The weather in Salzburg was iffy all week, with some rain and some sun from arrival on Sunday through Tuesday turning to all clouds with rain for the rest of the week. Though less than ideal, the weather was an actual deterrent only on Friday, the day I attempted to tour Munich.

In support of the “small world” theory and continuing with a theme of meeting several nice people during the trip, I saw a couple from Alaska waiting on the platform in Salzburg for the train to Munich. I knew them from Wednesday’s tour to Kelsteinhaus / Eagles Nest. I hadn’t spoken to them more than once or twice but they were instantly recognizable. The husband looked at me a time or two so I knew he was trying to recall where we had seen each other previously – I eventually helped him make the connection. From Anchorage, Alaska, they were on their way to Munich to catch a train to Frankfurt from where they were catching their flight home on Saturday. They (or he) provide eye care to Native Alaskans – they told me to look them up if I ever came to Anchorage.

As for Munich, as those who follow me on FB know, I had planned to take the Hop On Hop Off city bus tour through Munich, figuring it would help maximize my minimal time in the city. The weather, however, was cold (not just chilly) and once it began to rain I just didn’t feel like hopping off the warm, dry bus. The weather was so gloomy I actually took an early train back to Salzburg, turning down an opportunity to tour Allianz Arena  (the home of Bayern Munich, the team which won the Champions League a day later), a big deal team and an Arena tour I would have been highly interested in, any other day.

I first got off the bus at Schloss Nymphenberg, a massive royal complex with several palaces, gardens, botanical gardens, etc. I had been interested in visiting here back in 2006 but never got to it so I was very disappointed when it started to drizzle and then rain heavily within a few minutes of my arrival. It was truly miserable and everything was getting wet, despite the use of my umbrella, so I took shelter under an arch in the main building. I was able to catch an off-schedule bus from the tour and I stayed on that bus for the next hour or two. When I looped back around to the castle, it started to rain again so I gave up on Schloss Nymphenberg and decided to catch that site on my next visit (currently unplanned) to Munich.

Rainy view from the garden

This mother-to-be duck was nesting in the middle of a stream, and her partner was seeing to her every need

Hungry and in need of a bathroom, I decided to visit the next stop, BMW World, after the tour guide advised that entrance into the building was free. Who could have guessed that BWM World would fill my needs so capably on a cold, rainy day? I certainly didn’t expect it, but that stop hit the spot. A warm building, with clean, spacious, free, and line-free restrooms and a nice cafe – the simplest of things. I had a tomato and mozzarella sandwich with pesto, and also a pink-iced donut which reminded me of the traditional fastnacht’s made before Lent. I was so happy to have some time to spend in a comfortable place, I felt obliged to make a purchase. No, I didn’t buy a new car (though it would have been cheaper to buy it there and ship it back to the states), but I did buy a winter cap with the BMW logo on it. I thought it was the least I could do in exchange for their hospitality.

The day wasn’t a total failure, however, since the bus tour served as a preview for my next trip to Munich. Naturally, there are several sites of interest that I’ll look to explore in the future.