Munich

Well it has certainly been a busy busy time.  Finally got onto the Lufthansa flight to Munich, but it left half an hour late.  Heathrow is dead boring after the first hour, but a necessary evil.  Anyway a quick 2 hours and very smooth landing in Munich.  My suitcase came off the conveyor very quickly and a very easy walk through Immigration out to the arrivals area where I was picked up by my pre-booked driver who did a great job of getting us through fairly heavy Friday afternoon traffic.  It took a good 45 minutes to get from the airport to our hotel. This meant that I arrived at the check in counter at 3.25 p.m. only to be met by our tour guide, the lovely Lara, that I didn't have time to check in, but instead should put my suitcase with the concierge and then get on the coach out front which was leaving in 5 minutes to take us all on an orientation tour of Munich... so that's exactly what I did, however this meant that my camera was still in my backpack at the hotel, so I have no photos of Munich... bugga.
Anyway I now know that there are going to be about 50 people on the our - much bigger than I expected, and we are from many and varied countries, however the vat majority are retirees, albeit fit and active ones. So into Munich city we go and what a lovely place it is.  Could certainly spend a lot more time here wandering around.  Lots of delightful old buildings and plenty of shopping if that's what floats your boat.  There is a long street full of famous brand shops, so I'm not even going to bother going into any of those! Got to see the famous Glockenspiel clock in Marienplatz and had a bit of a walk around.  A lady by the name of Marianne came up to em and asked if I was on my own and would I mind walking about with her, so that's what we did.  She is Austrian by birth but has lived in Australia for 45 years, the last 15 in South Australia!  Her accent is still quick think so I have to pay close attention to what she is saying to understand it all.  Anyway after about an hour of wandering at large, we are back on the bus and back to our hotel.  I finally get to book in and head ff to my room.  I was supposed to be sharing with someone who for whatever reason has cancelled last minute from the tour so I have the twin room to myself - luxury.  A quick shower and change to be back in the foyer for the reception drinks - they aren't much on Chardonnay here but the Riesling is quite passable and then a finger food dinner.  have now had the chance to meet a few more people and so far most of them are Americans but from all over the States.  Anyway I've worked out that I have now been up for 47 hours straight and I need sleep, so a farewell to my new travel group and off to bed I go where I think I was asleep within 5 minutes of my head hitting the pillow.  Hopefully this is a good start to the next 9 days.