that was created in 1590. You can’t miss her standing on the pedestal in front of the New Town Hall.

 New Town Hall or Neues Rathaus

While in Marienplatz, note the famous glockenspiel on New Town Hall. The bells chime reminiscent of a xylophone while figurines, emblematic of Bavarian historic figures, revolve around balconies marking the time. Come to New Town Hall at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. daily, and 5 p.m. from March to October to watch the figurines dance.

Maypoles

Maypoles date back to the 13th century when illiteracy was prevalent. Uniquely, each maypole is distinctive and portrays the borough’s trades and crafts.

Victualienmarkt

Beer, produce, vegetables, a carousel, and Germans dancing and playing music decorate the maypole at Victualienmarkt. The maypole indicates that it is a place to shop, dine, and dance to the featured band.

Ultimately, this is the perfect place to peruse the outdoor market and immerse yourself in the culture. You will find local meat, cheese, sausage, condiments, flowers, herbs, and home decor. After you finish shopping, stop in the beer garden for refreshment.

Bavaria  Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles

Explore Bavaria and tour Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. On your drive, view red-roofed villages encased in the emerald scenery with the white-tipped Alps as a backdrop.

If you can take your eyes off the countryside, notice that many homes are attached to barns. Moreover, connecting the buildings enables the farmers to avoid Bavaria’s severe weather when they access the barn to work and feed the animals.

Bavaria Wies Church or Wieskirche 

Visit the Bavarian Rococo style Pilgrimage Church of Wies. Most importantly, in 1738, a relic of Jesus the Scourged Savior was reported to have shed tears, and pilgrims streamed to visit “the miracle of tears in the Wies.”

Furthermore, in 1745, to accommodate the crowds, construction had begun on the Wies pilgrimage church, and that same year the bishop established a commission to investigate the miracle. The group determined that they could not deny or confirm the event and concluded that it was a matter of opinion.

Today, pilgrims travel the world to pray to the statue of the Scourged Savior displayed in the Wies Church sanctuary.

Autobahn

Also, while in Germany, drive the autobahn. In congested areas, signs post a recommended speed limit usually between 68 and 80 mph, though there are stretches where the driver chooses his speed.

Most noteworthy, the left or fast lane is for passing. If a car approaches in the left lane, the vehicle ahead moves over. Isn’t that something new and different?

Conclusion

Generally speaking, there is plenty to do in Bavaria. Visitors can dine, shop, visit historic castles like Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, and absorb the magnificent countryside. Germany, with its many points of interest, is an excellent destination for young and old alike.

With that said, what is your favorite place to visit in Bavaria? Do you have one that I didn’t mention?

Related Posts

Neuschwanstein Castle

Octoberfest Munich, Germany

http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/naked-germany/index.html?gallery=0

http://www.muenchen.de/int/en/shopping/markets/viktualienmarkt.htl