We were like a well-oiled machine. Up at six twenty (knowing exactly how long all this was going to take). Bags packed. Room checked. Car packed. Checked out and presenting at breakfast at 7:30. We needed to be on the road at 8 as Google said it would be 2 hours 7 minutes ( 8 minutes…13..minutes…11 minutes..- you get the picture!). We would return the car at Innsbruck airport, get a taxi to the bahnhof and rail to Munich. We would pretend I didn’t back into the post and the car was perfect. It was minor. They would need to look very, very carefully, and we did find the darkest possible parking spot.
We chose a standard ticket. Both of us found that amusing. Not second class- standard. It was an Austrian train. It was excellent. I really couldn’t understand those who had to be moved because they hadn’t paid the €3 more for a reservation. We had to ask a man to move. Really? I am surprised how much German I understand. Really if you listen very carefully there are so many words that are so similar. Anyhow I picked up that we would arrive at Ostbahnhof before the main station and so we saved ourselves the double back and alighted there. Our hotel was a 300m walk away.
John booked a room at the Adina aparthotel in the Werksviertel district. It had a fully functioning kitchenette and a washer/dryer as well- Very cleverly designed. The location is amazing. Formerly a factory site and then an amusement park, Werksviertel is a dynamic, urban district with bars, boutique shops and an incredible eclectic mix of uber sophisticated and shabby chic. It was great fun.
Three nights in Munich to settle, take stock and reorganise. As we had been in the city a few times before we decided to be very selective in our outings. Viktualien markt for a bite to eat, a wander around Marienplatz, a drink at the Hofbrauhaus and an exhibition at the Kuntshalle- Flowers Forever. It was enough.
A 22:35 departure flight requires decisions regarding how to fill in the time from exiting the hotel to boarding the plane. Therme Erding offers the best solution. The problem is Erding is not exactly on the way to the airport and the connection is a little convoluted. Despite this we were determined to complete our holiday the way it began- chilling at the therme.
The combination of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, buses and trams make getting around Munich a breeze…normally. It just happened on that Saturday there were disruptions. We eventually took the S-Bahn to Schwab Markt (18km from our destination), then a taxi (substitute for train), and finally a bus. We did get a few hours at the therme and then it was two more buses and a train to get to the airport. We had already travelled for four hours that day. Thank goodness we were able to access the lounge at the airport and relax before our departure. Just two more flights and we would be home. It had been quite a trip.
