Wildeman thing, you make my heart sing...

Day 7 - 04/01/10

The last day of the Silvester 2009/10 trip - and a quick visit to Amsterdam!

The flyers (travelling by train...) arrived first (having left Düsseldorf at an ungodly hour). Howard's navigation eventually took them to Wildemans - a pub with a pretty good range of biers (as obviously not enough had been consumed to date...). We joined them there for a last couple of biers, before leaving for the ferry. I think Craig's fingernails remain there - he was rather reluctant to leave...

Despite a significant delay, the flyers were able to get home.

Thus ends another Hector holiday. As always, the people on the trip are what make it memorable. I can, of course, only post what I observed. Hector will no doubt be adding his perspective later... It would be good if the others on the trip could comment to add their memories. I won't hold my breath...

Planes, Trains and Automobiles...

Day 6 - 03/01/10

All things must pass - today was the day we left München to begin our journey home. Most of us (except the brothers McVey) were sort of travelling the same way, and had arranged to meet again in Düsseldorf. The ways of travel resembled a Top Gear challenge - prompting some rather rash statements at breakfast.

First away were the air crowd - only to find themselves delayed at München airport. The car was next, leaving the train passenger to have a leisurely breakfast.

In retrospect, the challenge might have been better staged at a time of year when snow was not falling heavily... Blizzards do not make for good driving conditions! Of course, I blame the car driver myself (who did not like being dubbed Captain Slow...).

As regular readers would expect, no-one in the other parties tried in any way to wind us up...

Eventually getting to Düsseldorf, we met the others at Fuchsen Brauhaus. After some food and drink, the day didn't seem too bad after all!

From there, a select few ended the evening at Schumachers. Of course, we were not last out!

Oh, and the winner of the race? Some say he has forgotten more about Newtonian physics than Hector ever knew, and that he has already found the perfect pint. All I know...

I want my Tegernsee...

Day 5 - 02/01/10

Looking out of the hotel window, I noticed that the long-promised snow had fallen. This would, of course, cause no problems...

Trying to avoid spending the whole trip drinking, David and I decided to spend the morning visiting the BMW Museum. Most of the others went straight to Tegernsee.

After a few hours absorbing the ethos of BMW(!), we made our way out to Tegernsee, which, as promised, looked very picturesque in the snow. Much to my surprise, not everyone had made the trip out. I understand that Howard and Tracey spent the day doing Andechs.

As always, it was worth the trip out to sample one of the best biers around - the Goulash soup wasn't too bad either! Sadly, the time came when we had to leave...

... although the train back helpfully stopped just outside the Augustiner brewery, so we just had to visit again! Unfortunately, Marg, Kirsty and Eleanor seemed to suffer from language problems when trying to order ice cream, and there were times when one bier just did not hit the mark...

Finally, having been kicked out of the brewery (again!), finally Hector and I visited the local sports bar - only to meet Howard and Tracey there. We were not last out - I suspect that is almost impossible...

The Morning After

Day 4 - 01/01/10

Strangely enough, only a select few made it to breakfast this morning - it's almost as if some people had a late night the day before!

Hector had suggested (decreed!) that we should meet up at the Chineser Turm in the Englischer Garten for a Gluhwein or two. He wasn't too clear about the time to meet, though. I can report that David did, in fact, turn up - he just left before anyone (other than Dr Stan and me) showed up... After a few Gluhweins, others began to turn up. A special award must go to Howard and Tracey, who decided that they would have bier instead of Gluhwein...

Where to go next? The Augustiner Groβgasttätten seemed a good idea - and it was! Yet more Edelstoff. I'm told that some went to Andeches...

I tawt I taw a puddy tat...

Day 3 - 31/12/09

SILVESTER!

During our November trip, it seemed a good idea to book a table at the Augustiner brewery for Silvester, despite the suggestion that the party would last from 18:00 until 03:00 the next morning... After all, who could possibly drink Edelstoff for nine hours... This of course gave us all an additional problem - to survive the night, we had to try to avoid bier all day. What exactly do you do in München until 18:00 if you are trying to avoid bier?

We somehow managed, and wandered along to Augustiner shortly after 6. Guess who were the first party there, and as a result the first party invited to go to the buffet?

We were joined at the table (eventually) by the brothers McVey - Peter and Gerry to regular readers - who seemed to have had some problems checking into their hotel...

I would like to report that a quiet and sober evening was had by all. Once again, I would be lying to do so...

It seems that Craig was not content to dance on the benches like a normal German - nothing but the windowsill would do for him! Others might try to post a blow-by-blow account of the evening - I will refrain from doing so. Suffice to say, guess who were the last to leave the pub at 03:30-ish... (there seems to be a bit of a theme emerging here!)

I suspect we may return here for New Year again...

Pschorr-ly not!

Day 2 - 30/12/09

Those of us in the car had a task to perform before arriving in München - the empty barrel of Pyraser kellarbier had to be replaced with a full barrel of Pyraser landbier. Not only was this task successfully completed, but as a bonus I was able to acquire the last 30 bottles of Pyraser 2009 (their seasonal Christmas bier). As an added bonus, we were given limited edition steins - I'm sure nobody is jealous...

Once in München, we wandered to the Pschorr Haus - imagine our surprise to meet Hector, Marg, Howard, Tracey, Craig, Yvonne, Kirsty and Eleanor (another 2 newcomers to biertoday) It's almost as if someone has prepared an itinerary!

After a nice meal, having just got together, we split up again. Some boring types went straight to Andechs am dom (you know who you are!). The more adventurous types went to the Hofbrauhaus first.

Of course, as Hogmanay was looming, none of us stayed out late. Certainly, we were not the last to leave Andechs...

It's the end of a decade...

Day 1 - 29/12/09

Although Hector might disagree - claiming there was no year 0 etc...

Anyway, as the old year comes to an end, it is time for another New Year trip - this time to München. As always, the 'Hectors' travelled separately, some by land, some by sea and some by air.

After a leisurely boat trip, myself and David (on his first bier trip - brave man!) made our way to Brussels. En route, we visited Wellington's Headquarters Building at Waterloo. Given the rain there, it's no surprise that the man invented the rubber boot!

From there to Brussels itself (an interesting driving experience...), where we met Dr Stan (who had put his faith in Eurostar, despite the Christmas problems, and who managed not to find Delerium...), and shared one or two Belgian biers.

I would like to say that an early night was had by all, but I would be lying... Still, there was only a short drive/train journey to München to face the next day...