Early in the morning at Hauptbahnhof in Munich.
On our way to the Euro Youth Hostel the weather is miserable.
Or guide Mike, a Kiwi. Or was it Matt or Mack? He's facing East towards the rising sun just like all Golden Mosaics.

19.5.2000 MUNICH is Beer. Beer in one liter steins. Beer in Beer Gardens on benches outdoors under the canopy of trees. Beer in Beer Halls on benches listening to German folk songs about Beer.

More beer in one liter steins.

After arriving early in the morning at HAUPTBAHNHOF to miserable, rainy weather, exhausted and tired, Sean, Annie and I made our way to the EURO YOUTH HOSTEL where they told us our room wouldn’t we ready until noon.

All three of us ended up passed out, sprawled all over the chairs. Entering our room we have never been so happy. Scared the beds might be a mirage, we jumped in and fell asleep right away. We slept until 3:15 and woke up to go to MIKE’S BIKE TOUR.

Some church in Munich.
On a day with better weather, this is the nude park. Since there is no beach here in land-locked Munchen the locals go here or to the river side to sun bathe.
Another example of what happens to beach depraved people. Hey, a river, an ocean, what's the difference?

An example of what I call HIGH-IMPACT TOURISM is when, in the middle of a quiet church service, tourists walk into the church, talking, unzipping their camera bags and taking flash photos. This happens.

Another example of high-impact tourism is Mike’s Bike Tour.

Don’t get me wrong. Riding through Munich with a bunch of other drunk tourists is fun.

It’s also disruptive to the people of Munich.

34 bikes cause all manner of havoc. It’s like a train running on local roads through the middle of the city. Pedestrians can’t cross, cars get stopped. We rode through grass in a big swarming mass. We also had guide-sanctioned pit-stops in the bushes ("Girls over there, boys over there.") before riding illegally on a pedestrian trail (no bikes allowed).

I think drinking actually helps the situation slightly, because after having beer at the Chinese Tower Beer Garden (which despite the weather was open, thankfully), everyone was looser and rode quicker and smoother.

Still, don't be a high-impact tourist.

By the way, don’t pick the Radle by mistake at the Beer Garden. It’s tastes like a Jolly Shandy which is lemonade and beer. You didn't come to Munich for a Jolly Shandy.
Hofbrauhaus on the outside looks unassuming.
Inside the Hofbrauhaus is overflowing with Beer!

Straight from the Beer Garden to the Beer Hall.

The HOFBRAUHAUS. Lots of singing and swaying and toasting and standing on benches to music. Can’t remember too much more after four liters of beer.

I have pictures I don’t remember taking!

Somehow, we all made it back to the hostel.

20.5.2000 Recovered from the previous night by taking it easy. Visited the Internet café and walked up and down the river.

Bayern, the Munich football team, had won against the Stuttgart team and there was a huge crowd in MARIENPLATZ celebrating (no riots!). Had to detour around the square to make my way towards the train station. The night train to Florence was not too crowded so I was able to claim my own cabin.
Beer #4? Who knows? Those are one liter steins.
The crowds at Marienplatz.
The entire train station is watching the replays of the game.