Hi all! As I go I may not have the time or the access to the internet but I hope to stay as up to date as possible so I don't forget any details! This is a way for my friends and family to follow my travels as well as a journal or myself to look back on. So here it goes...
Yesterday (Tuesday) was our first full day in munich and the plan was to cover as much ground as possible, and boy did we ever cover a lot plus more! We set out in the morning to see a series of popular museums, Pinakothek der Moderne, Alte and Neue Pinakotgek. Along the way we saw more amazing architecture, a university and part of the city that was less traveled with apartment buidings and shops that were mostly occupied with locals. As we walked, I was able to see further differences in culture and found it very interesting. (Lesson number two: this was the day that I learned to stay clear of bike lanes. They will not hesitate to run into a pedestrian, nor will they slow down. In fact, some of them zoom around so fast you would think they had a
motor on them! Also, cars pull up and park on sidewalks without first looking for pedestrians. Let's just say I am now more aware of anything that moves!) The museums were very interesting, with the Modern art museum being my favorite. The other two however, were also
neat. They displayed works from Monet and van Gough. It was interesting to see famous paintings in person that I have always seen in textbooks. Altogether, the three museums were very worth seeing and a great experience.
Next on our list of sights to see was the English Garden. As we were in route to the Garden, water started falling from the sky. I say it like that because I felt that it was raining and was in need of an umbrella. Andrew however, insisted that it was not raining but drizzling and laughed when I got the umbrella out. Either way, water was coming down and we were getting wet. Hahah. It did make for nice weather that day as it was cloudy most of the day and not hot and
humid. Before we reached the garden, we found a neat bakery to grab some lunch. Of course we couldn't read what anything was, nor did the workers speak english to tell us but that is all part of the adventure here! So far it hasn't been too much of a problem, everything has been pretty tasty. After lunch it was time to resume the adventure. . Locating the garden.
When we reached the English Gardens I was in complete awe. It is a gorgeous park in the middle of a big city with streams flowing through it, a lake, multiple walking paths and a two beer gardens (which are big in Munich). I've never seen a park like it. They say it is bigger than Central Park in New York. We spent several hours walking through the park, stopping to enjoy the lush green scenary, listen to the birds and watch the dogs play. We even saw a couple of nude sunbathers.. Something that you don't see too often in california. Sidenote: I haven't seen one dog on a leash here, they are all so well behaved and walk in front of their owners, not paying attention to anything around them..even in the large city! We stopped at the larger of the two beer gardens to enjoy an auhentic German beer along with a pretzel. As we sat and watched those around us I noticed that it is just a part of German culture, young and old, to sit and conversate while enjoying a beer much like having coffee with one another in the US. Also, many of the locals had their own table cloths and picnic baskets full of food. It was neat to just sit back and watch.
After more walking and exploring we came across Residenz Museum, another gorgeous building, and took a needed nap on a bench out front. Don't worry, we didn't look like bums, several others did the same! By this time it was time to find food (something I have gotten good at...I am always so hungry)!! I was surprised to see that a lot of the food cafes and markets sell mostly sandwhiches unless you sit down at a restaurant.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was our first full day in munich and the plan was to cover as much ground as possible, and boy did we ever cover a lot plus more! We set out in the morning to see a series of popular museums, Pinakothek der Moderne, Alte and Neue Pinakotgek. Along the way we saw more amazing architecture, a university and part of the city that was less traveled with apartment buidings and shops that were mostly occupied with locals. As we walked, I was able to see further differences in culture and found it very interesting. (Lesson number two: this was the day that I learned to stay clear of bike lanes. They will not hesitate to run into a pedestrian, nor will they slow down. In fact, some of them zoom around so fast you would think they had a
motor on them! Also, cars pull up and park on sidewalks without first looking for pedestrians. Let's just say I am now more aware of anything that moves!) The museums were very interesting, with the Modern art museum being my favorite. The other two however, were also
neat. They displayed works from Monet and van Gough. It was interesting to see famous paintings in person that I have always seen in textbooks. Altogether, the three museums were very worth seeing and a great experience.
Next on our list of sights to see was the English Garden. As we were in route to the Garden, water started falling from the sky. I say it like that because I felt that it was raining and was in need of an umbrella. Andrew however, insisted that it was not raining but drizzling and laughed when I got the umbrella out. Either way, water was coming down and we were getting wet. Hahah. It did make for nice weather that day as it was cloudy most of the day and not hot and
humid. Before we reached the garden, we found a neat bakery to grab some lunch. Of course we couldn't read what anything was, nor did the workers speak english to tell us but that is all part of the adventure here! So far it hasn't been too much of a problem, everything has been pretty tasty. After lunch it was time to resume the adventure. . Locating the garden.
When we reached the English Gardens I was in complete awe. It is a gorgeous park in the middle of a big city with streams flowing through it, a lake, multiple walking paths and a two beer gardens (which are big in Munich). I've never seen a park like it. They say it is bigger than Central Park in New York. We spent several hours walking through the park, stopping to enjoy the lush green scenary, listen to the birds and watch the dogs play. We even saw a couple of nude sunbathers.. Something that you don't see too often in california. Sidenote: I haven't seen one dog on a leash here, they are all so well behaved and walk in front of their owners, not paying attention to anything around them..even in the large city! We stopped at the larger of the two beer gardens to enjoy an auhentic German beer along with a pretzel. As we sat and watched those around us I noticed that it is just a part of German culture, young and old, to sit and conversate while enjoying a beer much like having coffee with one another in the US. Also, many of the locals had their own table cloths and picnic baskets full of food. It was neat to just sit back and watch.
After more walking and exploring we came across Residenz Museum, another gorgeous building, and took a needed nap on a bench out front. Don't worry, we didn't look like bums, several others did the same! By this time it was time to find food (something I have gotten good at...I am always so hungry)!! I was surprised to see that a lot of the food cafes and markets sell mostly sandwhiches unless you sit down at a restaurant.
After all of the walking and exploring I was beyond exhausted and was in deserate need of sleep! Unfortunately, I got to experience the hostel life this night. Hot rooms with no ac, only a fan, and snoring roommates. Let's just say I will be glad to get to Salzburg to have a private room! Despite the trouble sleeping, my first full day in Munich was amazing, with my favorite part being the English Gardens! I still can't get over the fact that I am actually in Europe!! :)
