Munich walking tour

This tour was like none I have ever been on and I have been on a lot of tours.  This tour was billed as 3.5 hours with a 1 hour lunch break, where you can eat on your own or as part of the group.  So, as advertised, 4.5 hours total.  It finished after about 6.5 hours.   One of the most interesting and insightful tours I have taken. 

First, the guide.  His name is Osbourn Kemp, but he goes by Oz.  He was born as one of nine children to a black Bavarian man and Portuguese woman, lived in Jamaica when he was born, 4 different states in the US, educated in Canada and landed in Bavarian with his dad's heritage.  Notice I said Bavaria, not Germany or Deutschland, I'll explain that in another post.  The other part was the size of the tour.  These often go 20 - 40 people, but for some reason, there were only 3 today.  My self, a woman who just arrived on a red-eye from South Africa and a man from Peru, who works as an investment banker in New York City.  Talk about a broad mix.

We talked Munich history, EU politics, religious influence, cultural stereotypes, and a broad range of topics.  The guide was well read and had a great mind.  Very interesting to discuss any topic with.  That is why even after the tour ended half an hour late, the four of us talked over a beer for another hour and a half.  Very interesting and a great day of travel and learning.

Ozzie the guide, said to this day he is the only black guide in Munich.  Talked

a lot about the culture and how unusual it was, especially since his father was

Bavarian, not a recent immigrant.  He is standing next to a bronze model of the

downtown that has brail on it and was built for the blind.

 

German beer garden.  Traditional one is under trees and has open tables.  If

they do not have table cloths on the tables, you are free to sit anywhere and bring your

own food, but each garden is sponsored by a brewer and you have to buy their

beer if you sit at their beer garden.  Heavily occupied during lunch as you can see.

 

Picture of the 7 approved brewers that are allowed to sell beer at Oktoberfest. 

You will see my beloved Lowenbrau is on the list, as it should be. 

 

One of the oldest beer halls in Munich.  This one is where Adolf

Hitler used to hand out and had many of his early organizing meetings.

 

The ultimate sign of beer brand loyalty.  Groups form that meet weekly at the

same beer hall every week.  Many have been doing it for 30 or more years

straight.  They buy a spot to put their beer mug and lock it for when they

come back the next week.