After a quick breakfast at the hostel, Mark checked out and we made our way down to the Post. After purchasing a box that ended up being the perfect size for all of our stuff, we stared at the instructions- of course they were in German. Now usually we could puzzle out how this would work even without instructions, but this box was literally a piece of cardboard folded in half and glued together. So after watching our confused looks, the owner came around and read through the instructions and put most of the box together, with his wife helping along the way- it really was the most non-intuitive design for a shipping box that I have ever seen. We put in the two larger games- each stuffed with as many small games as would fit, added shorts and a laundry sack to protect the edges and paid our money. Overall we paid 30 euro to send 9 games via slow boat.

We continued down the path to the train station where we waited only a few minutes with about 10 other seriously outfitted backpackers and headed to Karlsruche. There we got sandwiches and a new book- 11 euro for an English book- but at least it was in English and sci fi. We never had our tickets checked in the black forest trains. We boarded our new train and headed through Stutgart to Munich- rather flat farmland the whole way. Throughout the countryside you see a huge mix of houses and large fields of wheat.

Then we stopped in the largest train station yet! There must have been 12 platforms, each serving a train on either side with the entire thing covered to protect the people from the elements. Inside there was every kind of food available in little stands- pizza, sandwiches, produce, ice cream- even souvenir shops and a flower market- and this just on the lower deck- the upper deck had restaurants that you could sit down at and shopping. Heading for an information office, we purchased a colorful map of the area for 50 cents and learned that there was a Hostel across the street. Lugging all of our stuff, we headed across the street and around a spooky corner to find the hostel. Fortunately we got a double bed (no more bunk beds!!) on the second floor (or two floors up from ground floor). After taking an ancient elevator up to our floor and dumping our stuff in the room, we headed out to see Munich. First we went to Obletter- a large toy store that sells Euro games in the basement- here we found some more large and small games and some more presents.

Two sacks full of games later, we headed back to our room to stow our finds. Next we were headed toward the Botanical gardens. Along the way we ate at a little tucked away café where Mark had a Pils that he really liked, we shared a green salad with red pepper, cucumber and tomatoes topped with an oil and balsamic vinegar. Next came our main course, a tasty mushroom and ham pizza- The German pizzas a really a treat- very light on the sauce with cheeses that will make your taste buds dance! Now I must say that I was a bit disappointed with the gardens. They were mainly green lawns with either flowers or trees around the edges, the most impressive parts were the entryway arch, the fountain and the busiest part was the beer garten. I missed the labels for the plants, although I could tell what most were.

Next we headed downtown and found the largest cathedral with a raised map of Munich outside. There was a large fountain right across from the church where some man was being bullied by his friends to walk across the stone lily pads to the other side. As we got closer to the Cathedral we heard beautiful organ music playing and in a side entrance to the church we rested our feet and listened to the beautiful music- unfortunately we wouldn’t be here for the upcoming concerts, but it was nice to get a preview.

Walking around the side of the church we saw imbedded tombstones right in the side of the church. As it was getting darker we walked past several outdoor restaurants and headed to the Rathaus. On the way there we saw a beautiful butterfly chalk work, not done on the sidewalk, for that was cobblestone, but instead on large boards that he put down. The Rathaus was an imposing structure surrounded with jutting gargoyles. In the courtyard was a rather expensive restaurant which looked menaced with these gargoyles. In one pathway to the courtyard, we saw the bulls eye glass filling the windows, just like in the medieval castles. Now it was about 8:30 and after seeing everyone walk around with ice cream cones, we decided to get some too. I got apricot and cherry yogurt while Mark got vanilla and an impressive strawberry (fortunately our dictionaries helped us make the right choices). Munching our sweet treats, we sat in the ‘swatch’ store steps and waited for the 9pm playing of the Rathaus cuckoo clock. It goes off several times a day, and each one must be a bit different. For us, there was a night watchman in the left tower and an angel in the right tower.

As we walked back, we heard a young girl play the accordion and window shopped like a native, looking at the wares in the lit displays. We found a local call shop and Mark go us a telephone and told me the digits to dial for the states- it was about 2:30pm at home. I got to talk to my Dad for a bit and Mark left a message on his folks answering machine. We will try to call again. Back to our hostel for a good nights sleep.