* I spent some time in Munich over the break. I went to college there for a year, so it was cool to see how the place had changed.

We also went to the spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle. I’d never been there, and despite the very long walk up the hill, the view was most definitely worth it…

* One of the things that really stood out for me was the number of German dogs who accompanied their owners to places that American dog owners are never allowed to bring their pets.

We walked into the Hofbräuhaus and there was a dog kicking back at his beer-drinking owner’s feet. It’s a naturally accepted thing over there. People bring their dogs everywhere and it’s just no big deal. Heck, there were even two dogs at the Louis Vuitton store (and, no, I didn’t buy anything there).

I think the Deutches Museum was the only place where I saw a “No Pets” sign. Every other spot was cool with animals, and they all behaved quite well.

Maybe that’s the difference. American dog owners are kinda notorious for letting their dogs get a little too rambunctious in public. Same goes for their kids.

* Oscar the Puppy is often a bit too enthusiastic in public, and his breed is infamous for joyously jumping on people by way of a greeting. So we have to keep a close eye on the little guy when he goes anywhere outside the grounds of the International Headquarters.

But he sure wasn’t raucous when we picked him up Monday evening. The poor thing was exhausted from playing with his puppy pals almost non-stop for two weeks. He slept all the way home, then went right to bed.

* Oscar is pretty much fully recovered today, but he was still tuckered out yesterday when I took this video…

One day, I’m gonna take that puppy to the Hofbräuhaus.

       

19 Comments - William j Kelly - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:14 pm: Hes ein guter kleiner hund! - PoolGuy - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:23 pm: been wanting to go to that very castle for like 30+ years now. jealous. think the Disney castle is kinda modelled on that one. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:28 pm: Oscar rules … I look forward to heading to Europe in 2 years or so, for about 3 weeks, and Munich is on the list of a “multi-day stop”. Thanks for sharing. - G'Kar - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:41 pm: The train ride from Munich to Salzburg is pretty spectacular and Salzburg itself is a great little city. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:45 pm: lol Thank you, Rich, for locating your HQ in the US and particularly in Illinois. And what an interesting “cast of characters” you have working there with you. - Skeeter - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:55 pm: Other than going inside to eat, Michigan Ave. in Chicago is remarkably dog friendly, even for large dogs. Off the top of my head, the following on or very near Michigan Ave. are OK with dogs: Best Buy (Hancock), Neiman Marcus, Apple Store, Ferragamo, Coach, Zegna, and Orvis (outdoor gear, Ontario just east of Michigan). I believe that Tiffany was also dog friendly, but I haven’t had any reason to go in there the past few years so I really don’t recall. I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones we are in often. Of those, Neiman Marcus, Apple Store and Orvis really stand out as being the most welcoming. The others are tolerant. And during the summer, there is a long list of outdoor cafes that are dog-friendly in that general area. - Huh? - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:04 pm: What you have to do is get a diagnosis for some strange disease that requires a service dog. Then get Oscar names as your service dog. Once that is done, you can take him anywhere. Obviously the emotional trauma of dealing with Illinois politics for so long should be enough to get a mental health professional to sign off. - Joan P. - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:07 pm: It’s exhausting being so cute! - Original Rambler - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:42 pm: So Oscar gets a roadtrip to Rosemont!?! I heartily recommend a trip to Oktoberfest sometime if you haven’t done so already. 2014 will be 40 years for me and I still yearn to return. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:45 pm: === recommend a trip to Oktoberfest=== Been there, done that, neo-nazi terrorists bombed the place that year. That hasn’t kept me from going back, btw. I just preferred living in Munich without those crazy fest mobs. - Bemused - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:46 pm: The wife and I were in Germany in 2008. Rented a car in Stuttgart and drove down to see Neuschwanstien Castle, very impressive. Have to wonder what it would have looked like had it been finished. We did not do the walk up the hill. Did not want to test my med ins overseas. Even the ride up and down was on the hair raising side. Thought about going to see his dads castle on the other hill but passed on the idea. Lot of fun on the autobahn, doing about 160-170 kph at times. - OneMan - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:48 pm: One of the highlights for me was The Deutches Museum (sort of like the Museum Of Science And Industry on steroids) also would recommend a trip to Klositer Andechs when you go back, really good beer. One beer magazine listed it in it’s top 10 beer things to do… - Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 4:04 pm: ===Klositer Andechs=== Been there. Good stuff. - Just Me - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 4:12 pm: The only things the internet is good for is pictures of puppies and kittens. - FormerParatrooper - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 4:18 pm: Most places I have been overseas have been dog friendly, with the exception of the Middle East. Oscar is too cute. Love the pics and videos. - What's in a name? - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 4:21 pm: Oscar is making me want a dog. I must resist. - Jake From Elwood - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 4:33 pm: Wasn’t “Dogs of Munich” the title of the third Scorpions album? - Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 4:42 pm: Oscar: “I know. NO PETS allowed–can ya believe THAT? And at only that ONE PLACE?!” Rich: “I agree, Oscar. THAT was ridiculous. Aw, you seem sad, and frustrated now thinkin’ back on it…Me too. I know, here–go ahead, TAKE it, ‘n have a little snack on me to cheer up, OK little Buddy?!” - Nearly Normal - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 4:47 pm: Thanks for the Oscar Fix! It has been too long since the last one. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.