impressions of munich

I have enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the beautiful city of Munich, which was not at all as I expected and was an absolutely lovely city to visit... gorgeous buildings, elegant squares, delicious food, trams, trains and an underground, museums, galleries, lots and lots of parks, trees and green spaces, refreshing beer, friendly people and terrific warm weather!

I went to meet my old friend Sarie who teaches there... we had a lovely mix of whizzing around seeing interesting places and experiencing the city, and lazing around in her lovely modern apartment near the Englische Garten, drinking wine and tea and catching up with each other's lives.

Mistletoe grew everywhere in the tall birch trees, giving a wintry feel.

All the shops were getting ready for Christmas and there was masses of greenery everywhere.

The Germans love flowers and sell them on every corner.

We bought fresh dates to eat on the tram, and clementines in a little cone of paper.

Munich is a devoutly Catholic city and there are many many madonnas and little saints statues embedded into the walls of buildings and apartments, or high up above the street.



On Sunday all the museums and galleries reduce their entry fee to one euro. We chose to visit the Pinakothek der Moderne, where we visited their exhibition on the history of design as well as getting to see some amazing modern masterpieces including works by the Blaue Reiter group.

Here we are having a well-earned rest on the space-age modern rocking chairs in the design exhibition.

I can't recommend Munich highly enough as a place to visit... next time I have been promised a trip to the mountains which are only an hour or so away. I was hugely impressed by the German way of life, their sense of design and style, civic pride and forward-thinking approach to the environment... and of course their delicious wurst and weissbier...

20 comments:

Gigibird said...

Munich is on my hit list....looks like you had a wundervar time;-)

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Hi Sue, I've never been to Munich, so have thoroughly enjoyed looking at the city through your eyes. The rockers look so comfy! Bye for now. Lesley

Demoiselle Libellule said...

I live in Munich and now I really appreciate it but first, the Bavarian way of life seemed a bit strange to me (I'm originally from the "Rhineland"). It was interesting to see Munich from your perspective :-)

Bea

hens teeth said...

I really enjoyed this post Sue. You have opened my eyes to Munich. Interesting, informative and lovely post.
I am visiting Vienna soon!

A time to dance said...

I love Germany and I think we may return this summer..they do everything so elegantly...hardly any tack and its so clean and efficient and I have also found the people lovely...your post has made me certain I want to return...hope you are all well and that you had a well earned rest...love and blessings H

Fleur de Boheme said...

Ohh I feel both happy and homesick when I read your lovely post....being a German living in Denmark now! I´m not from Munich, but the pictures remind me of how cosy and lovely Christmastime in Germany is!

It´s so nice to hear people saying positive things about Germany and the Germans, as many people (who don´t know the country!) have a different picture in their head and think Germans are boring, conservative, not very friendly and certainly not stylish ;-) Having lived abroad for 15 years now I know all about these prejudices!!!

I have always found my fellow countrymen polite, especially compared to Danes which I often find really lack good manners and can be kind of rude.

So - thank you for having made my day!! And don´t forget - tey are other fantastic cities in Germany, I can recommend both Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin of course and the fantastically beautiful Dresden with all the renovated gorgeous buildings.

Bye Kirsten

Chrissie said...

oh I feel a city-break coming on! thank you for introducing us to Munich with such lovely photos.

Frances said...

Sue, your travel log has reminded me of all that I also loved about beautiful Munich.

Wonderful place in springtime, too!

xo

Jackie said...

I went to Munich when I was 19 en route to Northern Greece (!) so I'm afraid we as a big gang of student friends only went to the big beerkellar(?) and my view of Munich was from over the top of a huge stein of beer..I'm ashamed to admit. It was bigger than me.
Maybe I should return for some culture.

Hollace said...

Your pictures are so beautiful and artful, as usual. Your commentary on Munich makes me want to go and see it.

Gilly said...

It sounds a really wonderful city! Perhaps I can persuade your Dad he needs a city break.......

I love the Madonnas too!

Clare Wassermann said...

a wonderful city - you have reminded me of some time I spent there in the 1980s

Diane said...

Ive never thought of going to Munich for a holiday - I'll pop it on my list. You make it sound so lovely and its great to get a tour guide from someone who lives there. Is she available for hire?

Reading Tea Leaves said...

A very interesting mini travelogue Sue - You have certainly given me food for thought here - literally! I've been to Vienna which I loved and Munich is now on my must-do list for a city break in the New Year.

Jeanne

Heather said...

how lovely! it looks like a wonderful trip :)

*Marie* said...

Oh yes!!! I miss Bavaria....here in Danmark everything is totally different! Living by the sea, the people and the traditions ....like christmas. But every country has its own charm!! The living here is beautiful, too!! And if I feel homesick, I drive 9 hours to the rest of my family :).....my father is born in Austria and lives since 4 years in Insbruck!! this is also a nice place to visit:)....I hope you had a hyggeligt ( cozy) 1. Advent!!! *Marie*

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! Happy that you were able to go and enjoy so much beauty!
:)
Zuzu

icandy... said...

Beautiful, just beautiful!
Happy day
Ox
Christina

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

well this post was so beautifully edited, along with the pictures, of which i espcially enjoyed the church spires with mistletoe.
And too, everything looks so clean.
Thank you for a glimpse into this beautiful place.
xx
julie

Susan Schwake said...

oh sue, seeing these pictures reminds me how much i love munich too. my husband is from muenster (another beautiful city you should visit soon) and we visit his family each year, taking in another new city.

the south of germany is so different from where he is from but the museums are wonderful (the lenbechhaus is my favorite with the blue riders) and the drinks are all quite large so who is to complain there?

glad to have found your blog...