Description:
Gemütlichkeit is one of those German words with an entire constellation of meanings, and Munich embodies them all. This south German city is filled with good fellowship, happy times, friendliness, amicability and congeniality. Head to Marienplatz at the center of the pedestrian zone just before the top of the hour to watch a performance of the Glockenspiel in the tower of the Neues Rathaus. The 260-foot tower includes a carillon with two elaborate sets of figures enacting scenes from the city’s history. In the Viktualienmark, just off Marienplatz, you can find not only fruits and vegetables, herbs and cheeses and more, including traditional Bavarian specialties like Schweinshax’n (broiled pork hock) and Speck (bacon). The nearby Munich Hofbräuhaus (beer hall) dates back to the 16th century. If you’d like to learn how Munich became the “capital of beer”, stop in at the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. Mention the English Garden to someone who’s visited Munich, and they’re likely to tell you about the nude sunbathers. But the 900-acre park is a great place for a walk with a choice of four beer gardens -- Chinesischer Turm, Seehaus, Hirschau and Aumeister. Stop for a stein!