T.T.N.B. Family Adventure

Well, what a farewell Germany gave us…
This morning Barbara, Armin, the children and I were quite the ‘A Team’ getting ready with Barbara entertaining the children, while I organised the last pieces of luggage and Armin staying calm, carrying the responsibility of timely departure as well as carrying the suitcases and packing the car.
We left fifteen minutes ahead of time at 7:30am on Sunday morning, which is quite unheard of when the TTNB team is on the road…
We were treated to a beautiful sunrise on the way to München Airport and Armin and I had our last brief chat about important philosophical issues.
We were the second family to stand in line at the British Airways counter when the lovely lady asked me for our visa to the USA. “The What?” I heard myself say rather too loudly. At this point an ill feeling could be felt rising inside my tummy.
“Well”, the lovely lady continued to say, “Everyone entering the States, even for transit, needs a visa. If you haven’t got one I can’t check you in.”
Poor Armin probably had visions of returning with all of us and our luggage to his now peaceful house.
The knowledgable lady behind the counter then gave us an Internet address and told us where the Internet cafe was. She also mentioned that this process might take anything from half an hour to 72 hours. Oh boy, pale children all round, heart rates rising, sick feeling in tummy getting stronger…but as Andrew says: “First rule in First Aid is to stay calm.”
So to the Internet cafe we went and slowly and calmly entered all the required details, of which there were many and it took us 30 to 45 minutes.
Armin entertained the boys and Tessa helped me check the details as I entered them.
To cut this short…we received approval for our visas within 4 minutes of sending our request.
Huge relief all round and I probably lost a kilo, which is a good start to get rid of that extra fat created by too much German food.
Now we are about to board Air NZ in London, so that will be 11 hours on the plane…I am looking forward to James Bond…..
Ciao
Tanja

Wow, have a look where we were today!

Wow!

Armin took us to Schloß Neuenschwanstein, which is an hour and forty-five minutes drive from here.
It was so worth it, the sight of the castle as you approach is quite something. Even the trip to the castle leads through some cute Bavarian villages and a township with lots of houses with wooden balconies and religious murals on their walls.
Most of the churches here are catholic and have ‘onion’ shaped roofs in contrast to he steep steeples, which are more common in other parts of Germany. The church is always in the centre of the village.
When you get to the village just below the castles (yes there is more than one!) you have to park the car in a big car park and then walk up the village. The ticket office is there, quite a few restaurants, cafes and plenty of tacky tourist shops (which didn’t stop us from going into them!)
There was a long queue at the ticket office but my clever cousin had pre booked our tickets and so we were able to walk straight past the line and go to the ‘pick up only’ part, which was empty!
The walk up to the castle is about half an hour and unbelievably it started snowing quite heavily as we were making our way up there. Perhaps it was the Bavarian gods showing us that it can actually snow here!!

A mountain stream.

Many people from many different countries.

You can enter the castle only with a ticket for a guided tour, which are run regularly in English and German. Once inside you are no longer allowed to take any photos. The castle was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and it took twenty years to built to its current state. Sadly the king died suddenly at the age of 40 and so he only ever lived there for 172 days.
He died under slightly mysterious circumstances, a day after he been declared insane and the crown had been taken off him…he was found in a lake together with one of the doctors who wrote the report declaring him insane…to this day no one knows if he jumped and the doc tried to rescue him or if both slipped or one pushed the other….anyhow, the castle construction was stopped and so the last tower and the chapel were never built.
We saw a multimedia show in which we saw a 3D version of what the castle would have looked like had it been completed. Only then could I tell that this would have made a difference and would have made it all look more balanced.
Unbelievably, in 1883, six years before his death, he had already commissioned the construction of another castle, Schloß Falkenstein, for which amazing drawings exist. This of course was never started but the same media show showed what it would have looked like and again it was stunning and on an even more exposed site. The drawings included designs for some of the rooms, like an amazing bathroom, kind of Roman looking, as well as beautiful murals on most of the walls and ceilings.
Once we had concluded the tour we walked a bit further still to the “Marienbrücke” a spectacular bridge from which we had a stunning view to the castle from the other side.

Close up from the other side.

Armin and I on the bridge.

Ben didn’t want to be on the photo.

Then it was time to start our way home and once here we were welcomed by a welcoming smell of melting cheese and baking potatoes. Barbara had made Raclette (a Swiss cheese that is melted under a grill in little individual frying pans) and we ate those potatoes, salad, gherkins and tomatoes with it. Yummy!! Ben even had some pasta cooked for him as he isn’t a potato fan.
Thanks you for an amazing day and a delicious finish to it.
Tomorrow is our last day here…
Bye for now
Tanja

Oh, I nearly forgot…directly opposite is another castle…Hohenschwangau. We didn’t go and see that as well…something for our next trip. Ludwig grew up in Hohenschwangau and apparently purchased land for Neuenschwangau at a young age (13yrs) to build his dream castle there.

Circus Krone apparently is a Munich institution and I still remember its fame from my childhood.
Here in München they have a permanent structure in the shape of a tent.
Armin and Barbara had organised tickets for us all to go there on the 25th December, which was no easy feat as the ticket sell out within two hours of the box office being opened. Barbara took a day off work to be in the cue there.
It was a lovely idea for the day after Christmas and the performance was quite something. As is traditional it was opened with a clown in an amazing glittering gown playing the trumpet…

The glamorous clown who opened the show with his trumpet.

This clown changed his outfit two or three more times throughout the afternoon (the performance is over three hours, not counting the intermission), each time outdoing himself with shine and glitz. His clown friend was the less ‘beautifully’ dressed one, but both of them were skilled musicians who displayed their musical skills with various instruments. My personal favourite was this one…

What’s that instrument?

The live orchestra!

Greatmusicians

I must apologise for the bad photos, but thought I show what we saw anyway. The little cameras struggled with the environment…hmm, well perhaps it was me who struggled?!
Anyway there were amazing acrobats who started out and who had another number later on with hoola hoops…

Hmm, they didn’t have many clothes on…

This girl was amazing with hoops.

There were three ‘golden’ people who moved in slow motion displaying extraordinary control of their bodies….

That was one of many amazing postures they could take on!

There were elephants, who I (and others in our group) thought looked really sad…

The elephants

I think the show would have been just as good if not better without the exotic animals. There was a lady with a whole bunch of dogs and they had a great number which we all agreed could stay as an animal performance.
There were also horses and zebras…

Great lighting with the zebras.

the same lady trained them as the elephants.
There were tigers…

I prefer them in a more natural environment.

Ben loved them, because he likes big cats, but I couldn’t help think that they need a different live.
There was ‘the strongest man’ on earth…

who frankly needed longer trousers!! But he was really strong because he played tug of war with 14 men from the audience, including our very own Raphael and Armin, and he won against them all!
At that point my camera battery ran out which was too bad because the finale of the show was a North (!) Korean group who were simply outstanding and mind boggling!
They built up an enormous net and three very high towers in a triangle on the right side of the arena. One tower forming the tip of the triangle, the other two opposite of each other, leading up to the tip. On each of those towers a storng looking man was positioned.
THe rest of the troupe were positioned at the opposite end of the arena directly across from the tip of the triangle, on the ground. There they had a big, big swing on which they stood and build up considerable speed and then one of them flew (!) across the entire arena into the arms of two men on the opposing towers. They then swung that person around a bit more, until they released the person to fly on to the man at the tip of the triangle. Then the person made its way back with the same method.
They were amazing and the audience couldn’t stop clapping at the end.
We were so lucky to be taken to such an event and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We were very tired upon our return and Raphael even carried Tessa from the bus stop to the house…
Good night
Tanja

Update, 28th December…here is the forgotten photo of Raphael carrying home Tessa…

Raphi carrying Tessa home from the bus stop…I wonder if her own brothers will do that for her in 10 years time??

On the morning of 24th December Barbara and Armin were up early to go and pick up all the food they had organised and ordered for Christmas. Shops close at midday on Christmas Eve, so that the poor shop keepers get a chance to get organised for their Christmas, too.
When they were home again and all the food treasures sorted and stored, Armin and Barara had a little rest as they still struggled with their energy from having been sick in the days leading up to this.
Once re-energised it was time for the tree to be brought in that had been patiently waiting at the side of the house for its glorious moment. Most German households set up the tree on the day of Christmas, which is Christmas Eve. It traditionally gets taken down on 6th January, Holy Three Kings, which is another holiday, or at least in the more southern areas of Germany it is so as these regions are predominantly Catholic.
Armin and Barbara expertly set up the tree, which comes neatly ‘wrapped’ (a bit like a present in itself) and makes it so much easier to handle.

The ‘wrapped’ tree.

The tree stands/holder here are very funcitional and may yet be another product worth importing into the land of the long white cloud! Personally we couldn’t fit another thing into our bags though, so it will have to wait.
Tessa, Ben and Nick were keen to help decorate the tree, interspersed with moments of exhaustion and needing a rest. Unlike our tree at home though, this one had some chocolates amongst the decorations which we were allowed to eat later on!

Tree decorating

Ben taking a break from being a movie maker.

The finished tree.

Cheese and Meat Fondue were on the menu so Barbara and I started things of in the kitchen with a little help from Ben who transferred various sauces into dishes. Barbara makes fabulous salad dressings and I must ask her for some of her recipes before I leave. Even the bitter salads like Chicory (Witloaf) and the dark red one (Radicchio I think) were very enjoyable.

Ben assisting Barbara in the kitchen

Barbara takes a little break after all the preparations were done.

In between Amira turned up, Armin and Barbara’s other daughter (she is their foster daughter). Amira is 25 years old now and Tessa and I got ot meet her seven years ago on our last trip. She lives in Berlin now were she teaches dance pedagogic and everyone was very pleased to see her. Esther and Raphael love seeing their older sister when she is in Munich.

Amira and Armin

The timing went very smoothly with the table being fully set and prepared just minutes before the Michalskis from Norderstedt turned up. They had spent the last day in Munich recuperating from the seven hour car journey from the north.
It was wonderful seeing them again and now only my aunt Ingrid was missing but she sadly had decided not to come to Munich for Christmas.
At this point we all needed some air and a little excercise, so we went for a walk and the children had a play on the playground.

The Family on the move.

Once back it was time for our feast, which was delicious and fun. I must make more fondues once we are back!

Great food fun!

After dinner it was time to light the (real) candles on the tree and for it to be revealed to the children. We all sang some Christmas songs, some in English, some in German and there was at least one in Polish as well. Marek connected with his Dad on his iPhone and so Bogdan in Warsaw could be part of our Christmas, too.

‘Yule time’ game time

We then played a Yule Time Game. Everyone brought one wrapped present with them to the value of Euro 10 to 15. I had helped the children to buy theirs at Tollwood.
We sat in a circle and everyone got to role the dice. If you had a one or a six you were allowed to pick one of the presents from under the tree and put it in front of you.
When we all had a present we opened them one by one in order of age, starting with the youngest one. All the presents were now revealed.

‘Yule time’ game time

Much excitement during the game.

Nick loves hugs.

Then we set the alarm for 8 minutes and the rolling of the dice started all over again. This time when you had a one or six you had to swop your present (even if you liked the one you had) with someone else. This was getting more and more exciting as time was coming to an end.
Big excitement at the end when it became clear which present was going to be yours. There was still some swopping going on afterwards and in the end everyone was pleased with what they had.
It was a fun game and interesting to see all the different things one can buy for Euro 10-15.
It was then time for Nick and Ben to go to bed, they were already late at 20:45 and the rest of us played ‘Activity’, a game where you had to either ‘act’, ‘draw’ or ‘explain’ a word from cards. It was really good fun.
What a lovely day we have had and we would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Armin and Barbara who hosted us all to an amazing day and dinner. We had such a great, great time!!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Tanja
xxx

On Saturday we all spent the afternoon at Tollwood. Ben said it was the best day in Munich, yet.
Tollwood is a massive tent village, set up on one of the big stadium type places (Theresienwiese) in the inner city, on which festivals, concerts etc are held.
We travelled there by S-Bahn and U-Bahn and the trip is around 40 minutes from Armin’s house.
The food was really good, a nice atmosphere and in contrast to all the other Christmas markets, the majority of stalls are inside these massive tents. This meant that we stayed warm and dry.
Ben and Tessa indulged in two crepes each (well they shared with me). Ben had the ultimate sweet crepe with chocoltae sauce, cinnamon and sugar. Tessa had sugar and lemon…

Ben with his chocolate overdose crepe.

Armin and Barbara also found plenty of yummy things to eat.

Esther, Tanja, Armin, Barbara, Nick, Ben and Tessa

Everyone had the job of finding a Christmas present for Euro 10-15 for the Jule Time Present Giving. The idea being that everyone brings one present on Christmas Eve and that we will play a dice game for those presents. The mission was successful.
When we went to the U-Bahn station loads of people came up the escaltors towards us, on their way to Tollwood. I think we made a good choice going there relatively early as it clearly gets very busy after dark.
Ben gets very excited still about the U-Bahn and S-Bahn travels.
The plan for tomorrow is Ice skating…I think I will supervise from the side!
Good night
Tanja

Oh, I forgot to tell you about the Deutsche Museum to which Armin took us on Wedneday.
First we went to a mine underground the museum. That was quite interesting and the children got an idea what it was like to work under these terrible conditions not so many years ago.

Das Deutsche Museum

The mine then changed into what mine looks like today and while vastly improved it was still an undisirable workplace we decided.

After that part of the museum we decided we still had some energy for the plane and marine section. Ben particularly enjoyed this area with lots and lots of photos being proof. Here are just a few…

One of the boats Ben liked and photographed.

You could go into this plane section and see into the cockpit.

Quite a few of the planes we could go into.

It was a nice idea for them and we enjoyed the bits we saw of Munich, not to mention the S-Bahn and U-Bahn rides which remain a highlight for Ben in particular.
Good night
Tanja
xxx

On Thursday Armin took us into Munich as the children still had some birthday money to spend. I had told them to wait until Munich so we didn’t have to cart their treasures through the entire country.
Well, there is a toy shop here called ‘Obletter’ and it goes over two or three levels. It was bursting with people doing their pre Christmas shopping and the choice was mind boggling.

A huge choice of everything. I was impressed with their choice of board games and puzzles. Seemingly endless.

An enormous choice of soft toys and many of them German, like foxes, badgers, moles and squirrels. The famous brand ‘Steiff’ costs Euro 80 per squirrel…not quite sure who would buy that…

Ben and Nick looking down from the first floor. Next to the steps going down is a ladder, but perhaps because of the busy Christmas period the wooden slide was out of action with balls and toys placed on it so it couldn’t be used.

To Ben’s delight all ‘Playmobile’ had 20% off and he then managed to find an enormous box of a Playmobile boat that was reduced from Euro 50 to Euro 25. That size box in NZ would cost $180…so even if we end up posting it, he made a bargain. He found some other bits, too and Nick managed to spend all his money also.

Ben’s boat which he bought from his left over birthday money.

Tessa also spend up large…Euro 10! I must say though she got exactly what she wanted, which is a small puzzle made of foam that tests your 3D skills. It is a handy little device for in the train or at the train station. Quite good fun, although I haven’t actually managed to build a cube, yet.

Tessa’s 3D cube puzzle before it was assembled.

Armin was patience incarnate, taking about 40 minutes to walk down a stretch of pedestrian zone that would have otherwise taken him 5 minutes. There was so much to see and so many people to avoid running into. We managed to find yummy food again at the Christmas market stalls that are set up everywhere. We saw a shop selling ‘Dirndl dresses and Lederhosen’, the Bavarian traditional festive clothes (Trachten). Tessa quite fancied one of those dresses and Nick liked the traditional knife that is part of the guy’s Lederhosen with its own little pocket.
The Rathaus was impressive with the most enormous Christmas tree in front of it.

Das Rathaus in Munich.

Ben still really enjoys the S-Bahn ride home, which takes about 45 minutes from the city centre.

My patient cousin Armin watching over us exhausted shoppers.

This evening Esther arrived from pottery school and look what she made for me…

I love cups without handles and the elephants are too cute! Thank you Esther.

Good night
Tanja
xx