Latest posts from our Munich expert:
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Here's your 10-Day Weather Forecast: Clouds and Rain, Rain and Clouds, a little bit of sun but, wait, oh! No, nevermind, there's a cloud again. Sorry. So you're probably thinking, "What in the world am I going to do? I've saved for this trip and I'm only going to be here for the next X amount of days." Ok, breathe. You can still enjoy Munich even if your shoes do get a little wet. Just pack an umbrella.
Bus Tours:
So, you may not be too keen on exploring the city on foot, or figuring out where things lie on the map. Bus tours are a great way to discover the city and they'll keep you protected from the elements. The best tours to choose are those that allow a "hop on, hop off" mode of transit. See something interesting? Get off the bus and take a better look around. Honestly, it's the walking around in the rain, trying to differentiate one "platz" from another "platz" and you just end up feeling like a putz. Take a look at www.city-discovery.com for some tour information, or www.stadtrundfahrten-muenchen.de (click on the little english flag!).
Museum Day!:
What's indoors? Museums! Don't think that the word "museum" is limiting you to staring at a 500 year old painting, just waiting until you can raid the museum shop. Here's a brief run of a few city favorites:
Residence--all about this museum can be read about in another one of my articles, but it's by far my favorite palace. That's right, palace.
Deutsches Museum-- windmills, space probles, sailing ships, industrial robots, organs and more! As one of the first scientific-technological museums in the world, 50,000 square meters are dedicated to the technical acheivements of man. They also helo you learn by allowing you to "do". Do what? Create lightning for one.
BMW Museum-- exploring the history of the BMW car, this musuem displays history prototypes and future studies of traffic management, alternative methods and much more.
Beer Halls:
Hofbräuhaus, Augustiner Keller, Hofbäukeller are only a few of the multitude of beer halls that pack the city. Find one, go in, and enjoy a beer along with hearty traditional Bavarian food.
All in all, there are still some interesting and exciting places to go and things to do even if it isn't the best weather outside. So don't let the rain drown out your fantastic vacation.
The Perfect Souvenier
You’ve done the sightseeing, the picture taking and now you’re ready for one of my favorite parts of any trip: Souvenier shopping. Now you could go for the standard key chain or array of post cards, maybe even a t-shirt, but why not buy a souvenier that you will a) never be able to purchase anywhere outside of Germany, b) celebrate Bavarian culture and c) use time and time again? That’s right ladies and gentlemen, I’m saying that you should make an investment that will last a lifetime of memories and enrich those you’ve made in Bavaria. Call it whatever you like, "tracht", "dirndl", "lederhosen", but I assure you that this purchase is something you will never regret. Also, it is simply unacceptable to show up to Oktoberfest without wearing Tracht. Trust me, you’ll feel really out of place/ jealous of everyone around you. Everyone (even the Vice President of my company) shows up to events in Tracht.
Ladies, a dirndl is by far the most flattering of dresses any woman could ever wear. It gives you the perfect hour-glass figure and honestly is the most confortable thing in the world! Gentlemen, lederhosen is simply knock-my-socks-off awesome. They’re rugged but well put together and everyone looks handsome in them. Here are a few rules when purchasing tracht:
Dirndls: All colors are great for tracht, but if you want to go for a more believable one, stay away from the hot pinks. Feel free to use pinks for aprons or ribbon, but an overall pink dirndl is a bit obvious that it’s touristy. Shorter doesn’t always mean better. May I suggest a mid-length one that falls right below/at your knee. Also, the lacey underskirt which pokes out at the bottom is highly recommended, it’s just so sweet looking!
Lederhosen: There are lots of lengths to choose from but I suggest staying away from the short shorts. You also have the option of a plain white shirt or checkered, so play around with your options. Accessorize with a hat, sweater, neck scarf, socks and make sure that your hosen aren’t baggy! Granted they’re not supposed to be skin-tight, but moreso fitted. Ask the sales clerk for help and they’ll make sure you find the best fit. With these essential tips, you’ll be in the right mindset to find the best dirndl or lederhosen for you.
Protest Against an Independent Kosovo: 23.02.08
As any other large metropolis, Munich sees its fair share of protests, marches etc. Well, with the declaration of independence from Serbia on Sunday (17.02.2008), Kosovians have been celebrating throughout the week. With all of the excitement and displays of nationalism, there of course is a side who isn't happy with Kosovo's recent announcement: Serbia. Thus, Serbian German-residents will be protesting Kosovo's declaration at Marienplatz this Saturday beginning at 3pm. If this is your only weekend visiting Munich, I suggest seeing Marienplatz before the demonstration begins as tensions are running high and there is a rumor circulating that this "peaceful demonstration" could easily become a dangerous and violent event as ethnic groups may clash.
Kaufingerstraße should be free from any possible downturn and of course there will be plenty of riot police to control the crowds. So, just steer clear of the actual Marienplatz and you should be fine and able to enjoy the rest of the city.
It's time for Fasching!
While the Americans have "Mardi Gras" and the British have "Shrove Tuesday", Fasching is Germany's own, crazy verison of Carnival. As to stereotype, Germans are not known for being outlandish, or even crossing the street at a red light. But during Fasching, they gleefully throw all inhibitions to the wind!
The weeks prior are dotted with Gala Balls and other Fasching events, but it is the first Tuesday in the month of February where the Müncheners really get crazy! Most people either get a half-day or a complete day off of work so that they can all go to Viktualienmarkt dressed in their costumes (think Halloween but REALLY over the top) then drink themselves silly or into a comfortable sleep on the train.
What is Fasching you may ask? Originally a Pagan festival, it became closely related to the Christian Church to mark the beginning of Lent. So, during this week people can really "let loose" and "flip out" before they enter the more solemn period of Lent. On the Thursday before Ash Wendesday, the day is better known as "Weiberfastnacht" which translates into "Women's carnival night". Traditionally, women are allowed to cut the ties off any man they see as well as are allowed to kiss any man they may choose. So, husbands and boyfriends, hold onto your girls tight! The weekend is marked with numerous Fasching parties followed by Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) where the streets are flooded by costumes and parades.
Then comes Tuesday, the last day of Fasching! Yours truly will be going as the four seasons with three of my friends (I'm going as spring). I'm really excited because I'll have lots of flowers and glitter, which what girl can say "no" to?
Is there a Doctor in the House?
So, you're walking along Marienplatz, enjoying the general splendor of the city, or you're standing on some random bar bench swinging your beer back and forth--then suddenly!-- you get this terrible headache/stomach ache/heartburn/sneeze attack or something equally vacation-killing. Unlike some other countries, you can't walk into a local drugstore and pick up some pain killers or cold medicine, you have to get it from the local pharmacy, or, Apotheke. Luckily, there are so many in the city, it should not be hard to find one somewhere in the vicinity of where you are and the Apotheken around Marienplatz usually have an English speaker on hand to dole out some meds. Now, it's pretty cool that these pharmacists are on hand as they counsel you as to how to use your meds so you can feel better as soon as possible and hoist yourself back up on that beer bench.
Here's the catch. Apotheken are only open during the day, usually til 6pm or 8pm, depending on their location. After these hours, they close down. Completely. But, there will be an "Emergency" Apotheke open in the area, which the address will be given and posted in the window, or on the door of the closed Apotheke. So, if you get sick after opening hours, take your city map, trekk to the nearest Apotheke, get the address of the night Apotheke and you can either a)go on an adventure or b) ask reception at your hotel/hostel. Considering that you're ill enough to go to the night Apotheke and not wait til morning, I would suggest option b as Munich streets are winding and confusing.
Here are some vocab words that may come in handy:
Krank - Sick
Kopfschmerzen - Headache
Blasen Infektion - Bladder Infection
Bauchschmerzen - Stomach ache
Erkälten (pronnounced Erkelten) - Cold (illness)
Kalt - to feel cold
Warm - to feel warm
Temperatur - Temperature
For more words check out this link:
Health Vocabulary
Let's Ride the Train!
So, you’ve landed in Munich, picked up your luggage and you ask yourself, “Well, how do I get to my hotel? How do I get around?” Easy. Munich’s public transport system can take you anywhere you want to go, and with a few tips you should be able to easily get your tickets and take on the city.
First off, the city of Munich is divided into several rings, the first two are the general city center and those 3 and above get further away from that center. The more rings you want to go through, the more money the ticket costs. Easy.
Secondly, Munich transport work on what is sort of an “honor” system, which is an example of how Munich is a very trusting city. How it works is that you buy your ticket, then stamp it in the blue boxes that usually stand before you walk down the stairs leading to the train platform. You technically could take the train without paying, but there are random control checks that take place every day. It's a bit confusing and scary when you first get controlled, especially if you have no idea as to what's going on. The controllers come onto the train, dressed in regular clothing, then after the doors close, they check everyone for their tickets. If you’re caught without a ticket, you get fined 40 euros and on top of that, get super embarrassed.
So! Choosing a ticket isn’t that hard. The machines usually have a button that you can press to change the directions on the screen into English.
Tickets:
A streifenkarte allows 10 rides for people under 21 and 5 for over 21. So, 1 stripe per ride or 2 stripes per ride. 10.50€
A kurzfahre is for rides that don’t exceed 2 stations, 1.20€
A fahrkarte is a standard train ticket, 2.20 €
Day Tickets:
A single-tageskarte can be used all day, 5 € to 10 € depending on how many zones
A partner-tageskarte is valid for up to 5 adults, two children count as 1 adult, 9 € to 18 € depending on how many zones
Other:
Bringing the kiddies? A kinderfahrkarte for ages 6-14, 1.10 € per ride
Got a puppy? Fido can ride for free!
More Coming Soon…
A Shopping Guide: From Groceries to Dirndls
Partly overshadowed by visions of townspeople downing weißbier while dressed in lederhosen, a little, unknown fact about Munich is that it has incredible shopping ranging from designer couture to groceries. Below is a quick overview of different shopping areas, where to find what you want and how to get there. NOTE: Stores are closed on Sundays all over Germany. What are open are restaurants, and some grocery stores. Also, not all stores take Visa, almost none take American Express. On the outside window of the store, usually near the door, pictures of the cards accepted are usually posted.
Marienplatz
Kaufingerstraße is the main avenue that runs from Marienplatz down to Karlsplatz. The car-less road is the main, downtown area where shoppers are able to wander the area freely. Down this busy road, one can find the large department stores such as Kaufhof, Karstadt, and C&A next to popular chains such as H&M (men, women, flagship and young adult), United Colors of Benetton, Esprit, Mango, Zara and Promod. For those men who are looking for no fuss, straight to the point shopping, Wormland is located right on the Marienplatz, selling top brands exclusively for men. At times, they serve tasty cocktails after work hours or on weekends. Maybe they do it to settle the nerves of the shopping men or pass the time of the bored women. The last time I was there, they served martinis with a twist. Yum!
If you’re looking for hot deals that won’t hurt your wallet too much, definitely check out the enormous shoe stores Tack and Deichmann where you can find the coolest “European style” boots and shoes for a fraction of the cost of competitors.
In addition to all the über cool European clothing, one can find jewelry stores such as Christ and the eye catching Swarovski store. For sport enthusiasts department stores dedicated to sporting such as Schuster and Karstadt Sports are where you can find any gear from skiing to yoga, rock climbing to tennis. A note about Schuster, sometimes they make you pay on the first floor. What they do is take your merchandise, give you a ticket, and then send your merchandise downstairs to the first floor where you pick up and pay.
Transport: Accessible by all S-Bahn lines as well as the U6 and U3 U-Bahn lines. Stop: Marienplatz
Universität
Located near the two main universities of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) and Technische Universität München (TUM), this area is marked by boutiques, independent bookstores boasting 200-year-old texts and an overall non-commercial feel. For a great day of browsing through stores, enjoying a cup of joe with a delicious pastrie at a local café and exploring the streets, Universität is a great place to make a stop during your trip as it’s usually overlooked by tourists. This area is also a great place to find a hair dresser, if you’re looking to go home with a new, chic crop. (More on Hair Salons later)
Transport: U6 or U3 U-Bahn lines
Stop: Universität
Schwabing
Schwabing is the name of the cool, hip neighborhood in Munich. Side streets shooting from the main avenue of Leopoldstraße are lined with shops for beauty, clothing, furniture, art, shoes, accessories and groceries. On Saturdays with good weather, Leopoldstraße (At the Giselastraße U-Bahn stop, near the HUGE walking man) is lined with artwork from local artists and craftsmen.
Restaurants from French to African are dotted throughout the neighborhood from high end to relatively cheap. One street in particular, Feilitzscherstraße, near the Münchener Freiheit train stop, is popular with the party crowd as it is lined with Turkish Kebab stands that are open into the wee hours of the night. For about 4€, you can buy a kebab with all the toppings and a drink after a long night on the town. These stands also make for quick eateries if you’re on the go and don’t want to waste time sitting down and eating during the day, as they serve the usual pizza, fries and sausage sandwiches.
Hop on the bus #53 at Münchener Freiheit and take it about 3 stops to get deeper into Schwabing. Then hop off whenever you see something interesting, as you most certainly will. But, don’t take it past Hohenzollernplatz as after that stop, the area becomes mostly residential. Wander the streets and it’s always easy to either jump in a cab to go back to Leopoldstraße or the nearest U-Bahn stop. Feel free to walk the length down Leopoldstraße towards the city center. It’s a nice walk and you’ll see a lot on your way.
Transport: U6 or U3
Stops: Münchener Freiheit, Giselastraße or Universität
Transport: U2
Stops: Josephsplatz or Theresienstraße
Souvenier Shops
You can find souvenier shops all over Munich, but I suggest stopping by two areas where you’re sure to find some great momentos. There are about 4 or 5 souvenier shops near the Hofbräuhaus on Orlandostraße, which is actually down the road from the Hofbräuhaus, towards Marienplatz. They always have great deals and a wide variety of goodies to take home. If you are searching for more traditional take-homes such as cukoo-clocks, I suggest the souvenier shops on Kaufingerstraße, next to the Crabtree and Evelyn store. But, definitely be careful in these stores as they’re quite small and are stuffed with breakables hanging from everywhere.
Transport: Accessible by all S-Bahn lines as well as the U6 and U3 U-Bahn lines
Stop: Marienplatz.
Groceries
If you’re traveling with kids, or would like to save money by making your own food, Munich has grocery stores that are convenient to get to and easy to navigate. The Kaufhof department store at Marienplatz has a large grocery store on its lower level. There you can find most anything and everything: fresh cheeses, breads and deli meats, rotisserie chickens, chips etc. You can also find all you need in order to prepare, serve and clean up your meal. Another easy-to-get-to grocery store is the Reve at the main train station, Hauptbahnhof, which is open on Sundays as well. You can also find general toiletries at these stores in case you lose your toothbrush.
If you're looking for specialty, gourmet groceries, be sure to stop into the Alois Dallmayr on Residenzstraße, in between Odeonsplatz and Marienplatz. This store, open since 1700, is the place to find not only delicious but beautiful foods, made right in Munich or imported. Famous throughout Germany, I would highly recommend visiting the shop to take in the sights and smells.
NOTE: In Munich, you have to either bring your own shopping bags for your groceries, or you have to buy them at the store from 10 to 30 cents depending on size and store. You also have to bag your own groceries, so be prepared to move fast because people sometimes get a little impatient.
Transport: All S-Bahn Lines, U4, U5, U2, U1
Stop: Hauptbahnhof
Transport: All S-Bahn Lines, U6 and U3
Stop: Marienplatz
More coming soon...