of kids and kings

St. Michael's Church, and Ludwig's
final resting place (unless they decide
to move him again...)

Today is the anniversary of the death of Bavaria's "mad king" Ludwig II.  Yesterday we were at his tomb in the basement of St. Michael's Church here in downtown Munich.  For 2€ you too can go into the sepulcher.  A fellow visitor pointed out to us the fresh lilies left there by the community of Schwanngau, down south near his famous masterpiece of a castle, Neuschwannstein.

We popped in at the Hofbrauhaus
to soak up the atmosphere
(if not the beer)

We will be visiting the Schwanngau region and Ludwig's famous castle in a few days, and I'm sure it will be a highlight of our trip.  He is still revered and famous here for his irrationally ornate building program and his patronage of the arts (especially the operas of Richard Wagner).  Beside his casket, finely decorated and surrounded with recent memorials, lay less revered coffins of dozens of family members, some who died in childhood.  How different is the memory of humans from the memory of God.  Orlando di Lassus may give way to Michael Jackson in human memory, but God remembers every peasant, prince, and unnamed child just as fully, and with just as much love.

Hanging out at the royal palace capped off our stay in Munich.