DAY 13 - SEPT. 14 - ANDECHS - NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED

We did some paperwork and chores after breakfast, and then left to drive to the Andechs Monastery/Brewery on Lake Starnberg. Andechs is one of the few remaining monastery breweries truly managed by a religious order rather than a corporation. It's operated by the Benedictine monks, and has been in existence since 1455. Pilgrims have been coming there since the 10th century, primarily to see a relic thought to be a piece from Jesus' crown of thorns. We did not see the beautiful church since it was up a challenging climb, nor did we see or even read about the 3,500-seat beer garden, which was below where we ended up, and would have been more to our liking. No matter how much you research, it seems there is always something overlooked.

Andechs is famous for their dark beer with a high alcohol content. 

We had inquired with the Concierge about accessible parking and walking up, but the response wasn't all that clear. The signage at the complex is very poor. To begin, we drove into a working area for the brewery, totally unpaved, dirt surfaces, definitely not a place for visitors. We then tried another direction with not much success. Finally, we drove up to a machine that looked like where you would receive a parking ticket. In front of it was a "barricade", one of those "stumps" that recesses into the ground when you are allowed to pass through. Ron pushed a button, and a phone began to ring. After a few minutes, someone answered. Ron said in English that he was looking for handicapped parking for the brewery, and the voice answered "OK", and the "stump" lowered to allow us through. 

We drove uphill, and Ron dropped me off and drove down the hill again to park. I climbed up the stairs, and tried to figure out what in the world was going on. There was a place to order cold things, a place to order hot things, a place to order pastries, a place to order beer - not all in the same building. Chain restaurants are boring, but at least you know what to expect. This was a whole new learning experience!

When Ron finally arrived, exhausted from climbing dozens of steps, he ordered the Hax'n (pig knuckle). This is his plate. BOTH plates are his - all ONE PIG KNUCKLE.

Meanwhile, I had gone into the cafe area (also self-service) and ordered a pastry. The lady

put my order on a tray, but it was a very large tray, and I was afraid I would fall. So, I put my small .25L wine bottle into my jacket pocket and carried the pastry in one hand the the wine glass in the other. By the way, 2 EU deposit for the glass. I finally made my way back to the table where Ron was sitting, and we had our repast.

This is the area where we were eating. It had began to cloud up, so wanted to get under cover. But, fortunately, there was no precipitation.

After finishing eating and retrieving the 2-Euro deposit on the glass, we then had to make our way down the hill, back to the car, a bit of an ordeal. 

There I am resting on a railing, which is the way Ron came up (also resting on the railings). It is really surprising how much less mobility we have, especially me, since out last trip.

Leaving Andechs we drove around Starnberg, and came upon the treacherous entrance to the Forsthaus am See. That is a place we discovered years ago, and, initially, enjoyed. We could see it was deteriorating on our last visit, and now it is even worse. Think it would take millions to renovate it to its former glory. We were able to sit out on the terrace, and enjoy the somewhat cooler weather.

Returned to Munich on the Autobahn, gave the car back to the valet, and said good-night.