Salzburg to Munich with Magnificent Views of the Bavarian Alps

View from Our Pension

Looking out of our balcony doors this morning, we see the mountains blanketed with fresh snow.  Such a pretty sight.  Thank goodness we don’t have snow on the ground—at least, not this morning.  At breakfast, we talk to several other guests, an Air Force Major and his family, and a mother and daughter from Athens.  When you have breakfast in a large room, you tend to meet people and find out about their travel plans. 



After another great breakfast, we set the GPS for Munich.  By the way, our Garmin Nuvi 270 is still trying to “locate satellites”.  She’s been searching for the last 5,000 km. 

By going to Munich, we’re trying to avoid the predicted snow for Salzburg, but stay another night in Bavaria.  Of course, as we’re driving, we’re headed into a rain storm and it’s sunny behind us.  The alps are on our left and they are full of snow.  So lovely.  We’re usually here in the summer, so this is a special treat to see.  Our hosts have said this is early for such cold weather. 

The Bavarian Alps

We find a room at Haus Bauer in Gauting, southwest of Munich.  Melissa & I stayed here about 15 years ago.  Our attic room is o.k., but a bit overpriced.  However, an early check in allows us to get into the city.  As we’re walking to the S-bahn station, it’s windy and cold.  Unfortunately for Steve, the weather doesn’t stop me.  We figure out the ticket purchase (an all day ticket for two) and the S-bahn routes and board the next train that takes us into the city.  I’ve been to Munich many times, so I’m somewhat familiar with the pedestrian-only shopping street location.  We finally find the pipe shop I was looking for and purchase a few more for Steve.  Walking along a back street, we see a memorial for Michael Jackson.  It is set up around a statue in front of a hotel where the star stayed while in Munich.  We talked to the young ladies who maintain the memorial.  There are many pictures of Michael, angel & bear figurines and lit candles on all sides of the statue.  The girls said that every once in a while someone will destroy the memorial and then they have to re-create it.  Such dedication.

Tribute to Michael Jackson

Marienplatz, Munich

Later, Steve visits McD’s, to keep warm, while I shop in the rain.  After the stores close, we visit the Marienplatz and wait to see the Glockenspiel figures perform at 9 pm in the rain and cold.  It turns out to be uneventful.  We brave the cold weather back to our hotel room and cuddle up in our comforters.