Munich Daily Photo

Spring Forward

2011-03-27T17:00:00.000+02:00

Today is the dreaded time change. While having an extra hour of day light is nice, it also means waking an hour earlier, which can be difficult to get used to.

Afternoon glow

2011-03-25T13:00:00.001+01:00

While the trees are still awakening from the never ending Winter slumber the surfers are not... especially with good weather to enjoy the wave. It's the perfect day to skip out of work a little early and meet some friends at a local biergarten or to take your surfboard over to the Eisbach.

Mid-day Warmth

2011-03-24T14:00:00.000+01:00

Everyone is trying to coax the Spring weather into staying. It's also interesting to see what people tend to wear this time of year. It's a big mix of those staying bundled for the Winter with scarves and jackets, as well as the random t-shirt or American tourist in sandals. Then again you can always bring the butterflies along, too.

Petit Marché

2011-03-23T12:00:00.000+01:00

The train station always seems to have something interesting going on, from the interesting characters it seems to draw, lost tourists, and occasional pop up market. Here's a touch of France to grab some foods and products if time or money don't allow for hoping on the train yourself.

Abolish

2011-03-22T16:00:00.000+01:00

It seems to be a daily occurrence for foreigners to be discussed on the news, in the newspapers, or on the streets. Here a group gathers at Sendlinger Tor as part of a nationwide day of action to rid the country of discriminatory laws towards refugees and asylum seekers.

20 C+M+B+ 11

2011-03-21T12:10:00.003+01:00

This interesting marking that can be seen on various doors around the city is usually put up promptly after the new year and left for the rest of the year. The numbers represent the current year, while the C+M+B are the three wise men Caspar, Melchior, Blathazar.

It's interesting to see this small blessing, because although Bavaria is very Catholic, it seems as though few are actually practicing.

[edit: Reader Lief says C+M+B actually means "Christus mansionem benedicat" which means "may Christ bless this house" - my sources were wrong. Thank you]

Maxstraße

2011-03-20T12:05:00.001+01:00

Aptly named after Maximilian II, with his statue seen in the background, Maximilianstrasse houses both government and the city's swankiest shops. On a Sunday afternoon it turns into another place for people to enjoy a stroll or bike ride.

Sankt Nikolai

2011-03-18T12:00:00.000+01:00

This sweet little chapel looks somewhat out of place in the city center, however it's been here long before the modern surrounds. Originally built in 1315 it's most famed for it's ornate stations of the cross.

Hertie

2011-03-16T15:00:00.000+01:00

The remnants of Hertie, which was a department store, is now an interesting area of the city. Last week I was surprised to watch several 'taggers' spray painting the windows in broad day light. This week the windows have been removed from the upper floors, which were probably once office buildings. It will be interesting to see what becomes of this corner.

Fire station

2011-03-15T11:00:00.000+01:00

What was once a fire station is now part of a school. The telling details are the archways that are obscured by the trees is where fire trucks were stored and the bell on top which rang when the alarms went off.

Palais Holstein

2011-03-14T11:30:00.000+01:00

The Palais Holstein is undergoing a bit of renovation, so I went and took a few photos of the interior, which is jaw dropping. Here is one of the courtyard. This residence has been home to the Archbishops of Munich, including the famed Pope Benedict XVI, who stayed here as recently as September 2006.

Hops

2011-03-13T14:00:00.001+01:00

Hops is one of the major ingredients of beer. This floral looking blossom is the female part of the plant and gives beer stability and flavoring. The world's largest hop planting area can be found of course in Bavaria, in a place called Hallertau.

Rad

2011-03-12T11:00:00.001+01:00

This is one kitted out Bavarian bike. The exciting part is that bikes are out of storage and being spotted around the city more and more. Spring is on the way!

Preysinger House

2011-03-10T12:00:00.000+01:00

One of the most picturesque streets in all of Munich has to be this tiny stretch in Haidhausen. On a tour of the neighborhood I was told this is the oldest house. It's nice to envision what the area once resembled with the quaint cobble street and steep sloped roof tops straight out of a storybook.

Schwabing scaffolding

2011-03-09T11:00:00.000+01:00

The Altstadt isn't the only area with construction in the city. It also appears some very ambitious street artists climbed the scaffolding to decorate the neighboring buildings. And yes, your eyes are not fooled... that's intended to be Michael Jackson.

Fasching

2011-03-08T17:00:00.000+01:00

Viktualienmarkt and Karlsplatz were the two places where the city gathered to celebrate on the eve of Lent. Costumes are often elaborate and comical. I've seen these two drag queens every year that I went to take in this interesting cultural event. Another famous Queen member also lived in Munich - Freddie Mercury.

Pre-Fasching Festivities

2011-03-07T23:00:00.001+01:00

The Fasching party starts an evening early with confetti, costumes, and a stage already in place. The people of Munich always seem up for a party. It makes me wonder what tourists who unexpectedly stumble upon this think.

Market Frauen

2011-03-06T11:00:00.001+01:00

Viktualienmarkt's ladies dancing is always a treat provided the weather is nice and the crowds are tame. Considering things begin at 11am it's usually not so bad.

Fixer Upper

2011-03-03T22:00:00.000+01:00

The main artery of Munich is Marienplatz and the criss-crossing subway lines underground. Marienplatz's underground will soon be undergoing some changes, which include connecting the Marienhof Ubahn entry with the rest of the station as well as a facelift to fix some water drainage issues.

Krapfen

2011-03-01T22:00:00.000+01:00

Bakeries all around the city are gearing up for Fasching. Krapfen (which may be one of my least favorite German words) come in a large array of flavors. So far my favorite has been the caipirinha inspired with brown sugar and lime.

Weißwurst

2011-02-27T11:00:00.001+01:00

Munich's traditional breakfast of weißwurst sausages (never more than 2), pretzels with sweet mustard, and a weißbier is a great weekend activity. My word of advice is not to ask or know what is in the sausage, because it's a bit less enjoyable. Locals also refuse to eat these after noon, which dates back to the olden days when refrigeration was uncommon.

After dark

2011-02-23T23:30:00.000+01:00

Tourists are often disappointed to find Marienplatz and the city center are very quiet after business hours. Even in the middle of the night Munich is quite safe and so very peaceful even if the Rathaus looks slightly spooky.

Destruction

2011-02-22T12:00:00.004+01:00

Here's an updated image of the destruction / construction going on along Kaufingerstraße. It will be interesting to see the progress over the coming months and what I'm told will be the new home for Sport Scheck.

Old Man Winter

2011-02-21T10:40:00.001+01:00

This fountain sums up my feelings regarding Winter. As soon as it feels as though it might be over it comes back and is impossible to escape.

Coffee Thaw

2011-02-20T16:00:00.002+01:00

After a dusting of snow and blistery temperatures Starbucks decided to set up a small van and hand out samples to help people get through what we hope is the final freeze of the season.

Snowgarten

2011-02-19T14:00:00.001+01:00

I'm not alone in missing the biergartens and anxiously awaiting their opening. The only somewhat redeeming fact is that starkbier is available at some groceries around the city, although getting friends to crawl out of hibernation to enjoy them with may be another issue.

Local lore

2011-02-14T15:00:00.000+01:00

In being such a village of a city it's easy to begin to recognize people on the streets. Some stand out more than others due to distinct clothing choices, while others seem to always be in the same location. On occasion it's a combination of the two, which is the case here. For the record leg and arm warmers increase 'kreislauf' so the German circulation sickness isn't able to take hold even in the middle of winter.

Excavation

2011-02-13T12:00:00.001+01:00

In keeping with the notion that the city is really undergoing a revitalization period there is yet another construction / excavation project underway on Westenriederstraße, which will include a new building complete with 14 apartments, 2 offices, 2 store fronts, and a garage with 18 parking spaces. Property in Munich is at a premium and costs nearly double as much as any other German city.

The ruins below must have such interesting stories to tell.

One stop shop

2011-02-12T13:00:00.000+01:00

A quiet scene in Viktualienmarkt. Believe it not beer isn't the only beverage of choice around here. Rieslings and Franken Wine are made in Bavaria, too. The sign for the Obazda, as well as the 'obst standl' in the background are also typical for the area. One wonderful aspect of the Bavarian dialect is the ability to add an 'l' to the end of virtually anything and instantly it denotes something small.

Picasso

2011-02-10T22:25:00.000+01:00

The Brandhorst Museum has a collection of notebooks from Picasso on display so viewers can get a glimpse at some of the prolific artist's works. If you go to check out the exhibit you can see for yourself how Picasso used artistic license and inspiration from others to gain such a reputation.

Lunch break

2011-02-09T17:00:00.002+01:00

Area workers and those traversing through the city center stop for a bite to eat or chat with friends at the Rindermarkt. Having such a mild winter occasionally means blue skies and sunny days, which are happily accepted everywhere.

In need of a change

2011-02-08T22:00:00.001+01:00

Walking past many of the city's travel offices and outfitter shops it's difficult not to notice ads for Tunisia and Egypt still decorating the windows. The beat on the street is that Germany could do its small part to ease tensions by having Mubarak come here for his medical treatments. Human rights advocates may not favor this idea, but having peaceful protesters injured is also not ideal, so hopefully there is a resolution soon.

Former Karstadt am Dom

2011-02-07T15:00:00.001+01:00

Along the füßgangerzone the old Karstadt building is drawing a lot of attention. There are quite a few interesting projects going on in the city center with cranes and building projects underway all over town. It will be interesting to see how the new building blends with its surrounds. Here's to hoping it's not going to be yet another H&M or run of the mill chain store.

Riegsee

2011-02-06T21:00:00.000+01:00

With beautiful blue skies and the shining sun it was the perfect weekend to get out and enjoy the weather. The area South of Munich has considerably more snow than we see in the city. Some of the visitors tempted fate by walking onto the frozen lake.

Sicherheit

2011-02-05T20:00:00.000+01:00

All kinds of craziness was going on today in the city center. The 42nd Munich Safety Conference, which Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel, as well as many other global power players attended was held at the Bayerischer Hof. The increased police presence with heavily armored gear stood on virtually every corner as protesters for a myriad of issues gathered in Marienplatz and the fußgängerzone.

As I walked through anti-globalization protesters were chanting reggae style to 'burn Berlin to the ground'.

Bayerische Hypotheken

2011-02-04T12:00:00.000+01:00

The façade of the old Bayerische Hypotheken und Wechsel Bank fascinates me, because it's the beautiful remains of the old Central Banking district. HypoVereinsbank, which sponsors the Fünf Höfe art museum, moved locations in 1998 opening this area to be more of a shopping mall. It's a fantastic symbiosis of melding old and new.

Hospital

2011-02-03T12:00:00.001+01:00

Visiting and navigating the hospital is always an interesting experience, especially in a different country. Considering that having a baby is one of the only joyful reasons for being there.

Something I'm hearing more and more of is shopping around for delivery rooms that offer a variety of foods, paint colors, and music choices. It should come as no surprise that many new parents want to fool themselves into believing they will deliver exactly as they envisioned.

Stolperstein

2011-02-02T00:00:00.001+01:00

Of roughly 10,000 Jewish citizens in Munich when Hitler came to power, only about 200 were left alive at the end of WWII.

Many cities throughout Germany and other affected countries have adapted these golden 'stumbling block' pavers, which can be seen in the lobby of the Hochschule für Musik und Theater on Arcisstraße.

You may wonder why they aren't included on our city streets. More information can be found on the Initiative Stopersteine site.

Pinakothek der Moderne

2011-02-01T12:00:00.000+01:00

Munich has a large affinity for art and museums. The Kunstareal 'art district' of the city continues to flourish and several new projects are slated for opening next year. Pictured here is the Pinakothek der Moderne, which was designed by Stephan Braunfels and opened in 2002. The collection is impressive and includes pieces from Warhol, Picasso, Hockney, and many more.

ZOB

2011-01-23T22:00:00.002+01:00

Snow covers the Zentral Omnibus Bahnhof as scattered snow storms and freezing temps sweep through the region. This intergalactic looking building houses one of the bus stations of Munich (the other being way out at the Allianz Arena). Soon it will transform into more of a business park with the next door Skygarden, which had an open house Friday evening.

Social Experiment

2011-01-22T17:00:00.001+01:00

Each time I visit the airport I seem to encounter an interesting phenomenon. Being the diligent law abiding citizen I always buy my S-bahn ticket, however a day ticket is a few cents more than a one way. Once I arrive at the airport it never seems to fail that it's next to impossible to give the ticket away. I've tried more than once. I'm not looking for payment, but here it seems the kindness of strangers is looked upon with extreme caution. I guess it goes under the same file as no 'leave a cent, take a cent' container at cash registers. Instead you just receive the 'German stare'.

Paleontology

2011-01-21T13:05:00.000+01:00

Getting out in the cold wet weather can take some effort, however there are really impressive things to see indoors. The Paleontology Museum always fascinates me, because they hold classes there for university students and they have interesting little treasures all around the building, like this ancient little marine crab from Verona (Munich's twin / sister city).

Vending

2011-01-20T12:00:00.000+01:00

If you've traversed through the Hauptbahnhof lately you may have noticed this small machine tucked in the corner near the Kardstadt S-bahn entrance. Looking more similar to something you'd find in Japan is this vending machine filled with electronic gadgets for those that need instant gratification. Inside are hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, ipods, cameras, and headphones. Maybe it's only time before we get one similar to Nürnberg's that has detergent and kitty litter as well.

Olympic Preparations

2011-01-17T12:00:00.000+01:00

While we're not certain if the Winter olympics will come our way we're still doing things the German way - being ultra prepared and having a finesse for detailed engineering. This is an image of the plans near the construction area at the Olympic Park. I'm not entirely certain what they have going on there, but the subterranean shell looks mighty interesting. I'm curious where it will have foot traffic, similar to the Opera House in Oslo. The latest stat is that 60% of the area wants the Olympics. We'll see if the other 40% can be swayed with Katarina Witt's campaign.

Big Top

2011-01-16T12:00:00.003+01:00

Tucked away behind the ZOB bus station and the Hackbrücke S-bahn stop is the Zirkus Crone, where faint scents of animals can occasionally be smelled during the warmer months. The arena has everything from Europe's largest circus to intimate concerts and performances. It's interesting to see this venue be used for such varied shows. Now if only I could get a job working as a trapeze artist then I'd be set.

Biblical Naming

2011-01-15T12:00:00.000+01:00

Bavarian born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, now known as Pope Benedict XVI hails from Bavaria. He was anointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977 and later became Cardinal. If a trip to the Vatican isn't in the cards his bronzed bust can be visited at the Frauenkirche. Clearly Munich is always in his prayers.

Lately Pope Benedict been in the news because of his comments on wishing people would return to using Biblical when naming their children. The most popular names for 2010 in Germany were Mia (coming from Maria) and Leon and in Bavaria they included Lena and Maximillian.

Where's Winter?

2011-01-14T12:00:00.001+01:00

While much of the world is suffering through the Winter, flooding, and all around bad weather we've been showered with a bit of sun and unseasonably warm days. It's the perfect time get the bikes out of storage and enjoy some outdoor exercise or perhaps stumble upon something new.

So Not Berlin

2011-01-13T14:00:00.001+01:00

The city occasionally has thought provoking stickers and graffiti. It's funny to see a sticker stating 'so not Berlin' considering street art is very much Berlin. Is that a slight towards Munich placed by someone from Berlin or rather a sense of pride in not being 'unrefined' Berlin?

While Munich and Berlin are often the antithesis of one another, each city seems to have loads of heimat pride. It's interesting to note the dichotomy between the two. Sometimes they seem like feuding siblings: homogenous vs. diverse, village vs. metropolis, old vs. new... the list goes on.

Staunch supporters can be found on both sides and newcomers to the city will often find themselves being asked by residents the loaded question, 'How do you like it here?'. Proceed with caution.

Streets of Culture

2011-01-12T12:00:00.000+01:00

One of the joys of walking through the Fußgängerzone of Kaufingerstraße is stumbling upon street performers and talents from around the world. Here two throat singers give onlookers reason for pause as their interesting sounds reverberate through the air.

Student of Life

2011-01-11T12:00:00.000+01:00

Being a perpetual student doesn't always require formally attending a school or university, but being willing to poke around and explore foreign areas of the city. This is the atrium of LMU, which is one of Germany's most prestigious universities. Does anyone know anything about the organ?

Lost Luggage

2011-01-10T15:00:00.001+01:00

Hopefully everyone had a well rested holiday and avoided the airport chaos. This was the scene as I was leaving Munich. Seeing as though our fine city fared better than many others I can only imagine the delays and lost baggage people encountered elsewhere.

Frohe Weihnachten

2010-12-23T20:00:00.000+01:00

Without being politically incorrect I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. Whether or not everyone celebrates Christmas is besides the point since Bavaria itself is very Catholic. This time of year it's wonderful for reflection and certainly everyone can appreciate the slower pace of life to enjoy family, friends, foods, and fun. The important things in life.

I will be enjoying those things as well and will spend much of the holidays in foreign lands, so I will resume posting after the New Year. Safe and happy holidays to everyone and thank you for your support!

Frozen Bar

2010-12-23T13:40:00.000+01:00

Not much of the city's snow lingers, except where a restaurant has made a snow bar outside. Much of Europe and Germany remains to be struggling with the snow and delayed flights. Here's to hoping you're all safely where you will be celebrating Christmas or any another festive holiday.

Tollwood

2010-12-22T13:30:00.002+01:00

The heavily trafficked, but not heavily touristed, Tollwood helps to make use of the Oktoberfest grounds throughout December. It's a very different type of Christmas market centering more around hand made items, green living, and more global outlook. There are many vendors selling foods and wares from different cultures. It's worth checking out, especially since it's interesting to see the dichotomy between conservative Bavaria and it's more liberal corners. Tollwood is open until the end of the year culminating with a New Years Eve bash.

O Tannenbaum

2010-12-21T12:00:00.001+01:00

People search for the perfect Christmas tree in the middle of the city. Nordmanns appear to be quite popular, although the trees come in many varieties, shapes, and sizes.

Traditionally the tree is put up on Christmas Eve, the 24th of December, and may remain until the 7th of January. Many Christmas traditions date back to Germany, however it seems like a lot of rushing around on Christmas Eve between getting a tree ready, having a visit from Christkind, going to Mass, and figuring out how to have time to cook something for dinner. Many families traditionally have wurst, which seems a bit uneventful.

Horse Drawn Carriage

2010-12-20T13:20:00.002+01:00

A young girl greets the horses at the Chinese Tower Christmas market where they take people on a ride through the park. It's certainly worth going for a stroll through our very own Winter Wonderland, which will soon give way to unseasonably warm weather.

Naughty & Nice

2010-12-19T20:00:00.000+01:00

The Krampus weren't through with Munich just yet. On lookers appreciated the run through the city, although many children were slightly traumatized. I can only imagine what those who never heard of this tradition thought about these demonic looking creatures wrecking havoc. The tourists seemed to enjoy it nonetheless.

Munich 2018

2010-12-18T14:00:00.000+01:00

The 2018 Winter Olympic campaign was in full effect in the Marienhof complete with a hot air balloon today. Somewhat ironic is the area where the balloon is currently standing will be demolished in the coming months to make way for the new S-bahn line that has Haidhausen in an uproar.

While plenty of people would gladly love to host the olympics here, thus making it the first city to host both summer and winter olympics, farmers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen are already stating they won't be giving up their land.

It's a rocky start to the bid and clearly will be interesting to see what happens. The winner will be announced 6 July 2011. Other areas in the running include Annecy, France and Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Simply spent

2010-12-17T19:00:00.001+01:00

Kaufingerstraße is blanketed with snow and pedestrians as they scavenge the shops for the perfect gift. It's easy to get wrapped up in the season of giving that quickly turns to consumerism, however time is the most precious gift that can't be bought, but simply spent.

S-bahn freeze

2010-12-16T20:00:00.000+01:00

With day after day of snow and freezing temperatures some of the S-bahns have had issues running on schedule. It looks like the coming week will create more sludge and leave us all guessing as to whether or not this will be a white Christmas.

Cirkus Krone

2010-12-15T23:00:00.001+01:00

Dedicated fans lined up in the freezing temperatures before entering the Cirkus Krone to watch local band and Munich favorite Sportfreunde Stiller in their last tour performance of the year. This venue traditionally houses Europe's largest circus and provides a very unique concert site.

Costs of Christmas

2010-12-14T21:00:00.001+01:00

While recently perusing a German financial magazine I read a small blurb stating many market vendors make 50,000 euros during the Christmas Markets, proving this is certainly a big business. It does make sense considering the glühwein mark up is so steep. Many of the christmas wares are also imported from less expensive countries, like Poland.

Manger Markt

2010-12-13T20:00:00.000+01:00

One of Germany's largest Manger markets is located at the Rindermarkt. There people can stock up on the most intricate pieces to add to their sprawling mangers. Those accents don't come cheap. Pictured here a small metal milk jug costs 3 euros.

Shortly before the year 1600 is when the Christmas mangers started to make their appearance in Munich. Some cities around Germany even have living nativities.

Those with an interest in these carefully planned nativities may enjoy the Krippenweg tours around the churches downtown, which goes until early February 2011.

Weihnachtsmann

2010-12-12T20:00:00.000+01:00

Santa, Christkind, and Nicholas are characters that don't always bridge cultural boundaries. In Germany, Christkind brings the gifts, Nicholas visits on December 6th, and Santa is only seen on packaging - or occasionally wheeling his blinking tricked out bike through Marienplatz.

Shopping Exodus

2010-12-11T19:00:00.001+01:00

Shoppers in the city are out in full force. It's a good thing glühwein stands are only a few steps away from the heavily trafficked stores, because continually bumping into people is slightly more tolerable with a warm mulled wine in your hand provided it doesn't spill, of course.

Winter Fruits

2010-12-10T19:35:00.000+01:00

Cherries, clementines, pomegranates, and fresh dates seem to be the fruits of choice through the winter months. Christmas is a time of simple pleasures and an excuse to splurge on luxury ingredients.

Christmas Wishes

2010-12-09T21:00:00.001+01:00

The German stuffed toy company Steiff always puts on a show in the downtown store front windows. The scenes include moving animals and adorable children deciding the gifts they hope Christkind brings. Here's to hoping they aren't too disappointed when the toys don't move on their own.

Lebkuchen

2010-12-08T12:00:00.001+01:00

While the Christmas markets must be visited to truly be experienced, lebkuchen and glühwein spices are easy gifts to send to loved ones that aren't able to be here. There are an endless variety of Christmas cookies available, although it appears some grocery stories have any already dwindling stock.

Learning to Skate

2010-12-08T11:44:00.005+01:00

Getting onto the ice can be tricky, but it's the perfect family evening activity. Even smaller children get a bit of assistance from the pushable polar bears that offer a bit of support.

Christmas glow

2010-12-07T12:00:00.000+01:00

The view from the Alte Peter down below is quite beautiful at this time of year. The markets radiate and through the next couple days we'll have nicer weather making it not so cold way up high. It's a great place to go to see the city glow.

Catvent

2010-12-06T12:00:00.001+01:00

This advent calendar for cats is too funny not to share. It really demonstrates the importance of the advent calendar in Germany and how much people adore their pets. Each day was filled with a different kind of treat, so Trixie won't be left out. There was also one for rabbits. I'm assuming the dog calendars were sold out.

Krampus Run

2010-12-05T20:00:00.000+01:00

One of my favorite aspects of the Christmas Market was this afternoon - the Krampus Run. It's a bizarre, yet fun ritual that focuses on the darker aspect of Christmas with the Sparifankerl Pass.

The creepy Krampus inspire everyone to behave and this alpine tradition goes back some 500 years. Krampus was theoretically a friend of St. Nicholas who helped take care of those that didn't stay in line.

If you missed the run today, don't fret - there will be another Krampus run throughout the Marienplatz and Manger Markt at the Rindermarkt on December 19th from 4:00-5:00pm. Be forewarned that if you look naughty the Krampus might just give you a smack with their switches.

MJ in the snow

2010-12-04T15:00:00.000+01:00

The holidays in Germany are a great time of reflection and it truly appears that no one is forgotten. The odd shrine to Michael Jackson outside the Bayerischer Hof has stayed current with the seasonal theme and festive decor. He even has his very own 'little Christmas tree'. I wonder if it is there in dedication to his aptly titled song. There's no telling what other gifts will be left throughout the month.

Carolers

2010-12-03T20:00:00.000+01:00

The town hall carolers gather for some live musical entertainment for those enjoying the Christmas market down below each day from 5:30-6:00pm. It certainly makes for an even more festive feeling evening to bring in the weekend.

Window Shopping

2010-12-02T14:35:00.000+01:00

Many of the stores around the city are doing their very best to market their wares to consumers. With Germany having such a strong economy shops are expecting increased sales and higher profits to end the year.

Taking it to the Streets

2010-12-01T12:00:00.001+01:00

Before the strong snow fall students took to the streets for equality in education. This seems to be a hot topic in Germany and many complain there is a caste like system that is oppressive. Here's to hoping they are successful in their wishes and changes can make things more democratic.

Advent

2010-11-30T12:00:00.003+01:00

With the beginning of Advent different calendars are popping up all around the city in shop windows. The tradition of advent calendars began here in Germany back in the 19th century and is a very beloved tradition to get into the holiday spirit. Many office workers have a calendar on their desk usually filled with chocolates for a daily pick me up.

Delayed Flights

2010-11-29T23:00:00.001+01:00

It appears as though not everyone was ready for the heavy snowfall. Flights were delayed throughout much of Europe - including at our very own Franz Josef. At least four plows were making their way through to help planes arrive safely at the gates.

White Roofs

2010-11-28T21:00:00.002+01:00

This year the city received an early blanketing of snow, which has resulted in an early start to the Winter season. Here's to another year of enjoying glühwein and chestnuts.

Mozart

2010-11-27T12:00:00.000+01:00

One of Mozart's very first performances was actually in this fine city in 1762 for Maximillian II. He traversed through many times and even lived in Munich for a very short time, from November 1780 until March 1781. The location of his house has been marked, but it was one of many destroyed during WWII in 1944.

Mad Scientist

2010-11-26T12:00:00.000+01:00

Bright colors aren't often seen in the city. People prefer the city uniform of dark tones and mostly black. It's interesting to see splashes of rebellion on one of my favorite streets.

Rebuild

2010-11-25T12:00:00.000+01:00

Sometimes Munich likes to decorate unsightly scaffolding with decorative pieces or ads. It's always fascinating to look at the multiple layers of the city and consider the history that becomes renewed. We have several vacant spaces in the city center, so it will be interesting to see what appears next or if they will be the next to start anew.

Art Cars

2010-11-24T19:45:00.001+01:00

For some very unique and special paint jobs the BMW World has a fantastic display of various car models decorated by world renowned artists. It's great to check out the museums in the area for some indoor culture as the snow blows into town.

Blumen

2010-11-23T12:00:00.000+01:00

Flower vendors around the city are gearing up for Advent and the colder temperatures. With the long dark days upon us it's a simple pick me up to have fresh flowers or plant life around at home.

Freiheit

2010-11-22T12:00:00.000+01:00

Many of Munich's subway stations have undergone transformations and modernizations in the past couple years. Here is Münchener Freiheit's interior with its fluorescent hilighter color scheme and reflective ceiling. This is one of the arteries of Schwabing and has been open since May 1972.

Schloß Possenhofen

2010-11-20T12:00:00.000+01:00

Schloß Possenhofen at Starnberger See was once inhabited by Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and his family. His daughter is the greatly beloved Kaiserin Elisabeth von Österreich was also known as Sissi. Around the holiday season the movie Sissi is frequently on TV.

The castle itself was built back in 1536. It is now privately held and the rooms are not open to visitors, except for a museum to Sissi, which can be visited during the summer months..

Matte Black

2010-11-19T12:00:00.002+01:00

The new trend in cars here seems to be the incognito matte jet black color. In a span of 3 minutes multiple people passed and uttered the same comment '...so geil'.

Incidentally, upon visiting several German automaker's factories, I'm told the sky is the limit in terms of paint colors. Any color can be matched - for a price.

Landmark

2010-11-18T12:00:00.002+01:00

The North tower of the Frauenkirche is undergoing a bit of renovation. In the past couple of years it seems one of the towers is covered with scaffolding. There are conflicting reports as to the differences in the dome heights. Some say there is a meter difference, while others say it's a mere 12 centimeters. One thing is for certain, the domes were inspired by those seen on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

Wolpertinger

2010-11-17T12:00:00.001+01:00

The mythological Wolpertinger is certainly a sight to be seen. The Hunting and Fishing Museum has an extensive collection of these unique creatures, which are always a combination of body parts from various animals. They are said to inhabit the Bavarian Alps, so next time you head into the mountains keep your eyes peeled.

Rost

2010-11-16T12:00:00.000+01:00

Living in Munich people quickly realize it's a highly desirable place to be. Property isn't cheap and there are continually building projects going on around the city. One such building project is attempting to revitalize the area around the Ostbahnhof, which is infamous for junkies, prostitutes, and Kunstpark. It's rather amazing this area hasn't been developed sooner, because there is so much land from the old factories. It will be interesting to see how this new neighborhood (Rund um den Ostbahnhof aka 'Rost') evolves.

Ice Skating

2010-11-15T12:00:00.001+01:00

The ice skating rink is being constructed at Karlsplatz. It's anyone's guess if the Winter will be mild, although if the fantastic Autumn we've had is any indication it may foreshadow an equally warmer Winter.

Weihnacht decor

2010-11-13T12:00:00.000+01:00

Many stands at the Viktualienmarkt have gotten a jump start on the Christmas decor before the markets open up around the city at the end of the month. Each year it seems as though as soon as Oktoberfest ends Christmas begins to creep in, which is one of the downfalls of not having another celebratory holiday between the two.

St. Martin's Day

2010-11-12T12:00:00.000+01:00

Tiny lanterns and tiny people filled the streets last night as children walked through the city in honor of St. Martin's Day. The traditional food eaten in St. Martin's honor is goose and cabbage and several bakeries even had pastries shaped like geese (Martinsgänse) throughout the day. The geese represent Martin's hesitation to become bishop. Supposedly when he went into hiding they gave away his location to church officials.

Coronation

2010-11-11T11:11:00.000+01:00

Today at 11:11 was the Fasching Coronation of Prince Ahmad I. and Princess Sandra II. at Marienplatz. People gathered to celebrate with beer, sekt, and music.

Ahmad (26) hails from Afghanistan and Sandra (24) is a Münchener Kindl. Together they will celebrate with the Faschingsgesellschaft Würmesia in a variety of events.

Oldest Tavern

2010-11-10T12:00:00.000+01:00

I don't write about restaurants unless they have a historical significance, which is why the Hundskugel shows up here. Not far from Marienplatz is the oldest tavern in Munich dating back to 1440. With only 40 seats I'm told it's rather cosy inside, however I have only admired the quaint Alpinesque exterior. The lit stars above the street make their appearance from late Autumn through the Winter and the entire area is particularly charming when snow covers the ground.

Museum Island

2010-11-09T12:00:00.000+01:00

It's hard to image the small museum island as a wooded area, however it was the source of many of the wooden rafts that floated down the Isar. Nowadays the wooden rafts are used purely for entertainment through the summer months.

Oskar von Miller was the engineer that founded the Deutsches Museum on this spot back in 1903.

Obelisk

2010-11-08T12:00:00.000+01:00

The obelisk at Karolinenplatz has been standing 29 meters tall since 1833 and serves as a memorial to Bavarian soldiers that died during the Napoleonic war. The plaza has many tales to tell and is also home to the former Bruckmann-House.

Sunset

2010-11-04T21:00:00.001+01:00

The unseasonably warm weather leads to unbelievably beautiful sunsets. This was the scene this evening. Now that day light savings time is over you might have to skip out early tomorrow in order to see nature's splendor. Hopefully we'll get an equally as impressive show and another mellow night to start the weekend right.

Flight

2010-11-03T12:00:00.000+01:00

The Deutsches Museum is a treasure trove for science enthusiasts. It also happens to be the largest science and technology museum in the world, so if you go be prepared to spend some time.

The transportation wing is particularly interesting. The cut away of a Lufthansa plane is on display allowing spectators to see how far planes have come since the Wright Brothers original standard model A, which is also part of the Deutsches Museum's collection.

All Souls

2010-11-02T12:00:00.000+01:00

“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” - Norman Cousins

The Catholic holiday of All Souls Day is celebrated today. It's a time of reflection for those that have passed. St. Odilo of Cluny started this tradition way back in 998 and the tradition spread around Western Europe and throughout the world.