Storks are said to bring the babies in Germany. The legend began during pagan times in Northern Germany when families would hope to have storks nest on their roof tops to bring fertility. Here a family's home is decorated for its newest addition. 
Occasionally in Munich department stores there will be a table where the bride and groom will place gifts they'd like to receive for their guests to purchase, however gift registries are not very common. Cold hard cash seems to be the gift of choice and finding a creative way to present it is sure to win points. Some fold bills into origami shapes, forms, or characters, while others painstakingly freeze or incorporate coins into ice or gelatin.
Dancing is always an essential part of wedding celebrations - particularly dancing a Waltz. There are also a variety of speeches, skits, singing, and perhaps guest appearances. It seems Bavarians really let their hair down when it's time to celebrate a wedding. I've witnessed a magic show, slide shows, and even performances by people dressed up as Michael Jackson and Elvis. 
Carrying on with the wedding theme it can be difficult to know exactly what to wear. Some wedding parties opt for ultra traditional tracht of the finest quality, while others are comfortable celebrating in jeans, which don't seem festive enough for a wedding. It's also possible to be surprised with a change of clothes turning dinner into a black tie affair complete with tuxedos and cocktail dresses. The closer the proximity to a large city the more formal the celebrations tend to be, but it's always interesting to see the mix of attire.
Bavaria is heavily Catholic, however the trend seems to be living with a partner for years before getting married. Every wedding I've attended in Bavaria the bride and groom have been married civilly for about 6 months before having a church wedding, although some forgo that all together. 
One of the funniest idioms in German is, "Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof" (Literally translates to: I only understand train station) meaning 'I'm not quite following or don't understand'. 
The Kreisverwaltungsreferat on Poccistraße is affectionately called the KVR and is a place foreigners of the city love to hate. They deal in all things resident, visa, or work permit related. It should be advised to arrive early to avoid waiting in the dreaded queue. If unable to arrive early don't panic... it's quite a fascinating look into Germany's changing society. There are a myriad of languages being spoken and often large groups of people accompanying one another. Information is not consistent across the board, so in addition to bit of documentation bring plenty of patience.
Today marks the season opening for the Bundesliga with a game between FC Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg. This cover of 11 Freunde - a magazine for 'Füssballkultur' playfully uses the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band with various players and a couple WAGS (wives and girlfriends) in the mix. (Interestingly the Beatles largely got their start in Germany often playing concerts in Hamburg's infamous Reeperbahn area. )
The Kaufingerstraße pedestrian zone between Marienplatz and Karlsplatz often has many fruit stands. They typically have affordable and seasonal produce. Interestingly the prices can vary substantially. I tend to be cautious if there is an 'angebot' (sale), because occasionally the fruit is moldy. It also appears many will display their more picturesque fruits along with a sign stating no self service. 
The first pilgrimages to Andechs were way back in 1138 and it continues to be a a right of passage for Munich residents and adventurous tourists. If the weather is right it's a nice day trip to the swanky Starnberg area. 
There have been may factors that are said to be to blame for the declining birthrate in Germany: an over educated population that focuses on careers, marrying later in life, the cost of raising children, and of course the bedding. Surprisingly this isn't a photo of a burnt orange 'Asian' themed duvet, which is hopefully a dying trend. 
What separates two people most profoundly is a different sense and degree of cleanliness 
It's nice to see children enjoying a puppet show outdoors as opposed to being inside watching television. 
Munich loves it's annual celebrations. Sommerfest has been happening since 1982. What was supposed to be a one-time event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the olympics is now an annual celebration held at Coubertinplatz. 
Several movie theaters around the city have hand painted signs, which give a personalized and artistic touch to what has become a mass produced and instantaneous advertising world. It's nice to see that the tradition lives on.
Germans aren't often known for their humor. It's there and often in satirical form, but it's not easily identified when learning the complex language, which isn't exactly flexible. 
Visitors who don't enjoy stretching out of their comfort zone can always stop at McDonald's - the global fast food giant. They may be surprised to see several different items on the menu, including beer and for a limited time the 'Nürnburger' made with sausages. 
Despite seeing a slight slump in the economy there are many building projects going on around the city. It's a place that is continually evolving and reinventing itself, which is one reason it's such a great place to live. I enjoy seeing the various layers and complexities of the city as it rebuilds.
Voters decided last month to put an end to indoor smoking at restaurants with a 61% against smoking with under 40% of voter turn out. This past weekend the ruling went into effect, so theoretically all smoking indoors should be a thing of the past. If the new laws will be enforced is another question. 
Germany is very car oriented with Audi + BMW in Bavaria and Mercedes + Porsche in nearby Stuttgart. On occasion you may notice a distinctly patterned car on the streets of Munich. They are unmarked, but nearly impossible not to notice. The bold patterns and swirling designs are meant to hide the contours of these yet to be released designs while giving their test drivers a better idea of how the car handles in real situations. 
Visitors to Munich are sometimes disappointed by the lack of options in going out at night. While entertaining is typically done outside of people's homes and apartments, many bars and restaurants close relatively early. Amazingly even the biergartens close before midnight. The best areas to find something going on tend to be Schwabing, Haidhausen, Maxvorstadt, and the Glockenbachviertel.
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.
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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.
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. 
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 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.
I am very excited to continue this project and will explore the far stretches of this sweet little city. 
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!"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
