Merlin`s Munich Blog - Part 7

Having left behind the scene of our greatest ever triumph, the Allianz Arena, we were soon back in the heart of Munich.

Devouring yet another local meal in the Hofbrauhaus we were debating which bar we`d return to that evening to catch some coverage of the Bayern Munich v Arsenal Champions League clash, but those plans were to be thwarted.

With the snow starting to fall, a snowfall that was to last most of the night, we wandered back to the bar we`d been in the previous night. It was a friendly local affair that had a huge screen above the bar.

But as I said that was to end in disappointment. On entering the establishment we found reserved notices at all the tables and at all the stools near the bar. It appears that with such a huge fan-base the locals turn out in force to watch their team in the local bars.

Weaving through the side-streets we were soon back in a Paulener bar we`d visited the night before and, once again sampling the local brew whilst the wife indulged in a few vodkas. With no television we were reliant on text messages from home; from our son, to keep us in touch with events at the Etihad Stadium.

Events that saw the following amusing text flash the phone of the wife the next morning,

"The next time the Germans come to London can we have a better Arsenal"

Wednesday morning saw us check out of the hotel and us meandering around Munich for several hours. The snow had now stopped but the air was crisp, the ground icy and with about seven hours to kill we mused around watching the world go by whilst having a few soft beverages.

Deciding that now was perhaps the best time to make our move and catch the S-Bahn back to the airport, at the second time of asking we found the correct platform and both chuckled as we passed a huge poster of a certain Michael Ballack staring down at us with the ex-Chelsea player doing some excellent promotional work for a holiday company.

Soon we were gliding through the German countryside and the extent of the snowfall was there for all to see. The warmth of the city centre had melted most that fell but out in the sticks parts of the ground were covered by a good seven to eight inches.

The airport was soon in sight but our little foray abroad, to a city I love, had one last humongous surprise, join us tomorrow to find out what it was.

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