Crockery

As the largest crockery market in all of Europe the Dult has plenty of dishes in various forms, colors, and makes. Some stalls cater towards brand name pieces, while others are handmade and make for perfect souvenirs. Don't expect to find any Nymphenburg Porcelain, but still there are beautiful things amidst the chaos.

Treasure Hunters

There is a large array of strange, unique, and interesting things to be found at the Dult. It's a great place to find antiques, although it requires a lot of patience. Sometimes prices are affordable and inexpensive, while other times finding that perfect one-off item means parting with some serious money, because chances are good it won't ever be found again.

Best of luck in finding the perfect thing you never knew you needed!

Steckerlfisch

One of the traditional foods at the festivals here are Steckerlfisch. 'Steckerl' comes from the Bavarian dialect for little stick. The fish - in their entirety - are cooking on sticks that are tilted above charcoals, so be prepared to dig around the bones. Typically Mackerl or a 'Lachsforelle' Sea Troute are used.

Occasionally they can also be found at biergartens in the area as well. Usually the tables surrounding the fish stands are cleared out for the obvious reasons. You have to feel for the guy that cooks them day in and day out.

Socks & Sandals

Being a traditional festival means people must have previously purchased clothing and home goods along side food and entertainment. Now days it is slightly strange to see an array of clothing for sale at the Dult festival. It always makes me wonder if the sales travel Germany and the surrounds to exclusively sell socks and other items at the various festivals.

None the less we all know Germans can easily be spotted the world over with their love of pairing socks with sandals, so there is definitely a market for them - even in the summer.

Soap Box derby

One of many great things about Munich is how the community really gathers for celebrations and innocent fun. Even though one would typically think of the soap box race as child's play there were some very sophisticated cars, unique designs from various political parties, and also the local police who can also have a bit of fun from time to time.

Jakobidult

This week will be dedicated to the Jakobidult, which is a traditional festival that is held at the foot of the Mariahilf church. Being the 700th year that Munich's residents and visitors gather for food, fun, and a bit of hit or miss shopping has something to offer for nearly everyone.

Last Friday the festivities began under torrential rains with a spot on local television. Celebrations continued through the weekend with a soap box car race on Sunday and will continue until August 1st. It's a great place to wear tracht (lederhosen and dirndls) or to see the locals dressed up in their traditional wears.

Berry Picking

One of the simple summer pleasures is leaving the city center to pick your own berries. The fields are relatively close to the city center as well and some are even accessible by jumping on the S-Bahn.

Depending on the time of summer one can find strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and even currants. It's a fun family activity and the berries stay fresh much longer than those that are purchased at the store. Don't forget to bring an enormous bowl and some cash!

Post Office

Visiting the Post Office is something many people here loathe. It's a prime example of German bureaucracy. It's possible to buy stamps at a machine, as the woman on the far right is doing, however you have to know the exact envelope size, weight, and destination are three variables that will determine the price. If you need change prepare to receive it back in the form of stamps.

Any uncertainty requires standing in the endless line. Usually the postal worker pulls out their handy drawer to measure exactly. While you're at it, forget getting your mail delivered if it has anything than the name of the resident that is registered at the KVR. Not even addressing something to 'Oma (insert last name)' will work.

Honey

Bees are not a very common sight in the city, especially since 20% of the one million colonies didn't survive the winter, which as been blamed on the Varroa mite. Some beekeepers have even gone as far as stealing other keeper's hives.

It looks as though bees are becoming even more valuable in Germany, because some airports have gone as far as using bees to detect local air quality.

Surprisingly there is a very large variety of honey available in Germany in varieties as varied as avocado and lavender, which makes a unique gift to bring someone.

I mog Di

What was the wedding reception of Bavaria's Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen continues to be quite the celebration. This year's Oktoberfest marks the 200th anniversary of 'the Wies'n' (as the locals say). In less than two months, in addition to another year of beer guzzling, carnival rides, and mass tourism, expect to see horse races, old fashioned Oktoberfest tents, and carousels at Theresienwiese.

It may also be worth stopping at the Stadtmuseum (city museum) to check out their exhibit to see how the festivities have evolved.

*I mog Di is Bavarian dialect for 'Ich mag dich' or 'I like you'.

Pavillion 21

This angular intergalactic looking structure is actually a temporary instillation called Pavillion 21. Mini Automobiles (owned by BMW) and the Bavarian city opera have joined in creating this events hall that features music, film, yoga, and performances until July 25th.

This unique structure certainly captures the attention of passersby and offers patrons of the arts yet another venue to explore.

Lights, Camera, Action!

On Metzstraße, one of Munich's most picturesque streets, is the filming of Kung Fu Mama / Mom 007 for the German TV channel RTL. Much of the German TV production is done in Köln, however there are several streets around the city that make you feel as though you are on a movie set with the village like atmosphere, cobbled streets, and beautiful produce stands.

Don't worry... the Swat man was part of the production.

Japanfest

This past weekend was the Japanfest at the Japanese Tea House in the English Garden. It is interesting to see how different cultures celebrate and how their culture gets reinterpreted.

Ikebana, Japanese foods, traditional clothing, and the manga subculture were out in full force. There were plenty people partaking in 'cosplay' complete with circle contact lenses in an array of colors, including pink and white. I prefer to see the beautiful kimonos and appreciate the more traditional aspects of the festival.

Kocherl Ball

Munich is certainly a city of traditions. Waking up before the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning might not sound like a lot of fun, however joining over 10,000 of the city's revelers in enjoying a candle light breakfast and merry making at the Chinese Tower is definitely worth losing some sleep.

The annual cooks ball was once a time for the servants, help, and cooks to slip away for a celebration. It has now turned into a chic see and be seen event with some very elaborate costumes and plenty of dancing and drinks to go around.

Sweet relief

The city has been under a drastic heat wave that doesn't seem to be relenting. The best ways to deal with the heat include making a trip to the Isar River or finding a shady biergarten with plenty of cold beverages.

Germans occasionally tell their children if they don't eat their vegetables it will rain the next day, so it looks as though they should trade those veggies in for ice cream - pronto!

Auf Wiedersehen

I am very excited to continue this project and will explore the far stretches of this sweet little city.

Troy certainly leaves some very big shoes to fill and will be greatly missed. Each day I looked forward to seeing the hidden corners of Munich through his eyes. He definitely made the most out of his 30 months here, which can serve as inspiration for us all.

Thank you, Troy! We all wish you the very best.

With the World Cup matches now over there are remnants of seldom seen German pride doting the city. A florist in the Hauptbahnhof has decorated anthurium to match the colors of the German flag. It will be 4 more years until we see this patriotism creep back into the daily life. Hopefully by then the vuvuzelas will be long forgotten.

A Time to Say Farewell…

After 30 months in Munich, it’s unfortunately time for us to depart the city and this fun project, called Munich Daily Photo. The good news is that I have a great friend who has agreed to take the project over – which I am very excited about, as I will be able to continue to see this tremendous city through her eyes. I will let her introduce herself as she is ready to start in the coming days. So on my final post I return to the spot of my first post – Kardinal-Faulhaber-Strasse, gazing at the majestic domes of the Frauenkirche. I love this street because it encapsulates so much about Munich, with the Archbishop’s palace, and the Palais Porcia (Munich’s oldest baroque style palace – built in 1693) in the foreground. The street also is where you will find the Palais Holnstein, which has served as the home of Munich’s Archbishop since 1818. And don’t be surprised when you see the outline of Kurt Eisner Bodendenkmal’s body (the first Bavarian Prime Minister after abolition of Monarchy) who was killed there. I like this street because – like Munich - it is unassuming but packs so much history. Most visitors would never make it to this street, but it tells so many stories about Munich – with its Literaturehaus + the English Hugendugel bookstore. That’s the unique part of Munich, it has so many sides, so many layers to get to know, so many intensely interesting streets to walk down. So on my 732nd post, and on my 732nd adventure, and on my 732nd walk down an interesting Munich street – I say "Auf Wiedersehen!"

Opera in the Park

OK.  I’ve mentioned it many times before, but I’ll do it again.  I love the Hofgarten.  The former garden of the residence, with its neo-classical arcade, and its well manicured lawns.  I came by the other day and a beautiful woman was singing one of the famous operas over lunch.  When you combined the picturesque backdrop of the arcade and the Theatinerkirche and Odeonzplatz behind it, with the new-found sun that has brought everyone out to the parks – it was absolutely perfect.  One of our first weekends after moving from Paris to Munich, we met a family from Salzburg – and they said that Munich was a much more cultured city than Paris because it had two city orchestras.  While I can’t argue this point, I can say you are not likely to repeat such a scene in the US.  I believe this is a uniquely European experience.

Attention to Detail

It’s always so strange to walk into the Theatinerkirche in Munich.   The facade is so colorful and bold, and the inside is so white and intricate.  All of the inside has such a remarkably light feeling, thanks to its brilliant white color.  It seems the perfect place to see the sunset coming through the windows.  The Church was build in 1690, and today the structure takes up the better part of the block leading up to Odeonsplatz.  It’s really quite stunning to see from the royal gardens – the Hofgarten.  combine the gardens with the view of the Residence, the old market of Odeonsplatz, and the beautiful church – and you realize that this is Munich at its finest.

Happy Fourth of July

A group of American expats celebrate an impromptu independence day event.  Where else?  But at the beer gardens in Munich.  There is an estimated 350,000 Americans expats in Munich, significantly more during Oktoberfest, of course.  So happy 234th birthday to the US, and happy celebration to all those Americans abroad.  Of course, in Munich the US consulate always has an official event, but I think you’re better off choosing your favorite beer garden, where the kids can play and the adults can gather. That’s the beauty of a US celebration in Munich.

And Now Reality Sets in

Four hours after the party began, was the realization that Germany would have to face Spain in the semi-finals of the world Cup. On paper, Spain looks like the top team by far in the tournament. It was the odds-on favorite coming into the event. With that said, Spain has looked shaky in early rounds. We sat outside last night watching the Spain/Paraguay match with a slew of Germans hoping to meet Paraguay in the next round. But after Spain beat Paraguay 1-0, the next match up between the European nations was set. On the opposite bracket, the Netherlands will play Uruguay. Europe was the big flop of the last round, with big names Italy, France & England going out; but with all three teams surviving to this round, it is likely for an all Europe final.

Let the Party Begin

The combination of a dominating 4-0 win vs favored Argentina, temperatures in the 90s, and knowing that Germany made it to the semi-finals or final four made for a party along Leopoldstrasse. Germany has proven throughout the World Cup that when their team shows up to play, they can pound opponents with a punishing offensive threat. As usual, Leopoldstrasse is where the biggest party in town is, and hundreds of thousands of people shut down a 2-mile stretch of the Munich thoroughfare. You could barely move throughout the crowds and the sea of the black, red, and yellow was enough to make anyone feel patriotic.

Arabella Haus

In the Northeast corner of Munich, you find a section of Bogenhausen that not many of the locals know much about – unless you work at the Hypo bank headquarters there or at the Westin Grande or Sheraton Arabella (pictured), which now house the two towers.  The buildings were developed as hotels to meet the increased capacity required for the 1972 Munich Olympics, and to this day serve as hotels, but also residential apartments and multiple clinics.  This is a picture of the facade of the Arabella Haus.  The thing that surprised me the most about this area though was how ethnically diverse it is.  The hotels and the neighborhood clearly cater to those from the Middle East, and as you walk through the park about 50% of those you pass are in traditional Middle Eastern clothing.