What better to do in Munich than to hang out at the biggest beerhall in town (and thus pobably the world)? Yes we have been to the Hofbrauhaus and sampled the fine foam ale, more on that later.

   The Deutsches Museum is a massive building of technical and mechanical displays. All sorts of bridges, engines, physics and chemical experiments, old scientific and musical instruments and even a sundial garden on the roof. We were in there for 6 hours and still missed stuff. Right at the beginning we watched a live show on electricity, in which the two old fellas in charge shot sparks across the room and blew up bits of wood with high voltage blasts. We had no idea what was being said and had to take our queus from the audience as to when we should cover our ears.


Craig floating around the space-lab exhibit


   The Hofbrauhaus was once the producer of beer exclusively for the royal palce. Now open to the public it attracts tourists in huge numbers as was witnessed by us on Sunday night. Bronwyn and I joined a group from our dorm and soon the 1 litre jugs were coming to the table and we were singing along like locals.


Craig and new friends


Bronwyn's giant drink



Craig, Sarah, Jenny, Ashwena and half of Sally

The group we met were mostly from Newcastle, though the 4 girls had not previously known the 5 guys so we weren't the odd ones out. When I was up in the norwegian hills I had no music, so I started singing to myself. Among my small repetoir was 'Country Roads' by John Denver. For some unknown reason that has been adopted by the inhouse band at the Hofbrau and I was finally able to complete the last two verses, at top volume in a German beerhall. Not really what I expected but most welcome.

Watch the singing(4.2Mb)


   After the bouncers dealt with a streaker (by knocking him into the table with the stacked empty glass jugs) our party of 11 left, along with two jugs. Between the hostel and the beerhall is a large low fountain. One of the northerners (Mark I think his name was) suggested a fountain dash, to which most of us agreed. It was cold, it was wet and it was just what I needed. I have video to upload too :-) The walk home was a little painful, hands slowly loosing feeling, but back at the hostel in the warm it once again seemed like a good idea.

Watch the video (3.7Mb)


   I'll be going to Newcastle sometime in October/November to see a friend from my previous life in England, one Rory Padfield, so I might meet up witht he northern girls again which is cool coz they were a laugh.