It was the best of times, it was the wurst of times...

Saturday! No training today but still lots to fit in, so I'm up at 07:00 ready for a last Munich adventure.

I visit the statue of Bavaria, but the steps up

inside are not open at this time of the year.

My usual expert planning.

This is the site famous Octoberfest. I can just

imagine the spirit from the Hofbrauhaus

multiplied here for days on end.

I check out and wander Marianplatz, trying

to get up the clock tower (fail) and trying to

find a very nice shop I'd passed last night

(and failed again) so I made my way to the

Olympic Stadium as it's time for the tour.

The buildings seem part organic, part alien

11:15 almost time for the 2-hour tour

Weissbratwurst mit pomme frittes

required for sustenance

Glad to see the meeting point retains the

spirit of the Bohemian Rhapsody

Love the visual effect of the seats

We watch a video, get harnessed up,

and begin the ascent

The first few metres are the steepest

then it gets easier

We are near the top, and get

some more history/background,

before going up a peak

At the top! The angle is really

steep, but the walking surface

is awesome, like thousands of

tiny gripping jaws.

The hill in the distance is articifial.

This site was all flat before the

construction (1966-1972)

Semi-rama time - both ends of the stadium

Nice moody shot over the roof peaks

We complete the roof tour. Sadly there's

no abseiling today, so that's still

something to try in the future.

Time to head back to the city...

...and the Potato Museum

I impress the receptionist with:

"Einshundligung Sie, bitte, Ich mochte

sehen das Katoffelmuseum"

After that it falls down a bit as I think he's

offering me a translator, when he actually

means an English version of the guide.

That sorted, I enter...

Periodic table of elements?

No - Professor Uhrmann's table of potatoes

Some of the first decorations on German Christmas

trees were silver- and gold-coloured potatoes.

That's your KartoffelFact of the week.

A refined setting for the humble potato.

The dumplings are fabulous though,

as I can now attest

Kartoffelland

(potato meets German flag)

I have a couple of hours to kill

(the Potato Museum doesn't

take as long as I expected!)

I see people up the clock tower

A few minutes later I'm up there, snapping

away amidst the throng of tourists who

circle the top in BOTH directions.

Here I could suggest some extra efficiency.

Frauenkirche and the Rathaus (town hall)

plus Christmas market below

Auf Wiedersehen, Munchen!

It's been an epic Wonkashone

trip down memory lane

There is no life I know,

to compare with pure imagination.

Living there, you'll be free,

if you really wish to be