Germany 2006

The picturesque square known as Marienplatz has been at the heart and soul of Munich since the city's foundation. While its current name owes its origins to the famous Marian Column located in the centre of the square, it was originally called Schrannenplatz, or Grain Market Square, as it was the main marketplace in the Middle Ages.

Marienplatz has played host to important public events and festivities for as long as it has existed, and over the years it has managed to maintain its role as one of the most beloved areas of Munich.

Marienplatz today is surrounded by some of the city's most emblematic places of interest:

• Mariensäule, or Column of St Mary: erected in the centre of the square in 1638 in celebration of the end of the Swedish occupation, the towering column is topped with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary and surrounded by four cupids symbolising Munich's triumph over war, the plague, heresy and famine.
• Neues Rathaus, or New Town Hall: a striking Neo-Gothic building that has been home to the city's government offices since it opened in 1874. You can climb its tower for views over Munich for just €3.
• Rathaus Glockenspiel: as well as grotesque gargoyles and a turret-climbing dragon, the Neues Rathaus's façade also features a glockenspiel. Every day at 11 am and 12pm (and 5 pm in summer) the 43 bells and 32 figures of this elaborate "cuckoo clock" re-enact a historical tournament and the Schäfflertanz, or cooper's dance.
• Altes Rathaus, or Old Town Hall: with more than 500 years of history and many stories surrounding it, the former government building has conserved Medieval look despite several reconstructions over the years.
• Fischbrunnen: this fountain, located in front of the New Town Hall, can trace its history back to the Middle Ages. The current Fischbrunnen was designed in 1864 and rebuilt after being destroyed in World War II, and it remains one of the city's most popular meeting points.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but we are traveling in the Winter with lots of snow everywhere.  Top pictures next to the map is a brief stop on the Autobahn for some lunch.  Picture of our Opel rental car, which got amazing MPG on this trip.  Wonder why we cannot get the milages they do in Europe. We will be staying in Oberammergau first.  Little know secret about this town, it is the home of the NATO War College.  Everyone was gone for the Christmas holidays, so we had the run of the place.  Literally nobody but the staff and us. We will be staying at the compound for the first 4 days or so and then moving on to Edelweiss Lodge and Resort for the rest of our stay.  

Dave was the one who knew about the  war college from one of his inspection trips when he worked at the Pentagon.  Tight security, even though there was nobody there but us.  We had to leave the car outside the security gate and go thru a personnel check every time we came in or out. Huge dining room with a fully staffed kitchen, we usually only at breakfast there, it was great. Rooms were like most military BOQ rooms and were also nice.  I think we paid $18 or $20 a night there. Very inexpensive compared to what we would have paid in town. They no longer call it the War College, it is now the NATO School. Click below for more on the school.

 Painted housed, alpine setting and  the people are some of the most gracious we have ever met.  If you can ever get to Bavaria, the people and history are unforgettable.

In the Picture above you can see Linda and Iris sitting in front of a painting on the hotel that depicts a young man climbing to retrieve an Edelweiss flower for his maid.

The word Edelweiss literally translates to ‘noble white’.

It is also sometimes called a Wollblume (‘Wool Flower’) or Klein Löwenfuss (‘Little Lion Foot’).

Originally, Edelweiss could only be found at very high altitudes, up in the Alps where it survived the harshest of winters. That is why this little flower is associated with strength and toughness.

It also came to be a symbol of courage, bravery and love; because of how high up the Edelweiss grew, if your partner were to bring you an Edelweiss flower, it would mean they have climbed up to a very high altitude to get it! Nowadays, however, the Edelweiss can be found much lower down (but is still a symbol of courage and love).