My mother was born in Munich in 1928. Actually, she was born in Orbermenzing, a western suburb of Munich. I lived there with my family for a few months in 1960, spent the summer of 1973 there with my younger sister Monica, and when I was stationed near Frankfurt in the late 1970s, I traveled down to see my Opa (grandfather) and Tante Oni (aunt), The old house at 25 Eisenhart Strasse was an important part of my younger days.
Yesterday, I went back. The four of us, Linda, Susan, Gary, and I, spent the better part of the day and evening wandering around Munich, made our way to Obermenzing, and ended our day at a beer hall (or two).
We had plans to have lunch with a friend of Susan and Gary for lunch at the Hofbraukeller, a very cool beer garden near the Isar River. Julia, the friend, had to cancel, but we went anyway, stopping beforehand to see and hear the Glockenspiel.
After lunch, we rode trains and busses to the Blutenburg Castle, which is a few blocks from where my mother grew up. While Susan and Gary relaxed (slept) in the sun, Linda and I walked to the old house.
The house is still there, and looks just like it did when I was a kid, only there is an addition to the house.
The castle has a small lake near it (I believe it used to be a moat). The four of us drank coffee by the lake before catching a bus and train back into Munich. We found the Hofbrauhaus (every tourist to Munich who likes beer should go there). It was big and busy and loud, as it usually is.
After just one beer, we left. I told them that when I was 15 years old, my Opa took Monica and me to the Lowenbraukeller, a big beer hall where the locals go. We went. And had one more beer.
I have lots of memories of Munich from my youth, and yesterday brought me back town Memory Lane.