Beautiful Bavaria: Alps, Castles and Palaces

You cannot head to Munich without visiting its beautiful alpine region, Bavaria. Waterfalls scrape along the mountains’ rough cliffs, while lush meadows inside its layers open to crystal blue and green lakes, and clouds soar through majestic peaks. If you’re not visualizing a romantic postcard picture in your head yet, then maybe you’ll also need a tour of King Ludwig II’s enchanting castles, Lake Koenigsee and the town of Berchtesgaden. Once the Kingdom of Bavaria, the people may still call themselves Bavarian, despite its location on the German-Austrian Border.

Bavaria is a perfect place for skiing or summering, and tourists will want to begin with a trek through Berchtesgaden National Park, just outside of Austria’s Salzburg. Hiking trails, kayaking and mountain biking are a few outdoor activities, and while we recommend taking a boat ride through Lake Koenigsee in the summer, you may be able to ice skate on it during the winter! Perhaps the work of glacial recessions, Lake Koenigsee and Berchtesgaden National Park provide an impressive landscape, as steep mountain gorges and endless skies seem to sweep on forever, with the lake’s reflecting waters. Depending on the season, you may also ski, white-water raft or fish. However, if you’re interested in a unique indoor activity, consider touring the Salt Mines in Obersalzburg. A train snakes inside the mysterious mountain range, where caverns and little lakes stream through the cool interior of the Alps, teaching guests how salt is made.

While in Obersalzburg, you’ll find the Eagle’s Nest, a chalet style retreat built for Adolph Hitler for his 50th birthday. Obersalzburg is often associated with the Nazi hierarchy (Hitler supposedly finished writing Mein Kampf here), with ruins of Berghof remaining. While the Bavarian government and U.S. Army destroyed Berghof (they did not want any monuments that would tribute Hitler’s reign) history-hungry travelers can still tour the Eagle’s Nest. It is buried in a mountain half a mile up, and while it can be difficult for transportation to get to because of its height, steep and slim driving trail, tours typically run from May through October depending on the weather. Reportedly Hitler actually spent very little time here, as he was afraid of heights.

Just below, you’ll find the medieval town of Berchtesgaden, a favorite vacation spot for King Ludwig II. Finally, if you’re inspired, we suggest making visits to Ludwig’s three most beautiful, peculiar and interesting castles of Bavaria:

Located in Southwestern Bavaria between Hohenschwangau and Fussen, Neuschwanstein Castle’s fairy tale like towers and 19th century style architecture make it the most famous and recognizable castle and Walt Disney’s inspiration for his Cinderella Castle.

Herrenchiemsee Palace, built on an island in Lake Chimesse, was meant to be Ludwig’s response to the Palace of Versailles, and features more than 20 staterooms, grand staircases and a Hall of Mirrors.

Our favorite, Linderhof Palace, is located just outside of Oberammergau, where the famous Passion Play is performed once every 10 years. Linderhof, Ludwig II’s smallest castle built in Rococo style, was originally inherited from his father, and became Ludwig II’s final resting place (he did not live to see its completion). While he was known for being more than a bit “mad,” his castles and palaces are so eclectic and entertaining, that after his death, they were opened to the paying public, in order to pay off his debt.

Other areas of interest as day trips from Munich include Dachau and Augsburg.

Medieval Munich and More

To begin exploring medieval Munich, head to the Altstadt, or “old city.” Here, three gates of the original town borders still stand: the Sendlinger Tor in the south, Isartor to the east, and Karlstor in the west. At the town center you’ll find Marienplatz, the Altstadt’s main square and home to the town hall, Rathaus. During the Middle Ages, this square hosted the town’s jousts, games, tournaments and executions. Today, you’ll enjoy live musicians, beer and street performers aplenty.

After hitting Marienplatz, head north to the Nationaltheater and former royal palace off Max-Joseph-Platz, where gothic churches and colorful architecture line the cobblestoned streets, eventually unfolding to the Platzl quarter. Known for its nightlife, consider eating dinner at the famous brewery/beer hall and restaurant, Hofbrauhaus. The Hofbrauhaus also hosts a music hall, with musicians and dancers performing in lederhosen. Be sure to enjoy some beer, brats and turkey legs, and definitely don’t skip out on dessert. You’ve got a long evening of walking and weaving in and out of nightclubs and street performers ahead of you. Remember, Munich is a great place for the single traveler.

If you can make it out of bed the next morning, head to the city’s busiest destinations and main streets, Maximilianstrasse, Kaufingerstrasse and Neuhauserstrasse, where high-end hotels and upscale shopping lead you to 19th century avenues, Ludwigstrasse and Brienner Strasse. Admire both neoclassical and neo-Romanesque architecture, and stroll over to Ludwigstrasse, an elegant avenue originally designed for King Ludwig I.

While other areas of interest include Lehel, Gasteig, Nympehburg, Schwabing, and Bogenhausen, we recommend making time to visit Olympiapark. Home to the 1972 Olympics, the stadium represents Germany’s second chance to host the Olympic Games. The country first hosted the Games in Berlin in 1936, under Hitler’s rule. The Germans were so eager to change their reputation from the 1936 games that they banned weapons from the Olympiapark in an effort to demonstrate their modern, democratic nation, leaving security vulnerable and open.

Tragically, in 1972, the Olympiapark (and Munich as well as Germany in general) became known for the terrorist attacks against Israeli Olympians, which killed 11 people. Americans are familiar with the historic events because of the movie Munich. But walking into the stadium highlighted the highest ideals of teamwork, unity and peace, so I still had to ask, how could something like this happen?

For more history and touring of the region, join us again on Friday as we head through the Bavarian Alps. We’ll learn more about King Ludwig II while visiting Lake Koenigsee and make a stop at the Eagle’s Nest, a chalet style retreat built for Adolph Hitler for his 50th birthday.

An Airbus in the Water Again?

I debated whether to give in-the-middle-of-the-night plane crashes the time of day. Especially on Gal about the Globe, an informative online travel magazine that tries to stay upbeat and positive, despite the disastrous journeys that may arise out of our adventures. But however fantastical being a Gal about the Globe sounds, it occurred to me that safety is always an issue while traveling. So what’s the harm in addressing the Airbus’s recent catastrophic crashes? And more importantly, who and what is Airbus anyway?

Before answering that question, let me preface with a personal experience, a flashback. I flew on Lufthansa‘s fabulous first-class on one of the newest Airbuses during my April to May 2008 trip to Munich and Bavaria. But while enamored with the extra floor allocated to bathrooms alone, the horizontal capabilities of my sleeper-chair and Wolfgang Puck’s menu, I thought about the Titanic. Everyone said God himself couldn’t destruct such an intelligent piece of machinery. And, after landing back in the states, my cab driver, an immigrant with a jet obsession, mentioned that he not only saw my plane touch down, but since viewing the Airbus’s maiden voyage on the news, he’s stayed abreast of the jet’s technology. “If that plane goes down -- if something goes wrong -- you better have a Bible,” he said. “Those things fly themselves and ain’t no pilot gonna tell it what to do.”

Is this possible? I wondered, thinking of Terminator. Can these planes fly themselves and will they turn on us?
Fast forward to June 2009. Air France regrets to announce that flight 447 (an A330-200), carrying 228 passengers from Rio de Janeiro to Paris was lost in the middle of the night. Just like that, the plane fell off the radar. As news sources announced the plane reported electrical problems, it now appears that “airspeed sensors were faulty … and the autopilot and auto-thrust system had disengaged,” an icing over of equipment likely caused by a tumultuous thunderstorm. Just one month later, on July 1, a Yemeni airliner, an Airbus 310-300 en route from Paris, crashed over the Indian Ocean during its final leg of the journey from Sana, Yemen to Moroni, Comoros—just 9 miles from the island.

This, among a string of smaller, similar Airbus wrecks has prompted me to ask, just who and what is Airbus anyway?

The company, based in Toulouse, France is owned by a European consortium, and calls itself a “leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line.” From a glance at the company’s web site, it has a few decades of innovation, a couple of “green-friendly” trend campaigns on the horizon and a nod to a sexy Paris Air Show. With a closer look we learn that it’s a company competing with Boeing, earning billions in commitments for new planes for more than 200 airline carriers.

However, the most important piece of information is that Airbus is known for innovating and heavily relying on the fly-by- wire technology; a technology that is not only computerized but also allows computers to take control of the aircraft when the aircraft is in trouble, as opposed to allowing a trained pilot to try to amend the trouble instead. And, while Airbus’s competitor, Boeing, only owns this technology on their newest aircrafts, they allow their pilots to take over and amend any trouble, if necessary.

But what is fly-by-wire technology?

According to my brother, Evan, an aircraft mechanic for L-3 Vertex Aerospace, the fly-by- wire technology is electronic. “Instead of a bunch of heavy cables mechanically sending signals to the rest of the plane (like on most Boeings), lighter wires send electronic signals instead, making the flight computerized, and saving weight on the plane.” While newer Boeing planes are beginning to utilize the fly-by-wire technology, many of its planes still use hydraulic and mechanical devices to send signals through the cables, eventually carrying out commands to the rest of the plane.

Evan also explains that the fly-by-wire technology is not only lighter and innovative, but it is very safe, as it uses multiple channels that can send signals throughout the plane, in the event that something does go wrong, and one channel is dysfunctional. Additionally, when the plane experiences turbulence, the fly-by-wire typically measures the turbulence and tells the plane how to straighten out, perhaps speeding up, slowing down, etc.

However, since Airbuses are electronic and computerized, if one piece of equipment experiences difficulties — like the speedometer icing over on the Air France flight mentioned above — it’s possible for the rest of the electronic equipment to receive inaccurate information, leading to a domino effect, creating endless possible issues. Perhaps it is also noteworthy to mention that the fly-by-wire technology has only been used on commercial planes since 1988.

I'll try to simplify: What happens when your BlackBerry is in an area where it has to search for the Internet or a signal too much? The battery dies, right? Or, even simpler, what happens when you can’t get an internet signal? Suddenly you can’t get e-mails, phone calls, or even the GPS system you downloaded to get to your next destination.

While ultimately, our BlackBerries do not fly planes, the Airbus and its fly-by-wire technology gives us something to think about. Should we be worried the next time we fly over the Atlantic or the Pacific? Should we make sure our plane is a Boeing instead of an Airbus as we learned that at least pilots can disengage the fly-by-wire during crisis? Or would you trust the computers to fly the plane instead?

Regardless of what we decide, perhaps we should accept that in the end, if it comes down to it, my cab driver’s advice is probably more accurate than my pilot’s training or a computer’s advanced technology. “If that plane goes down -- if something goes wrong -- you better have a Bible.”

City of the Week: Munich, Germany

Located in southeastern Germany, Munich is the capital of Bavaria, and one of Germany’s cultural treasures. Nestled just above the Bavarian Alps, Munich’s folklore, historic center, art and city-savvy lifestyle attract Germans nationwide, as well as ex-patriots. So don’t be surprised when you find a great mix of people, as opposed to just the average Bavarian living in the city. In fact, when heading to Munich, you’ll want to leave the kids at home, as Munich’s nightlife accommodates the single working-professional.

To get a good idea of Munich, you’ll need a bit of a history lesson first. The city stands after two world wars, with an Italian influence, as Italy and Germany were once allies. Italian restaurants, language and cars may fool you into believing you’re in Italy. But alas, once you notice how clean the streets are and see the locals working for a living; you’ll remember where you are. Especially since Germans are just as proud of their own products and cars. BMW –that’s Bavarian Motorwerks—(or Bayern in Bavarian), as well as Mercedes-Benz and Rolls Royce are based in Munich, with other manufacturers like Volkswagen located just to the north.


When Munich’s citizens aren’t busy buying or building cars, they’re at a Biergarten or a soccer stadium, cheering on Germany’s best team at the new Allianz Stadium, FC Bayern Munchen. It is important to note that the team also follows suit with Munich’s mix of culture, as players have included Danes, Belgians, Swedes and Prussians—perhaps conceding with Munich’s tradition to keep Bavarians in Munich a minority.

Join us on Wednesday as we stroll through medieval Munich, eat some bratwurst at a favorite Biergarten, and tour Olympiapark Munchen— where the 1972 Olympic games where held. Friday, we’ll head to the Bavarian Alps, with a tour through Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, Lake Koenigsee and more!