Lens Artists Photo Challenge #103 – Surprise
This week, Ann-Christine invited us to show some moments of surprises.
There were several surprises for me when we were at Munich, Germany. The tour group went out for a beer in the evening at the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München (Royal Brewery in Munich) owned by the Bavarian state government.
We arrived before dark. Outside of the Hofbräuhaus (Beer Hall), there was a street pantomime artist. He changed the gestures and directions every few seconds, but after he made the change, he was as still and solid as a bronze statue. The woman was surprised when the “statue” moved.
The tour guide reserved several tables for our group. Before we ordered a beer, I walked around. There were small lockers where regular customers stored their beer steins. It was a novelty to me.
The Beer Hall was packed full. Servers were twirling fast in serving the beer. Each server could carry five or six 1-liter beer steins in each hand. Some of them even added one on top of the five or six in one hand before they grabbed another five or six in other hand. It fascinated me and I wanted to take photos of them carrying liters of beer, but they moved so fast that I couldn’t get any single clear photo. So, I borrowed one from Alamy here.
At first, I thought the steins were plastic, but as we got our beer, I realized they were glass steins. How heavy were the steins before filling with the beer and how much the total weight of the glass beer steins plus liters of beer?
It was amazing and surprising to me!
The Showers of Blessings 
I would LOVE to see a “living statue” act in real life. Especially if I could get nice and scared by one!
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I could see that woman was scared!
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A frothy surprise. Yum! ( and love the photos…)
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It was, Pam. Thank you for your comment!
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I’ll admit, I was a little jealous too. What a trip. And don’t we all miss traveling right about now? ;-0
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We had planned a family trip with two extended families. Now we have to put it on hold.
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Miriam, it is wonderfully crazy in the beer halls. The vast quantities consumed is incredible and yes, how do they carry such much in one go, through the crowds. I’ve been a couple of times – loving the atmosphere but I don’t even drink beer! At times people would stand on the benches and start singing. Oh, I love the ‘statue’ and I’m in awe of the patience of the actor. It’s lovely to see photos of such travels and I almost view them with a sense of nostalgia, when all was easy and free to congregate safely. big sigh…
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There was so much to watch, Annika. The people, the servers, the music, and the building! I almost got robbed of my camera by a young “couple” who volunteered to take my photo when I walked by myself to explore. I got the weird feeling and said “no.” They went on and pranced around. Finally the manager asked them to leave.
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Talk about getting a workout! It’s hard enough carrying that weight, but then the servers need to dodge between the busy tables- crazy!
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Yes, Jacquie, it was amazing to watch how fast they danced around, lifting the beer higher and lower to maneuver through the crowd and busy table!
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It looks like a surprisingly good time! That living statue would have given me a turn. 🙂
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We did, Liz. I wonder how often that living statue blinks! 😀
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😀
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Looks like a great time, Miriam!
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We surely did, Mark! It had so much life and energy!
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What a fun time! Those beer mugs–yikes! And the mime. He couldn’t look more authentic.
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I should have bought one mug with the logo!! This mime must be one of the good ones.
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They have got delicious beer – and your story and photos are great memories! I have noticed myself almost wincing when pictures of many people together show up. I wonder when we might be able to enjoy feasts and parties and togetherness again? Read about the US places going up in numbers again…I wish people would just behave!
Thank you for a lovely post and hope you can visit your daughter soon.
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Yes, AC, the young people got too excited to get back to normal. They brought virus home to the families. Now many states are taking some steps back!
I hope to visit my daughter the end of next month or the end of September.
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What a lovely, fun post Miriam. Goodness, those waitresses were strong. They must eat plenty of spinach like Popeye!
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The spinach would do it, Brigid! I don’t think I could carry two in each hand. That was the reason I thought those mugs were plastic. But they were not cheating at all!
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Munich is a fun place to eat and drink beer. My husband enjoyed very much. great photos, Miriam! 🙂
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Great photos and what fun, Miriam. I think I would have jumped out of my skin if I saw that “statue” move. And what a great picture of all the steins. Heavy is right! You make me want to visit Munich. A fun post. 😀
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You were right about startled at the move of the statue. I took another photo when it happened to a woman. Munich seems to be a lively city. The Oktoberfest would be fun if you and Hubby drink beer. 🙂
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Ein prosit!
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Haha, thanks. Are you German? My husband speaks some German!
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No, not German. Was stationed there decades ago.
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Oh, that was a good chance to pick up some language.
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Great photos Miriam. I have always fancied going to the beer fest in Munich. It looks like lots of fun was had by all.
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Thanks, Kim. Oktoberfest should be fun to go!
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Great pictures and very interesting, Miriam!!!
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Thank you, Paulo!!
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This looks like it was a great experience, Miriam. How are things in your state now? Are you considering any travel yet?
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We are sliding backward, Robbie! How disappointing. Some states were going to reopen slowly, but then people just jumped into it too quickly. Now many states went back to phase 1 of the social distancing.
I was planning on going to visit my granddaughter next month, now I may try in August. I’ll wait for several more weeks to decided.
It will be a very long time before thinking about international travel. My niece in Hong Kong emailed me and suggested that we shouldn’t go to her wedding in October. My husband’s niece is getting married in New York. We don’t know if we’re going either because New York has the top number of cases and deaths.
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HI Miriam, I knew there were spikes in the infections in California and Texas but had hoped it was better else where. There has been a lot of people on beaches and socialising in public places which was inadvisable. The UK has the same issue, as does South Africa. It’s hard to stop people getting together, especially youngsters. I am sorry you can’t visit Mercy yet, but you will be able to. Everything ends.
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Hi Robbie. I want to thank you for the gift from your Giveaway, but I got the book and did a review, so I told Micah to give the book to someone else.
Alaska Airline has good guidelines for flying. I’m safe from home to the airport. Probably the airport keeps good distancing guidelines also. Then I asked Mercy to pick me up from the airport so I don’t need to take the Lyft (like taxi) because I don’t know if they clean the passenger seat after every service.
I’ll check on it later this month.
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Hi Miriam, it is not a problem about the book, I have had that experience too where I already have the book. It is very kind of you to have bought and reviewed it. I am glad to hear good things about your airline. You have to live your life so it is best to follow the rules and regulations and carry on with your life.
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I’m glad someone will enjoy your book, Robbie!
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What a fun choice for the week Miriam. Loved the personal stein storage 😊😊
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It was fun, Tina. Thank you. 🙂 🙂
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How wonderful it is to have our memories. Looks like a lot of fun! Cheers Miriam
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It is wonderful, Miriam. We had a taste of all kinds of different experience during the Germany/Austria trip.
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Looks like a lot of fun! Great photos.
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It was fun, Chris! I could have a couple sip of beer, but Hubby was glad to have the rest of mine!
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Loved the photos, Miriam. How fun! Thank you for the smiles. ♥
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Thank you for checking out my post, Gwen! ❤
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What fun! Thanks for sharing with us, Miriam. I loved your photos!
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Thank you for checking out this post, Jill! We had fun at Munich. I ordered a beer but only had a couple sips because I can’t drink!
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😉
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That is a great place – enjoyed our time there. Thank you for the reminder of wonderful memories.
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You’re welcome, Rebecca! So far, the tours we took were fast pace. We only had a glimpse of each city. When we travel again, I’ll join the leisure tour that stay at each city for at least three days.
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I know exactly what you mean. These last years, we decided to go off season, which eliminates the crowds. But alas, for now, I enjoy your photos and memories for they add to my own. I love our conversations.
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We pretty much went off season for twenty years. When I was working, I got 22 days vacation time plus holidays and sick leave days. I had to use some of the vacation time.
It’s unpredictable when it’s safe to travel again.
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Great photos and story Miriam! They must have been strong!
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Thank you, Dwight. Some lady servers are small and still carried a dozen. I don’t know how they do that!
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Wow! that would take some stamina!
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Fascinating, Miriam! 🙂
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It was, Bette. Thank you for your comment! 🙂
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Miriam, We were in Munich during Oktoberfest approximately 15 years ago. A fun and lively place. Your photos are wonderful! Lockers for beer steins? First time I have heard this. You reminded me how my husband and I were in awe of how much beer the servers could carry. Thank you for sharing a fun and interesting post! 🙂
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Very interesting, Miriam! I’ve never seen lockers for beer mugs before. It’s probably because the typical restaurants here don’t sell glass beer steins. It looks like this was a fun trip. 😀 ❤
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We went from Berlin, traveling south and ended in Vienna. It was depressing at Berlin. I visualized my mood was getting a little brighter at each city in Germany, and was very happy in Salzburg and Vienna.
There are fun places in Munich. ❤ 🙂
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That’s good to know, Miriam. Thank you. ❤
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You’re welcome, Vashti. ❤
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