The best bits of ... Munich

1. Pork knuckle with potato dumpling

In a word, this is OMG. If you're in western Europe for a while, you'll notice good meat is scarce to get a load of this chunk of a meal while you can. In Bavarian country they do it so well  - the pork is super tender and the crackling is extra crispy. You should be able to find this dish at most beer halls and if you're feeling extra peckish the German's will take care of you. "The Pan" will have you stuffed with a whole pork knuckle, half a roast chicken AND potato dumplings.

2. The beer halls

On just about every corner of Munich you'll find a traditional beer hall - some are bigger and some are smaller than others. When I was in Munich I went to one called Augustiner Brau and, me being a big sook and not being able to handle beer, the bar tenders suggested I have a shandy. Well, why stop at one? In Germany, bigger is better and you have to drink form a 1-litre stein. So I did. In fact, I drank two of them. It's all good - there's no preservatives in German beer (so I'm told) - that's why you don't get hangovers. Now, in Germany when they toast you say "Prost!" And you have to look the person you're toasting in the eye or you're doomed to be cursed with a crappy sex life for seven years. So the story goes.

* Totally overrated:
The Glockenspeil - it's a massive cuckoo clock at the new town hall (which, coincidentally, is right next to the old town hall and looks older than the old town hall). It rings for about 10 minutes  at 11am, 12pm and 5pm every day. How annoying.