Saturday August 11, 2018
New York, NY
Thunderstorms
For my nephew Jackson's high school graduation gift, he wanted funds from the family to travel to Europe. And he asked me if I can do the first leg with him to get started, to which I replied YES!! It was one of the best two weeks of my life. For the first week, he visited me in NYC, where for the first time he took a plane by himself. We did a lot of fun things in New York, including watching Hamilton the play – Jackson' s first broadway show, ate ramen, NYC steak, Indian food, sushi at Sushi of Gari, and Yakitori at Torishin. Yes with me, it was all about eating. However, while I was at work Jackson explored NYC by using the subway and went to Top of the Rock and the 911 Memorial. And before you know it, it was time for our first vacation together.
And is started with a problem. Originally, we were to fly KLM to Munich via Amsterdam. Well, early morning, I got notification that our KLM flight was cancelled due to "mechanical issues". But Delta was able to get us on an Air France flight connecting to Munich via Paris. Only issue is we will arrive about 4 hours later than expected in Munich. Anyhow, the good news is we got on another flight. Unfortunately though, Jackson and I could not sit together and the huge double decker Airbus so we were separated and did not meet again until in Paris. From Paris to Munich it was easy going.
Once we arrived in Munich and our hotel, we decided to go out for an early dinner given we both did not sleep on the plane (it was an overnight flight). So, we went to the infamous Hofbrau House – famous for the crazy beer parties during Octoberfest. Jackson had his first legal beer at Hofbrau House! How cool is that!
After a good nights sleep, and fabulous breakfast (Hilton got me upgraded so we could use the executive lounge and have a free buffet breakfast), it was time for our private walking tour of Munich. This is the 5th time I've been to Munich but the first time I'm seeing Munich as all the previous visits have been for business.
So we walked around the old town with our fabulous guide Elizabeth who pointed us out to things we would have never noticed on our own. Of course, we saw the famous Munich clocktower (although it was cloudy and rainy so the photo isn't great) and the famous Rathaus which was fab, but take a look at the photos of some other things we saw. We ended the day at a restaurant serving Augustine beer and more Weiner Schnitzel which is one of Jackson's favorite dishes. Great first day to start our trip!
Had to have a pretzel while in Munich
Jackson's first legal beer
The famous Isar River, from one of Munich's oldest bridges
The entrance to the "old town"
The new Jewish Synagogue: It does make a statement
Old and New
Monument to the LGBT folks persecuted by the Nazis
The famous clocktower at the Rathaus – Government Buildings
Sister cities of Munich
Gargoyles of the Rathaus
And a very well maintained Michael Jackson Memorial in front of the lux hotel Bayerichter How
Ludwigstrasse
The Opera House
Back to Hofbrau House where we learned that "regulars" keep their beer mugs here
The Hofbrau House cask
Enjoying dinner after a fab walking tour – Augustine beer, pork knuckle and weiner schnitzel