It’s that time of year again, where everybody amazingly gets exited about the ending of one year and the beginning of another; and of course the fact that we are all a year older and have 1 year less to live! Well as we have tried to do over the past few years, except for the slight blip last year, is to try to visit a different City for the New Year celebrations, and take in some of their enthusiasms. As part of our festive trip of good will, I managed to wet my palette with some divine beers from Bristol, Brussels, Mitterteich and Hamburg whilst on my travels to and from our planned New Year celebrations in Munich.
 

I arrived in Germany to a snow covered Mitterteich

The main street in Mitterteich, with the Stadt Kirche and Rathaus

Robert & Korina

The German / Czech border town of Waldsassen, where we passed through the border control to Svaty Kriz in the Czech republic

Behind the Lines

Some traditional Bavarian Villages and Homes

The Kirche seen from all directions..

On Autobahn 99, heading to Munich...

I saw the Sign...

The Allianz Arena

The brand new 66,000 seater stadium (the Alliance Arena) is the new home of both Munich’s 1st division football clubs (FC Bayern München and TSV 1860 München). The unique stadium is capable to change colour depending on which team is playing there (Bayern – red, 1860 – blue), and will host a number of games during the 2006 World Cup

Arrival at the Holiday Inn Munich

Karlsplatz

McDonalds, Karlstor, and on the western side of Karlsplatz (Stachus) is the neobaroque Justiz-Palast (Palace of Justice)

The Ice Rink at Karlsplatz

Robert & Korina at the Muenchener Eiszauber (Munich Ice Magic), which is Munich's
largest open air ice rink

Korina at the Schranenhalle

Looking east across the Marienplatz towards the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), past the Mariensäule (St Mary's Column). The old town hall dates back to 1474, and the south tower holds the city's toy museum

St Mary's Column was erected in 1638 to celebrate the city being spared by both invading Swedish forces and the Plague. At its top stands a figure of the Virgin Mary

Looking south in the Odeonsplatz towards the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshal's Hall). Odeonsplatz was the site of the unsuccessful 1923 Beer Hall Putsch by the Nazis, which landed Hitler in jail. A plaque on the ground in the south-eastern corner of the square commemorates the four Bavarian policemen who died in the battle with Hitler's men

On the western side of the Odeonsplatz is Theatinerkirche St Kajetan, built between 1663 and 1690, to commemorate the conception of Prince Max Emanuel. When I visited in January 2002, the interior was undergoing extensive refurbishment
 

Korina on Maximilianstraße

Robert in Ayinger

A night of Pascha...

I have to be honest, I was totally disappointed with the New Year celebrations that took place in Munich. It was the first time that I had spent the New Year there, even though I used to live in the region for a couple of years, and have spent many a good time there, including many visits to the Oktoberfest, Fruhlingsfest, Chriskindlemarkt, Tollwood… the list is endless; though I have to say, it will certainly be the last time that I spend New Year there. Unfortunately a large number of the City bars were closed on New Years Eve, with only Restaurants being open with reservations for those whom wish to be sat down filling their faces for 5 hours or so. Obviously there were quite a few nightclubs open, but I mean these places in Munich don’t tend to get started until after 1am, so it is a bit of a wait after your evening meal. Luckily we did manage to get around this disability put upon us, but it was certainly not as easy going as I had anticipated and certainly not great fun. New Years Day was not any better either…

The Hofbraühaus

Robert outside the Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten
on Maximilianstrasse

The Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten is an elegant luxury grand hotel which was built in 1858. Its central location among the exclusive shopping addresses, theatres and the Opera House along the Maximilianstrasse is especially admired by its guests The hotel is situated in the cultural and artistic centre of the city of Munich. The most impressive museums, the magnificent opera building and the most exclusive business addresses are all in the immediate vicinity. And if you fancy a walk in the park, the English Garden is just around the corner

Robert & Korina

Volksbad "the Peoples Bath"

Isartor

Im Tal

On New Year the main town square at Marienplatz was totally rammed with Italians come midnight, and it was very reminiscent of the Oktoberfest that took place a couple of months back… and was just as annoying. Marienplatz was basically jam packed with idiotic drunken Itai’s shooting fireworks at people, and generally acting with their usual disrespect for any other person whom happens to be within the vicinity

As part of the disappointment of the New Year Celebrations was the sheer disbelief of watching thousands of people setting off fireworks in the streets, including so called adults throwing bangers and other flammable items at other people, and parents actively encouraging their children to light a firework whilst holding it in their hand. And this was not only the Italians, but the ever responsible Germans too. It was an absolutely crazy sight to behold, and something I thought that I would never see within a civilised City of Europe. I was also completely baffled by the fact that apparently it is totally legal to set off fireworks in public places in Germany and many other European Countries too. I know us Brits seem to be living in a more Policed state nowadays, but I am grateful for one thing, at least we do not have this madness on our streets… or do we!

The Snowy Glockenspiel at the Neue Rathaus

The highlight of the Neues Rathaus is the Glockenspiel on its main tower. Four times per day (three in Summer) the apparatus springs into action - as shown in the right hand picture. The upper level of the Glockenspiel shows a Ritterturnier (knight's tournament), held in 1568 to celebrate the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V. The lower level shows the Schäfflertanz (Cooper's dance) which is held in the city every seven years. The Glockenspiel action is accompanied by a tinny recording of the bells

Just time for an Irish Coffee at Cafe Rischardt before heading off to the Airport

The twin towers of the Frauenkirche, topped by the distinctive oxidised copper domes, as seen from the pedestrianised Kaufingerstrasse. The 99-metre-high towers also serve as the upper limit on new buildings constructed in the Altstadt of the city of Munich

You just can't hold a candle up to the decorations at Hirmer...

Ice Ice Baby...

Löwen Parade

I don't know if any of you believe in fate... but the sight of 3 lions stood firm in Munich, gives me a a slight inclination that maybe it will be England's name on this years World Cup, I mean 3 silver lions standing proud in one of the host city's... it must be a sign!!!

Anyhow... the real reason why they are there...

"The lions are roaring in Munich!" Lions are on the loose in Munich. A hearty welcome to a Leo-laden experience in the capital of Bavaria. The first colourful lions celebrated their arrival with a spectacular parade, since then they can be admired all around downtown Munich
 

Artful – lively – sassy or noble .....the lions have put their accent on the townscape. In the coming months they will greet local citizens as well as foreign guests from all over the world, for various events such as the German Garden Show 2005 and the Soccer World Championship in 2006 Presently, more than 150 lions govern Munich, and are genuine ambassadors for this „city with a lion’s-heart“. Their numbers are increasing daily. Engaged sponsors have already bought more than 400 „Leos“. These life-sized „Art-leos“ are presently being designed by artists as well as being colourfully painted by school classes and children and are then presented to the public All promoters within the Leo-Parade organization are endeavouring greatly to find many more enthusiastic "lion-owners". And there are very good reasons for it ! The Lions help children in need!!!
 

Leaving the Holiday Inn Hotel in Munich and heading for Franz Joseph Strauss Airport passing the Paulaner Brewery on the Way...

Hamburg Airport

All photographs were taken in Mitterteich / Waldsassen / or Munich - Germany from the 27th December 2005 to 2nd of January 2006.