Browse Topics
Tools
Editor's choice

Berlin noise: November’s hottest concerts

Talking vernissage: New buildings, old buildings

In Focus: Get the story behind the story

English theatre in Germany: The fall edition

Her-stories and she-roes: Of struggle and success

Across the border: The best stories from Greece to Norway

Dancing in Deutschland: German Festivals in 2009

Expat Voices: Graeme Collins on living in Germany

The Klassical Junkie: Paying Tribute to Berlin

Looking back: Remembering World War II

Internaxx Stock Market
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.3 0.50
DAX 5252.45 1.50
IBEX 30 10726.8 0.59
CAC 40 3377.59 1.40
FTSE 100 4564.5 0.79
AEX 276.85 0.95
DJIA 9096.72 -0.13
Nasdaq 1975.51 0.39
FTSE MIB 20341.67 1.65
TSX Composite 10570.54 -1.74
ASX 4148.9 -0.60
Hang seng 20135.5 -2.37
Straits Times 0.00
ISEQ 20 442.48 0.27
You are here: Home Leisure Arts & Culture Munich: A tale of two cities

29/07/2003Munich: A tale of two cities

Munich is not a city for the faint-hearted.

 

Within the first hour of arriving, our bus driver narrowly avoided three collisions, our taxi driver sang all the street names to us in true operatic style and every train station was swarming with particularly vocal Bayern-Munich supporters.

Coming from Berlin, we weren't ready for the energy and passion that makes Munich such a vibrant, cosmopolitan city.

Walking into Marienplatz for the first time - home to the late-Gothic Neues Rathaus with its famous glockenspiel - I was startled by the bustle and sophistication of Saturday morning shoppers.

For a moment I thought maybe we were in Milan, but then I heard the familiar strains of Bayern supporters and realised my mistake.

Munich is a very compact city with the main squares and museums all within easy walking distance of each other.

Five minutes walk from Marienplatz was Viktualienmarkt, a big leafy beer garden packed with people enjoying the spring weather and the traditional oompah band.

Everyone - including the band - seemed to have a large stein in one hand and some form of sausage in the other.

If you want to see postcard Munich, this is the place. Lederhosen abounds and the Maypole in the centre of the market points you to the next beer garden.

Another ten minutes and we were in Odeonsplatz, the site of one of the Nazi putsch attempts in 1923.

Odeonsplatz leads into the Canaletto-like Ludwigstrasse, and also seemed to be home to some of Munich's best buskers. My favourite was a soprano who had set up with a lute in the temple in the former royal gardens.

A stroll along Maximillianstrase, Munich's high fashion end of town, was also fun, even if the only thing we could afford was a coffee.

0 reactions to this article

participate in the forums
ask your question
find the business you need
Discussion Forums

Religion & spirituality

On the lighter side..., by lissa0915

Religion & spirituality

Love, Quotes, by lissa0915

Religion & spirituality

Music to lift you up, by lissa0915

Films, Shows & Events

IMPACT: The Third Man in Munich Nov 29th 2009 at 8pm LEO 17, by blairgaulton

Humour

Joke of the day, by mikeyt

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
The ABCs of the German school system

The ABCs of the German school system

Trying to size up the education system is one of the hardest things facing those embarking on a foreign posting. We set out what you should know about German schools and daycare.

How to move to Germany legally: visas and citizenship

How to move to Germany legally: visas and citizenship

Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German visa and citizenship system.

Taking your pet on assignment

Taking your pet on assignment

When moving abroad, the owner must make an informed decision as to whether their pet is up to the trip. Here’s an overview of the factors involved.

Looking for work in Germany: The in depth version

Looking for work in Germany: The in depth version

Moving to Germany but still searching for a job? Check out Expatica’s comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of employment in Germany, including information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.