Some random thoughts and things we hadn’t mentioned as our train takes us far from Bavaria:

– Politics in the street – on our first day in Munich we bumped into a minor rally for an anti-Islamic party. In the build-up to the European Union elections, we noticed a number of pop up information booths with passionate orators pointing accusingly from behind their megaphones at the young people with hand-written posters accusing the speakers of being Nazis. All these moments were fascinating, was quite exciting to see politics in the street.

– Bavarian people are mostly friendly – despite meeting more rude people here than in Paris, Tez and I both felt more comfortable in this city. Sitting outside in a beer hall next to complete strangers who just met sharing drinks – Munich has this wonderful community feel and we were never made to feel like outsiders.

– Dodgy alley – our hotel, Hotel Eder, was comfy and spacious, and very centrally located, we walked everywhere. On the downside it was located on a dodgy alley frequented by posturing young men sporting leather jackets and greasy hairstyles, and being quite loud and un-German. Won’t miss those guys.

– The Bavarian countryside and the extraordinary forest we’ve glimpsed through bus and train windows are a marvel. We’ll miss this.

I can’t remember feeling more relaxed than I’ve been in Munich, and I think Marthese was surprised at how quickly she fell in love with the town. We’ve made a formal agreement (over bier of course) to return with our children.