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Art, culture and nature in Munich

Wooden containers rotate slowly, move to the right, then slowly to the left. An old man is standing at the front, naked, trembling in harmony with the music that has quietly started. The gentle sounds of the string and wind instruments become audible in rhythm with the timbals. Astonished looks follow the scenario in the National Theatre in Munich. Thus begins the opera "Don Giovanni" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Though this is a modern production. Regardless of the controversial interpretation, this visit to the opera on Saturday was the highlight of the loyalty trip to Munich from 2 to 5 July. Accompanied by Silvia Stöckli, the 24 Hapimag members enjoyed a few days of great variety. "It was a very successful, well organised programme. In spite of the modern stage design, for me the visit to the opera was the highlight", said Lothar Ammann from Cologne (D). The opera was both a cultural and a culinary highlight - with regard to cuisine, it was excelled only by the night-time dinner in the Olympic Tower on Friday. It was the successful start to an eventful weekend.

Discover Italy's northernmost city

While the restaurant rotated slowly on its own axis, the participants regaled themselves with the finest foods, enjoying the view of the beautiful city of Munich. On Saturday morning they explored the city on foot with the charming tour guide Berti Buxbaum: "Here we can see the Munich Wall Street, there the Bavarian knight is victorious over the Prussian knight, and this is the most historic place in Munich." During their walk through Munich, the Hapimag members saw the rather small financial centre near the Sendlinger Gate, were spellbound by the glockenspiel at the New Town Hall at Marienplatz, and learned that the "Alte Hof" is the most historic part of Munich. Every sightseeing tour must include a visit to a schloss, or palace. In the afternoon, they therefore visited the chambers at Schloss Nymphenburg and found out in a nutshell all about the palace, its inhabitants and the surroundings. At 15.30 they all had to be back on the coach, because the Germany - Argentina game was due to kick off at 16.00. The hectic rush was worthwhile. Exactly two hours later, they were all back on the coach in their smartest clothes and, thanks to the impressive German win, with faces beaming, ready for their trip to the opera. After these culinary and cultural highlights, on Sunday the group went out into nature.

Ship ahoy

The sailor pulls in the bridge, the ship slowly moves from its mooring into Starnberger Lake. A little outside of Munich, the loyalty trippers enjoy the gentle breeze on deck and the wonderful view of the surrounding area and nature. "We've often been to Munich, but never to Starnberger Lake. This boat trip and the beautiful nature are themselves alone worth the trip", said Elsa Rehkopf from Lamspringe (D). The first stop was again of a cultural nature. In Buchheim Museum the guests learned from a professional guide all about the impressive collection and the multi-faceted work of Lothar-Günther Buchheim. He was a collector of Expressionist works and masks from around the world, and himself wrote books, such as the book of the film "The Boat". The loyalty trippers then re-embarked, stopping again in Starnberg, from where they took the coach to the last destination on the loyalty trip: to Andechs.

Dumplings and Andechser beer

The first dark clouds are gathering in the blue sky, a gentle wind is blowing, making the leaves rustle in the trees, and the first drops are falling. Andechs is famous for the monastery and its beer, which is popular not only in Andechs and Germany. In the monastery restaurant, the members enjoyed another Bavarian meal in good company and discussed their various experiences over a beer. "The organisation was really excellent. We learned a lot about Munich in these few days, and were always in the best hands", is how Ute Dietrich from Bruchsal (D) summarised the trip. Eckhard Rehkopf from Lamspringe (D) agreed: "There are no complaints. The trip was excellent, the tour guide was first -class and the programme was varied and very attractive. In short, we loved it".

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