<aside>
Haag-in-Oberbayern, Bavaria
<aside>
Story: The nice Shakil from Uber arrived 10 minutes early. We were waiting outside with our cases packed and so we were soon on our way. The holiday had started.
It took just an hour to get to St. Pancras at that time of day. We'll do this again. It was much easier than the train.
There was another jolly chap at entrance to the waiting area. He ushered us past the main queue and we were seated by 5:30. It was nice to have some time to chat and eat the buns we had brought with us. Breakfast on the Eurostar is so light you can put your book under it and keep reading.
We left on time in our comfy seats and settled into the journey. It was not fully daylight as we left.
We entered the Channel Tunnel at 7:36 and we're out at 7:55, about 20 minutes. The train was travelling at 157k/h (98mph) through the tunnel, which is a even faster than I can run when someone shouts, “Chocolate".
We got off in Brussels and found some seats to wait the 2½ hours for the train to Frankfurt. The Eurostar train we wanted was full so we had to get an earlier train. Jan found a Carrefour and got some nibbles.
We'll, something had to go wrong. The train set off from Frankfurt a couple of minutes late and was getting further and further behind schedule. The next change was the only one where we were short of time. The gap came down to 2 minutes between arriving and leaving. We were getting a little concerned.
Then the gap started to go back up again. We were back on time when we got to Frankfurt. Phew.
We now had 25 minutes to get to the correct platform. The platforms were near each other and it literally took 2 minutes to get off our train and onto the correct platform. We need not have worried after all.
The stress took its toll. The Brains took a well earned rest.
The train journey to Munich was uneventful, but we did arrive 15 minutes late. Caroline had looked up the statistics for the last week for our train and found that this was the least late it had been! So much for German train punctuality.
Caroline collected us from outside the station. She found us despite the hordes in lederhosen and dirndls. The Oktoberfest ground is near the station.
It took about an hour to drive to Haag and then to bed.
Steps: 6,352
Weather: It was dry and about 15°C as we left home. Brussels was warm, as was Frankfurt. The sun was going down as we got to Munich, so the temperature followed suit.
</aside>
<aside>
Left home: 3:48
St. Pancras (Arrive): 04:46
St. Pancras (Depart): 07:04 (UK time)
Brussels Midi (Arrive): 10:05 (Continental time)
Brussels Midi (Leave): 12:27
Frankfurt (Arrive): 15:28
Frankfurt (Depart): 15:50
Munich (Arrive): 19:27
Arrive Haag-iOB: 20:35
</aside>
</aside>
<aside>
Haag-in-Oberbayern, Bavaria
Market Schwaben, Bavaria
<aside>
Story: I was a tired puppy and slept for 10 hours. Anyone would think I'm getting older.
The sky was a lovely bright blue. The three of us sat and chatted in the living room, catching up on the family gossip.
Caroline baked some roll and croissants whilst we had a shower and got dressed. Then it was on to the strenuous task of eating a leisurely breakfast.
Caroline is having an extension built, another floor to her bungalow.
Whilst it doesn't look that big from this side, it is huge when you go up there. Her son, Dom, his wife Chrissy and their two children will eventually move in there.
The family were coming round, so Caroline got on with cooking lunch, refusing all help. She had a cunning plan!
Kathy, the daughter of Caroline, arrived from her place a short walk away. It was good to see her again and we chatted for a while before she started laying the table. Being a warm day, we were to sit outside.
Cooking is on of the many talents of my little sister.
Caroline stole the family talent and I was just left with …. we'll, I'm sure there is something.
Dom, Chrissy and the shy live wires (amalie and Toby) then arrived. Whilst Caroline and Kathy came over for my graduation, I hadn't seen Dom and Co. since before COVID. The little ones are really sweet.
Chrissy had baked an apple crumble cake. I like the lass. They turned it into a birthday cake by adding candles.
We had a lovely, leisurely meal and then herded the kittens into a family photo.
As you can see, the weather held up all day.
Dom and I chatted for a while about his work. He started as a programmer at BMW after university and seemed quite glad to have someone else in the family who understands. The effect of AI is huge in the field. He was really interesting.
Toby woke up from his post-dinner nap quite unhappy. Chrissy suspected that he was coming down with something. Kathy left and so did the others soon after.
Jan and I then repacked for the journey to Market Schwaben, on the outskirts of Munich, where Caroline has a flat. She showed us where the shops and the railway station were (both within easy walking distance) and then went home to get ready for work.
We were getting ready for bed when I tripped over the edge of the bed and fell over. I was now wedged between the bed and chest of drawers. It took 15 happy minutes and help from Jan to get me upright again. You just can't get the husbands these days.
Steps: 4,295
Weather: Bright, sunny and warm after a cool start. It was warm enough to have lunch outside comfortably.
</aside>
</aside>
<aside>
Market Schwaben, Bavaria
<aside>
Story: We had a wonderful day!
It was a leisurely breakfast. The walk to the shops took us along a stream to say “Hello" to the ducks.
The brief walk set the mood for the rest day.
We worked out how to get the tickets via the Munich travel app and were now legal and ready to travel. The train to the main station took a little longer than necessary, because of problems with the line. Not that this mattered to us.
We decided to go for the City Tour red bus.
These really good at helping you to orientate yourself and work out what you want to see. We decided to head for Marienplatz. This took us down the major shopping street which was packed.
There so many pretty things to see.
We wandered around, found a nice ice cream parlour and and a kindly Italian café to top up our liquids.
It got to about 4pm and Jan decided she fancied chicken nuggets, so we detoured via a McD.
Then it was back to Marienplatz to get the train home.
Finally, we got to put up our feet for an hour or so. Even Jan was fraying at the edges. I finished my latest whodunnit (it was the butler who was the first victim, so he didn't do it). Jan read her book on Diana.
We decided to go into “town" to eat. Of course, we went the long way round. We found a nice Italian restaurant and had a lovely meal.
It was completely dark by the time we left. However, we managed to find the shorter way back. Even so, we did a few more steps than the day before.
Steps: 17,168
</aside>
</aside>
<aside>
</aside>
<aside>
</aside>
<aside>
</aside>
<aside>
</aside>