Wednesday 6^th May 2015

Up at 7:00am this morning and had a great breakfast in the hotel breakfast room.

The weather god must have had a day off as it was cold and wet for most of the day. Needed to put on wet weather gear and take umbrellas when we ventured out about 8:30 this morning.

Bought a 48-hour pass for the hop on hop off bus and decided to go to our furthest destination first  - Nymphenburg Castle, built between 1664 & 1674.

Nymphenburg Castle

Castle Gardens

 The baroque “Stone Hall” in the castle is absolutely stunning with ornately decorated walls and ceilings. As the castle was not damaged during WWII it and its furnishings are all original. 

Ceiling in the Queen's Study

The old stables houses the carriage museum, which has a magnificent collection of carriages, sleighs & riding gear (some used by Louis II). There is also an extensive porcelain collection on the first floor of the stable building.

The Nymph Sleigh

Back on the bus and we went to BMW Welt (BMW World) and the BMW museum. Unfortunately it closed at 3:00pm today so we were not able to go in.

BMW World

Got back on the bus and drove past the 1972 Olympic stadium, tower & park as well as many other beautiful sights that we hope to see more of tomorrow.

Arrived back at Marienplatz just before 5:00pm. The weather god must have been back on the job as the rain stopped and the sky cleared to bright blue.

We stayed in the Marienplatz and stood outside the new town hall (which took 42 years to build, finally being finished in 1909) because at 5:00pm (also 11:00am & Noon daily) the carillon in the tower plays. It has 43 bells & 32 copper figures on 2 levels. The top level is a representation of a tournament held in 1568 to celebrate the wedding of Duke William V & Renata of Lorraine. The lower level is the Schäffler (or Cooper’s Dance) commemorating the end of the epidemic of plague which devastated the city from 1515 to 1517.

The Carillon

Walked back to our hotel to drop off our wet weather jackets then back down the street to the pub for dinner.

We then walked off dinner by strolling past the Hofbräuhaus which looks great so will probably go there for dinner tomorrow evening.