München - 7th September 1991

The train journey from Vienna to Munich was 5 hours. I was now getting used to the once terrifying idea of travelling alone. I was in one of those compartments seating 6 with a sliding door, and to amuse my time I asked two young girls to teach me German by pointing to various objects and repeating.

About half way through the journey the train suddenly jolted to a halt, and there were sounds of a groaning man. The two German girls suddenly started speaking English and informed me that a man had suffered an epileptic fit and was being taken away by ambulance.

When I arrived in Munich, it was the same drill, get out my Europe by Train, phone around and find a suitable hostel. I found Jugendherberge Burg Schwaneck, which was a kind of castle. The hostel was a good bit outside the city so I had to take the train. I was suddenly surrounded by fellow travellers from all over. An English girl from Birmingham quoted a guide book which described the hostel as "a rather unmajestic castle".

I staid in Munich for a total of 3 calendar days. On the first day I befriended an Irish girl who brought me on a tour around the city, and insisted that I go to the Olympic Park. It somehow made a huge impression on me.

In the city centre I climbed the tower in the city hall. When I arrived at the top I made friends with a Canadian couple in the 30s. Suddenly I had this wonderful and surreal experience with these new friends, the bells started ringing out loudly, and it felt as if the tower was moving. In the distance we could see the alps. I was in love with Bavaria.

I did a few more touristy things, including visiting the English garden with the Canadians for a beer, where I stole the 1 litre glass when it was empty. They thought it was hilarious. This seemed to be a thing for Irish people to steal these very ornate large glasses. I also noticed how the waitress, not willing to let the good Bavarian beer go to waste, would drink down the remaining liquid and carry back the empty glasses. I was in awe!

I returned to the beer garden later, this time with two people from the hostel, a girl from Derry and her boyfriend from the north of England. I was convinced he was Scottish, apparently everyone told him that.

In conclusion, I decided that München was my favourite city from the whole interrrail. I was travelling by myself, meeting lots of new people, and I simply loved the city. I would return to Munich many years later by train from Holland, confirming my love of the place.

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