Today we met Leo at Marienplatz and headed to the Viktualienmarket. It is a large area filled with vendors selling all kinds of produce, flowers, decorations and food...food...food. In the center we found many picnic tables and the as the tradition goes, one enjoys a traditional Bavarian breakfast here: white sausage with mustard, a large pretzel and beer! So the sun was shining and we enjoyed our traditional breakfast and watched the sites. Funny story of the morning: to use the facilities, one must pay .50 euro and you get a receipt. I wasn't sure why I got a receipt, but then Leo explained you can use it to buy food. I bought one of the local favorites: pickled herring with pickels on a hard roll. The price: free!! I used 4 receipts to pay for the sandwich. So use the facilities 4 times and get a free sandwich! We had a great Saturday morning/afternoon!
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Beer at 10am...for breakfast!!
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The Germans are enamoured with white asparagas! It is everywhere! Appears symbolic to me ;)
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After a walking tour around the city, we headed to Leo's town of Vaterstetten for a snack of cheese, meat, bread and olives. Also, since our hotel has only one English speaking channel (CNN International), and Denis hadn't seen any TV for days, we all watched some ESPN in English! It is so odd hearing very little English; we enjoyed it.
Next stop: Max's Tavern, Leo's local hangout. We walked in and it was obvious they were expecting us and were happy about it. Max is the proprietor; I have never met anyone quite like him. For Seinfeld fans, you will know the reference: Max has the Kavorka!!!! For non-Seinfeld fans: the Kavorka is described as "animal magnetism" and Max has it! He was nothing to look at, but Denis said that Cindy and I were swooning....and we were!!!!!
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Max, Cindy hugging Max, John, Judy and Denis
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Denis, Leo and Max
Next we were off to the Maebaumwatch. Each town has their own maypole and it must be protected from thieves from neighboring towns. So for a few weeks before the celebration, the town is in protect/party mode. The pole is guarded 24/7, but while it is being guarded, drinks and food abound. It was a really odd assortment of people, but we had a great time and an equally great cultural experience.!! Another winner of a day!
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Everything looks green there already. It's just starting here.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about max, even I feel the magnetic pull through the computer screen.
mom - i think it's funny that everyone is drinking beer at the table, and then i see what looks like a coffee cup. i'm guessing that's yours haha. looks like lots of fun!
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