Travel Talk Tuesday Dispatch – November 25, 2025

1. Travel Hint – Bring a Drawstring Backpack

We send this lightweight drawstring backpack to all who sign up for a David McGuffin tour. It’s a multipurpose bag to carry small items with ease. Use it on the bus to keep your snacks, lotions, and supplies handy. Or use it as a day bag, like I do, to carry only what’s needed for the moment. But the sad thing is, more often than not, folks show up on tour and have left their DMEE bag at home. It’s only then that they realize what a mistake it is!

2. Destination Deep-Dive: Munich, Germany—The Ratskeller

The Ratskeller München is a famous historic restaurant located in the basement of the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), right at Marienplatz in the heart of Munich. It has a history dating back over 150 years, having opened in 1874, and is genuinely a Munich institution.

The restaurant features over 1,000 seats across 15 function rooms, with stunning neo-Gothic architecture, vaulted ceilings, and a magnificent Prunkhof (courtyard). The historic ambiance makes it worth visiting to see the interior itself.

The restaurant offers authentic Bavarian and Franconian cuisine.  The menu includes: Classic Bavarian delicacies like schnitzel, sausages, and roast pork; vegan and vegetarian options; and a variety of sides, including several potato-based options made with fresh ingredients, preferably sourced from the region.  read more

3. Behind the Scenes: Madame Brassiere – The Affordable Eiffel Tower Restaurant

I’ve visited the Eiffel Tower dozens of times, but it was only a few years ago that I discovered Madame Brassiere. Located on the first level, Madame Brassiere offers an affordable bar and restaurant with stunning views across Paris’ skyline.

Most tourists visit the Eiffel Tower for the ride to the top, a look around, and then hurry back down. But if you plan to linger a little, taking your time over drinks is an excellent way to experience Paris. Here’s my story.

A few years ago, I was doing a private tour for a mom, dad, and teenage daughter. They tended to linger and shop a lot and did not really care much about art, history, or culture. When we got to the Eiffel Tower, they were loaded with shopping packages, so I volunteered to go up to the first level, find a seat, and watch their shopping bags while they ascended to the top.

It was mid-afternoon when I arrived on level one, so I asked if I could visit the Madame Brassiere bar to sit a while and have a drink. It was July, I was hot and sweaty, so I didn’t think I’d have much chance of getting into an upscale bar on the Eiffel Tower. But I was wrong! read more