Auntie Mei's Visit (1-2 July 2006)

Sorry for the delay everyone, was a little busy in recent times, what with all the loose ends to tie up and all!

Anyways, a good 2 weeks ago, my auntie came to visit me on their way back home from Innsbruck. She definitely took very good care of me when I visited her, so now's the time to return the favour: by being tour guide for the weekend.

Except it wasn't much of a weekend... They were caught in a terrible traffic jam that when they arrived, it was almost 7pm, the 80th minute of the England-Portugal match. I really wanted to stay and watch the match (chanting "England GO HOME!" all the way), but I had to peel myself away from the TV and check them in at the guesthouse. It didn't take too long and all of us came back to my place to cook a simple dinner. End of extra time and into the penalty shootout, wham bam, England went home! A mere 1 day after Germany defeated Argentina in what I still think is the best match of the tournament. Double excitement indeed!

So anyway, not much to do on Saturday, so it was Sunday that we went out. Unlike World Cup fever, shops weren't open on Sunday... surprisingly. Followed the usual itinerary again, more or less. First to Dachau concentration camp (3rd time I've been there) in the morning, then downtown for lunch. Walked around a bit, shopped at the Hard Rock Cafe and then lunch at Hofbrauhaus next door.


(L to R)Linda, Laura and Auntie Mei


Hard Rock Cafe

So after that was the walk over to the Munich Residenz, home of the Bavarian kings till 1918. The first buildings on this site were erected in 1385. My first time there because it has always been under renovation earlier.






Sights of the Residenz

Then it was over to Olympiapark again. Yeah, I know many of you have been through this before, do bear with me, thank you! :D

Except that this time, the Olympiapark was much more lively for 2 reasons:

1. It's summer
2. It's World Cup time

The Fan Fest area in Munich is at the Olympiapark, so there was the huge screen and a big open-air carnival that sells food from many places around the world. No food from Singapore though, maybe because we will never ever qualify for the World Cup.


Again, the Olympic Tower on a much more beautiful summer day


View of the Fan Fest area


They even painted a soccer field on the slope






And opened the usually-closed Olympic Stadium

So again, we climbed up the hill that I've brought every single visitor to.




Same view, but different people and a much better sunshine this time!


And who could miss taking a photo at the goalpost on a slope?


Let's just say coming down the slope without support was a little challenge in itself

Then it was the BMW Museum, which I've also never been, and not exactly interested too, though.


But you have to admit, this car's interesting


So is this


You'll never see this on the road


And a decent shot of the BMW Tower

Second-last stop was the English Garden where we had our dinner at the beer garden under the Chinese Tower.


Cheese!


And this is the Chinese Tower

So after a dinner of food that spilt over the plates because of its excessiveness, we needed to take a walk, and what better than to go down Marienplatz again for some night shots. Let's just say that night shots are difficult to achieve and I conveniently brought my tripod along.








Really looks different at night, doesn't it?


And the Bavarian lions all over town, this one has the Bavarian flag


Uncle Michael couldn't resist the largest bierstein in the world, 36 litres!


Linda and Laura outside their favourite eating place


And lastly, a family photo of them right outside the fountain at Karlsplatz

Yay! My job as photographer was done! Time to head home after a long, tiring day. Really glad that everyone had fun. Not even sure when's the next time I'll see them again, but let's hope!

Photobucket: Auntie Mei's Visit