After a very sobering afternoon at Dachau we were in great need of food and joy, preferably in that order. We met a group of six people traveling in a group who were all from the US (although two of them were originally from Cuba) and we joined forces to figure out the bus and train schedule. We successfully navigated our now group of eight from the bus to the train and into Marienplatz, Munich. I had heard that Marienplatz would be a great place to spend the evening and hit Hofbrahaus am Platzl for some dinner.

Also, may I just say that the busses and trains I was on while in Munich and surrounding areas were SO NICE? Like, it would be a pleasure to ride them everyday. The U.S. has a long ways to go with the public transportation thing when compared to Europe.

When we came up out of the train station to the middle of the square my face exploded into a huge grin because there was the famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel and New Town Hall RIGHT THERE!

I was totally excited. I have decided that European squares are my absolute favorite thing. I can’t help but feel giddy inside just walking around a square, staring up at ornate architecture, sampling whatever yummy treats are nearby, peaking in shops, people watching, taking in the sites and smells of that pocket of the city. Marienplatz square was lively and after we took a bunch of photos it was time to get our bearings and hunt down Hofbrahaus am Platzl. Thanks to Toni’s memory (she had been there before) and Google Maps we made our way over there in no time. Winding through side streets was a great way to get a feel for Marienplatz before dinner. The sun was setting and honestly everything felt magical. Even if my stomach was growling…

Bless Toni’s memory and Google Maps because getting over to Hofbrahaus was easy from the main square. There were a million people already seated inside but we somehow managed to get a table for all eight of us (because now we were fast friends and clearly traveling in a pack). Hofbrahaus is a large beer hall that was originally constructed in 1589. Everything but the historic beer hall was destroyed by WWII bombings but everything was fully restored by 1958. Also being in a historic beer tavern at the end of Oktoberfest is pretty epic. Just saying ;).

If you really want the whole German tavern experience and you are in Munich you have got to go to Hofbrahaus. It is definitely a place that tourists flock to because it is famous but it is WORTH it! I don’t drink alcohol so I was not able to appreciate the beer (or the enormous mug it is served in) but the food was really good. I also don’t eat meat and somehow in this meat and potatoes tavern was able to have a delicious vegetarian meal! I also had my long awaited German pretzel; it was delicious.

We had such a great time with this group of new friends. We were all very different and yet that didn’t matter as we sat down to dinner. We had some pretty involved conversations about Cuba and the former regime and living there now (two of our table mates were from Cuba and were now US citizens). I don’t remember any of their names but we sampled each others food, traded travel stories, borrowed each others portable chargers and passed phones around for photos. The air was crisp but not cold, the food was really good and we left feeling restored and recharged. People are good. Most people are really good. After such a heavy afternoon at Dachau this was the perfect way to end our day. Faith and appetites restored in a beer tavern!

I left Marienplatz and Munich wishing I had more time to explore Germany. The good news is that next summer Sam and I are planning to return to Europe for a trip to the Netherlands and Germany! We are still in the planning stages but we are both really excited. That concludes my Munich report and my whole whirlwind trip. Conclusion: I love spending time in Europe and can’t wait to go back!