Munich, Germany ; The Bavarian part of Germany

09.08.22-11.08.22

Venturing into Munich, the Bavarian part of Germany, meant embarking on a 4 hour train journey from Frankfurt. And… the legendary Deutsche Bahn, staying true to its reputation for tardiness. I can certainly vouch for this stereotype of DB. Nonetheless, despite its quirks, my love for this country remains unwavering.

Fortunately, my mom had a dear friend in Munich, so I decided to reach out and see if she could host me during my stay. Thankfully, she was incredibly kind and offered me a place to stay with her family. Upon my arrival in Munich, she warmly greeted me at the train station and we headed straight to her home to drop off my baggage. We caught up over some nice chats before she suggested showing me around the city center. Before I knew it, we were at Marienplatz. While I wasn’t particularly impressed with the train system in Germany, I found the tram system to be quite convenient and efficient. It took me a little while to get into the swing of things, especially with all fatigueness from moving constantly.

Like many who travel to Europe, I found myself marveling at the architecture, and Marienplatz was no exception. The beauty of it all truly comes alive when experienced firsthand. Mairenplatz is a big square surrounded by markets, malls, churches, restaurants etc. and stepping into this vibrant square as I explored, felt like stepping into a time capsule where the past seamlessly merges with the present. I truly enjoyed the Gothic architecture and the ambiance of this square 🙂

After a day of exploring the city center, aunty treated me to the famous Schweinshaxe. I opted for mine with German potato dumplings, while she enjoyed hers with sauerkraut. To top it off, she even offered me a beer, promising me that she would not tell my mom about it hahaha! I enjoyed the Schweinshaxe and sauerkraut, though the potato dumpling was an acquired taste for me. Nevertheless, I remain determined to develop a liking for it with each visit to Germany. With some perseverance… I believe I’ll get there someday! With a full stomach and a heart filled with gratitude, I wrapped up my first day in Munich, feeling content and ready to rest after a day filled with adventures.

On the following day, I embarked on a day trip to Nymphenburg Palace. The palace itself was impressively vast, and I must have spent a good two hours exploring its grounds. As I wandered through the palace gardens, it felt as though I was strolling through a living masterpiece. The palace itself stands as a proud testament to history, its grand facade adorned with intricate carvings and statues that tell stories of centuries past. While I didn’t pay a cent to get into the exhibition rooms, I found solace in the free-to-explore gardens at the back. I spent some time watching ducks wandering around the pond while appreciating the little moments in life.

Next, I ventured into the English Garden, and it was quite a unique experience. The park offers a wonderful blend of nature, culture, and activities. Families were picnicking, cyclists were exploring the trails, and I found myself sitting by the river, soaking in the tranquility. It was truly a place where I felt relaxed and at peace. Interestingly, I learned while writing this blog that people actually surf in the English Garden, although I didn’t spot any surfers during my visit. How cool is that? Surfing in a park! Without a doubt, it’s a spot that I highly recommend checking out 🙂

Shortly after, I wandered around from the English Garden and stumbled upon the Siegestor, also known as the Victory Gate. Originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army, it now stands as a reminder of peace. As I approached this iconic monument, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at its grandeur and historic significance. And once again,traveling has deepened my understanding of world history.

I seem to have lost track of how I got from Siegestor to Pinakothek der Moderne. And I’m sure I discovered more along the way, but pardon me, as I’m only recounting my travels nearly two years later. Art isn’t really my forte, but I bought the ticket because I was meeting a friend there. From what I remember, there were numerous exhibition rooms, each with its own theme, and it was probably worth the price of admission. I mean, at 12 Euro for a day entry to all exhibitions, it seemed like a decent deal, even for someone like me who isn’t a big art enthusiast.

The most intriguing exhibition room for me was titled ‘The Wall of Height.’ Personally, I appreciate interactive concepts in museums, and this one was no exception. In this particular exhibit, a staff member stood ready to assist visitors in writing their names on the wall, corresponding to their height. When it was my turn, I eagerly participated, and the staff member kindly asked each visitor where they were from, encouraging them to write their names in their native language. Are you able to spot mine? hahahaha

At the end of the museum visit, we decided to relax and chat in a nearby park. Seated beside me was Ramona, while her friend sat on the furthest right. My encounter with Ramona was truly a gift from my Europe trip in 2022. She also played the role of my savior during my time in Salzburg, a story I’ll soon share about my journey there. Our connection deepened further, and to this day, we remain in close contact. This is one of the many reasons why I love traveling, it provides endless opportunities to connect with people from all walks of life and create genuine connections with others.

Meeting Laura was the perfect conclusion to my Munich adventure. You might remember Oskar from my Paris post, he was the connection that brought Laura and me together in Munich. We spent the evening relaxing, chatting over dinner, and marveling at the serendipity of our meeting. Two strangers who quickly became friends thanks to a phone number exchange through our mutual friend (Oskar).

As the day drew to a close, I returned to aunty’s place to spend my remaining time in Munich, packing up for my departure the next day. I’m immensely grateful for her warm hospitality, which made me feel at home during my short 2 night stay in Munich. As the saying goes, “The world is yours to explore,” and my next destination was Vienna.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through Munich, and stay tuned for my next blog post. It’s a work in progress. I hope you enjoyed following along! 😊