A moment in Munich

A moment in Munich

"Everyday the City's central Marienplatz square is crammed with onlookers, they're watching one of the city's most loved oddities, the Munich Glockenspiel" -Stuart Anderson

As I stood with the mini tour group in front of the huge New Town hall (So called) , its 19TH century demeanour looking tired and aged yet it towered over the square with such power and poise, it's architectural beauty evident in the dazzling sun.

Having endured a very tiring 13 hour train journey crossing 4 countries yesterday, I'd opted for the pleasant sounding free tour arranged with Wombat's Munich- The City Hostel.

After all, which part of Sample a Bratwurst and local Bavarian beer at the Local Farmer's market doesn't sound appealing?

I stood in the bustling square, the famous Glockenspiel like an abandoned fairground ride, silent and eerie, waited patiently for its cue.

It awoke from its slumber and with rickety movements, performed 2 separate dances- re-enactments of stories from the 16TH century, its 43 bells and 32 life sized figures provided quite a spectacle for locals and tourists alike.

The first story depicts and celebrates the marriage of the Local Duke Wilhelm V to Renata of Lorraine with a joust.

The second story symbolises the myth of the plague in 15TH century Munich, the figures representing this perform a dance, said to" bring fresh vitality to fearful dispositions" Originally the dance was performed through the streets of Munich and as tradition, is performed every 7 years.

I, like the crowd enjoyed the spectacle so much I'd built quite an appetite.

A short walk and minimal queuing, we stood in the Farmer's market, I bought 2 very valuable possessions- a bottle of beer and a bratwurst.

Both exceeded my expectations- as I hungrily took my first bite, steam filled my face and mouth along with an explosion of mouth-watering herbs and meat so tender, complimented beautifully by the soft roll wrapped protectively around it and the ketchup finishing it off nicely.

The beer, ice cold and refreshing on the taste-buds, left me in a merry little bubble at an astonishing 6% volume.

'Are you ready to continue walking guys?

Helena our tour guide rounded us up

"I'm going to show you 'The Devil's footprint' "

'The devil's footprint' is a distinctive footprint in a tile at the entrance to Fraukirche cathedral.

The building began construction in 1468 by architect Jorg Halsbach spanning 20 years.

With its stunning Gothic exterior the building towers proudly over the city, but due to WWII air raids in 1944 the building required restoration, the price was too much for the architect so the story goes that he made a deal with the devil- The devil shall fund the restoration and in return there shall be no windows in the cathedral.

But oh how the devil was tricked- he entered the cathedral to be enveloped by pure darkness and was satisfied there were no windows, then a step further a window appears at the far end of the building. The devil stamped his foot in fury and flew out of the cathedral in rage, his footprint remains.

With the sun showering us in warmth we wandered around to the Hofbrauhaus- a beer house established in 1589 by the local Duke Wilhelm V whose recipe for the famous beer is used to this day, also a home to when the Nazi party held functions and declared policies and famously visited by Wolfgang Mozart, John F Kennedy and Marcel Duchamp thus making the hall a must visit.

A very quick visit into the beer hall, we found ourselves engulfed in 400 years of history and my favourite part- the sampling of a freshly poured steiner of15th century Bavarian beer which for my tiny being, required a ladder to approach. Needless to say, the content of the icy dimpled glass propelled me back to my cloud of merriment.

To round off the tour we walked around to the central square, home of the Glockenspiel.

In total contrast to its earlier performance it stood quietly, eerily like it was sleeping, far from a centrepiece of entertainment that millions plan their visits to Munich around.