From the Munich Airport, it is a 50 minute S-Bahn (local train) ride into Munich (München) historic town center. The main square, Marienplatz, is alive with activity at any time of the year, but at Christmas, it is festive and filled with the Christkindl Markt (Christ Child Market).
This is Marienplatz. Notice the Christmas Tree, a very important item in any Bavaria town square. Each year, a “perfect” tree is donated from an alpine village in Germany and displayed and decorated in Marienplatz. The village whose tree is selected has the honor of serving their own special recipe Glühwein on the city hall’s courtyard.
The Christmas Tree with the new town hall in the background. The Neues Rathaus (New City Hall) is the ornate building towering over the square. Smack-dab in the center is the glockenspiel which puts on a “show” for all to see at 11:00, 12:00, and 17:00 every day.
Notice this souvenir mug. It promotes Munich’s Christ Child Market 2019 (München Christkindl Markt 2019). Munich and all of Bavaria were once part of the Holy Roman Empire and became the last northern bastion defending the Church against Martin Luther and his reformers in the 16th century. Therefore, Bavaria today is still heavily Catholic (almost 50%) when it comes to religion.
Every Christmas market has its own souvenir ceramic mug. When purchasing your hot drink, notice a placard stating the price of the drink and the deposit (pfand). This deposit ranges from €3-4 per cup. When finished, either keep the mug or return it to get your deposit returned. Often there will be a queue and sign for the mug return (pfandrückgabe).
Fröhliche Weihnachten!
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Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+,LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.
The Munich Airport’s (MUC) Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are linked by a big outdoor covered square, which during December, is turned into a traditional Christmas Market. “Christmas” in German is Weihnachts and market is markt. This adds an extra layer of festive fun to the already customer-friendly airport center.
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Last night was Friday, and the market was filled! Travelers, pulling suitcases, mixed with hundreds of locals out for a night the town. A Christmas market brings everyone together for a common cause… bundle up, visit with friends, get some authentic German “carney” food, have a drink, and enjoy the festive evening.
There are many locations in Europe where I often say, “You can’t do this in Middleburg,” my little hometown in Florida. Especially during the holiday season, we at home tend to get caught up in the hustle and bustle about shopping for relatives, attending Christmas parties, and going through the motions of the holiday, without slowing down an enjoying the experience.
The folks I encountered last night in the market were there to relax, slow down, shop, and enjoy visiting with friends. Stopping for a snack, Charlotte and I were standing at an outdoor table with people we did not know, yet we all had a good experience there together. There were a couple of young ladies at the next table with two Yorkie dogs tethered to the wrists. The dogs loved it! Perfect beggers and fierce to bark when challenged!
We are traveling around several Austria and Bavaria town this coming week, and I hope you will check in here often to see what’s going on in my world.
Fröhliche Weihnachten!
If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers, and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.
Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+,LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.
We arrived at the MUC Munich Airport this morning, and by 8:00, we were through passport contral and customs. Charlotte and I are here to lead tours visiting the Christmas Markets in Salzburg, Nürnberg, Rothenburg, and Munich.
After checking into the Hilton Hotel Munich Airport, we slept off the jet-lag, freshened up, and visited the airport Weihnachts (Christmas) Market.
This market is under the enormous glass-covered outdoor square located between Terminals 1 and 2. Known as the MAC (Munich Airport Centre), this square is always bustling with activity any time of year, but at Christmas, it is most delightful.
There are many wooden stalls staffed with vendors selling winter clothing, ornaments, hand-made wooden crafts, and all sorts of items perfect for gifting.
Here is our snack – flatbread with veg and salmon and hot mulled Glüwein.
September 20, 2019- Today, I visited a previously undiscovered Roman-era amphitheater discovered just inside the ancient Etruscan city walls of Volterra. No one quite understands why there was no historical account of its existence, but apparently it is for real. Crumbing Roman-era stones dating back to the 1st century B.C. were pinpointed in a farmer’s field (perhaps from working the soil) near the Volterra cemetery property.
Over the last few years, archaeologists have brought in ground-penetrating radar devices to located and define the structure lying 20 to 32 feet under dirt and vegetation. There appears to be three levels of seating and enough room to accommodate 10,000 people. This is very much a smaller version to the famous Colosseum in Rome! The structure is laid out in an oval shape measuring 262’ by 196’ and so far, a few tunnels and passageways have been unearthed.
The land has been purchased by the government and just this month the first real excavations began. Today, I dropped by the site and observed a few men covering the newly excavated soil with white tarps, some digging around stones, and a few bringing in a new port-a-potty.
The Bank of Volterra has put up some seed money to get the excavation going, however, an estimated 5 million euros are needed to totally reveal the amphitheater.
This site is not open to the public and is a difficult walk from Volterra town center. As work progresses, I’ll update you on its progress.
Our 2020 tour lineup is out, with 17 itineraries visiting 18 countries in Europe. Our tours feature all-inclusive prices, capital cities and small villages, all the big tourist sights, and some off-the-beaten-path destinations too.
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We’ve extended one of our popular tours to bring you something new this year. The Best of London, Paris and Rome features an additional 4 nights in Rome. On this tour, you’ll visit three major European capitals, each with thousands of years of history. It hits all the must-see tourist destinations but still offers plenty of time to slow down and enjoy the experience. You can catch a show in London’s West End, take a cruise on the Seine and toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain. Visit our website to sign up for this tour with a $100 discount by December 1.
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2020 Online Tour Album Scrapbook Contest
The scrapbook contest is back! So dust of your flash drives and get to work making a scrapbook that will withstand the test of time. A virtual scrapbook is a great way to share your tour experiences with friends and family, and you could even win a free trip to Europe! Join David’s 2020 online tour album scrapbook contest and you could be off to Europe again before you know it! First prize wins a free seat on any 2020 David McGuffin tour. Second and third prizes win gift certificates to put towards travel. See the previous competition winners to get some inspiration here. The deadline to enter is February 5, 2020.
Making a website is easier than you might think! Here’s a post that will help you get started with choosing a website builder.
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If you don’t want to work for your discount, all you have to do is travel! For each Exploring Europe tour that you take with David, you can get $50 off the next one.
This is Marienplatz. Notice the Christmas Tree, a very important item in any Bavaria town square. Each year, a “perfect” tree is donated from an alpine village in Germany and displayed and decorated in Marienplatz. The village whose tree is selected has the honor of serving their own special recipe Glühwein on the city hall’s courtyard. 
The Christmas Tree with the new town hall in the background. The Neues Rathaus (New City Hall) is the ornate building towering over the square. Smack-dab in the center is the glockenspiel which puts on a “show” for all to see at 11:00, 12:00, and 17:00 every day. 
Notice this souvenir mug. It promotes Munich’s Christ Child Market 2019 (München Christkindl Markt 2019). Munich and all of Bavaria were once part of the Holy Roman Empire and became the last northern bastion defending the Church against Martin Luther and his reformers in the 16th century. Therefore, Bavaria today is still heavily Catholic (almost 50%) when it comes to religion. 
The folks I encountered last night in the market were there to relax, slow down, shop, and enjoy visiting with friends. Stopping for a snack, Charlotte and I were standing at an outdoor table with people we did not know, yet we all had a good experience there together. There were a couple of young ladies at the next table with two Yorkie dogs tethered to the wrists. The dogs loved it! Perfect beggers and fierce to bark when challenged!
September 20, 2019- Today, I visited a previously undiscovered Roman-era amphitheater discovered just inside the ancient Etruscan city walls of Volterra. No one quite understands why there was no historical account of its existence, but apparently it is for real. Crumbing Roman-era stones dating back to the 1st century B.C. were pinpointed in a farmer’s field (perhaps from working the soil) near the Volterra cemetery property.
Over the last few years, archaeologists have brought in ground-penetrating radar devices to located and define the structure lying 20 to 32 feet under dirt and vegetation. There appears to be three levels of seating and enough room to accommodate 10,000 people. This is very much a smaller version to the famous Colosseum in Rome! The structure is laid out in an oval shape measuring 262’ by 196’ and so far, a few tunnels and passageways have been unearthed.
The land has been purchased by the government and just this month the first real excavations began. Today, I dropped by the site and observed a few men covering the newly excavated soil with white tarps, some digging around stones, and a few bringing in a new port-a-potty.
