Abolish

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.

Palais Holstein

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.

Rad

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!

Destruction

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.

Excavation

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.

Former Karstadt am Dom

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.

Bayerische Hypotheken

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.

Where's Winter?

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.

Simply spent

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.

Winter Fruits

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

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.

MJ in the snow

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.

Window Shopping

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.

Advent

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.

White Roofs

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

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.

Rebuild

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.

Blumen

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.

Wolpertinger

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.

Oldest Tavern

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.