We had been looking forward to our trip to Bavaria for so many months and were relieved when our Christmas holiday finally arrived on December 19th. It was the longest holiday during our time in Europe and it came and went quickly along with the rest of 2008. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All! 
What was planned as the ultimate Xmas market and beer tour of Bavaria didn't quite turn out as planned, as Erin and I both got pretty sick in Munich, eventually getting diagnosed with Bronchitis by none other than Dr. Beer in Regensburg 5 days into the trip.
The following day we wandered around again, but only in the morning to get drugs and then it was back to bed until 3:30 for Erin and I. However, we managed to make it to the Hofbrahaus for a couple beers (even though I was sick, I couldn't pass up un mas after an initial tea). 
On the way to dinner, we stumbled upon yet another seriously cute xmas market that was exclusively for nativity purchases (along with the usual gluwein and pretzels that everyone was eating and drinking). 
Munich was great despite not being able to do the complete beer hall experience....but to our credit we made it to the Hofbrahaus, an Ayinger, an Augustiner, a Paulaner, and the Anchen's beer halls; not a bad showing. We were able to parttake in the amazing Christmas markets though!!
We eventually made it out of Regensburg and it was across the border to Salzburg for one last market and our Christmas celebration!
What was planned as the ultimate Xmas market and beer tour of Bavaria didn't quite turn out as planned, as Erin and I both got pretty sick in Munich, eventually getting diagnosed with Bronchitis by none other than Dr. Beer in Regensburg 5 days into the trip.The trip began by checking into our Pension and picking up a glass of mulled wine on the way to dinner at Anchens Am Dom, a famous brewery/monastery that has a resturant in Munich, an easy alternative to making the pilgrimage to the mountain top town. Good food, amazing beer. The next morning it was off to the xmas market...we were hoping for snow in Munich, to unfortunately find cold rain and wind....not good for Erin who at this point was getting pretty sick, but being a great sport! The main Munich market in Marienplatz was great, filled with exclusively christmas ornaments and decorations; we quickly found out where all our Christmas traditions originated in Minnesota. 
After getting a couple ornaments and meeting Strauss, who planned two nights in Munich on his way to Egypt for the holiday, we had a lunch of soup and a beer (for me), tea for Erin, then made our way to Munich's Residenz, where the royal family lived for hundreds of years dating to the 1508, with the building dating back to 1385. 
We checked out another Christmas market in the courtyard of the Residenz and had a potato latkes in honor of Strauss, as he humored us by tagging along at all the Christmas markets. 
That night we ate at Paulaner's big beer hall/eatery and had a beer at Augustiner Keller in the basement (like 60 feet below ground) brewery. Erin was a tropper as she was at the height of her illness while we had a beer here (and as I began to deteriorate).
After getting a couple ornaments and meeting Strauss, who planned two nights in Munich on his way to Egypt for the holiday, we had a lunch of soup and a beer (for me), tea for Erin, then made our way to Munich's Residenz, where the royal family lived for hundreds of years dating to the 1508, with the building dating back to 1385. We checked out another Christmas market in the courtyard of the Residenz and had a potato latkes in honor of Strauss, as he humored us by tagging along at all the Christmas markets. That night we ate at Paulaner's big beer hall/eatery and had a beer at Augustiner Keller in the basement (like 60 feet below ground) brewery. Erin was a tropper as she was at the height of her illness while we had a beer here (and as I began to deteriorate). The following day we wandered around again, but only in the morning to get drugs and then it was back to bed until 3:30 for Erin and I. However, we managed to make it to the Hofbrahaus for a couple beers (even though I was sick, I couldn't pass up un mas after an initial tea). On the way to dinner, we stumbled upon yet another seriously cute xmas market that was exclusively for nativity purchases (along with the usual gluwein and pretzels that everyone was eating and drinking). Munich was great despite not being able to do the complete beer hall experience....but to our credit we made it to the Hofbrahaus, an Ayinger, an Augustiner, a Paulaner, and the Anchen's beer halls; not a bad showing. We were able to parttake in the amazing Christmas markets though!!The next day after a slight complication with our rental, we departed from Munich airport to Regensburg via Landshut. Landshut was a picturesque town straight out of a fairy-tale, with pastel medieval buildings surrounding cobblestone streets. 
We made a quick tour through town and then arrived in Regensburg to an even more picturesque town, one of the coolest and most historic we have experienced in our time here, complete with colorful buildings and several Christmas markets.
We checked into our hotel and grabbed a tea and set out to check out the markets. It was such a great vibe with all the locals having gluwine and chestnuts beneath the medieval church. We were very sad to not parttake in the banter:-(.We made a quick tour through town and then arrived in Regensburg to an even more picturesque town, one of the coolest and most historic we have experienced in our time here, complete with colorful buildings and several Christmas markets. We stayed at the Petit Orphee hotel, right in the center of town. It was only €100 a night but included gourmet breakfast and wine and water in the room upon arrival. It should be the only option when considering accommodation in Regensburg. That night we were fortunate to get a reservation at the restaurant managed by the hotel, also the best restaurant in town. It was bistro-french and didn't disappoint.
After dinner, we wandered around town some more and to another cute market that was focused more on arts and crafts, kids stuff, and music. There was a cute merry-go-round made of wood that was just like the one we say in Riga last year. There was also mini-bowling for the little ones. 
The next morning we woke up to a great view, had breakfast, and then made it to a hospital in the old town, seeing Dr. Beer and getting some much needed meds. Following the hospital, we wandered around the markets some more and to some shops.
We went to a home store and found Erin's Christmas present, which was wrapped in the store and hauled to the post-office. As you can see below, it was too big to put in an envelope, so we had to send the package to Ireland to be able to ship it home!
The next morning we woke up to a great view, had breakfast, and then made it to a hospital in the old town, seeing Dr. Beer and getting some much needed meds. Following the hospital, we wandered around the markets some more and to some shops.We went to a home store and found Erin's Christmas present, which was wrapped in the store and hauled to the post-office. As you can see below, it was too big to put in an envelope, so we had to send the package to Ireland to be able to ship it home! We eventually made it out of Regensburg and it was across the border to Salzburg for one last market and our Christmas celebration!
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