Munich, This and That

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

This concludes my series about Munich, Geneva to follow (hope I will find the time, to be read ‘I won’t procrastinate for too long’).

Munich in 3 Days
Munich 2 – Deutsches Museum
Munich 3 – Dachau, ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’
Munich 4 – BMW Museum
Munich 5 – ‘Englischer Garten’
Munich 6 – The Place Where You Can Sleep from 7.50 Euro (9.4 USD)!

A black granite memorial to the White Rose Movement, a non-violent group in Nazi Germany, consisting of students from the University of Munich and their philosophy professor, that became known for an anonymous leaflet and graffiti campaign, lasting from June 1942 until February 1943. I knew the story (I saw a movie about the White Rose) and I have always found it extraordinary the courage they had in the middle of one of the most oppressive regimes the history has ever known.  The image shows a memorial structure with a black stone plaque in the foreground. The plaque has inscriptions in German, with the prominent words "ZUM ERINNERN ZUM GEDENKEN" at the top, which translates to "TO REMEMBER TO COMMEMORATE." Behind the plaque, there is a long, covered walkway with a glass roof and white metal framework, extending into the distance. Trees and greenery are visible on either side of the walkway. The overall scene is well-lit with natural sunlight.

“Bikes can also be rented by the Call-A-Bike system, which is run by Deutsche Bahn. You need to call a number listed on the bikes from your mobile phone and register with the callabike.de website in order to use them. The service is convenient, as you just spot an available bike throughout the city and just leave it at your destination. However, this is not an economical alternative if you are planning many trips in a single day. In that case, it is better to get a day or multiday rental from one of the rental services located throughout central Munich.” (from Munich Wikitravel). I didn’t use them but it seems an interesting idea.

The image shows three red and white bicycles parked on a cobblestone street in front of a shop window. The shop window displays various items, including clothing and accessories. The bicycles have a sign with the letters "DB" on them, indicating they might be part of a bike-sharing or rental program. The scene appears to be in an urban area.

View from the Olympic TowerAerial view of a large, modern architectural structure with a distinctive, tent-like roof design. The structure is surrounded by green spaces, roads, and pathways. The shadow of a tall tower or structure is cast over the building and the surrounding area. The scene includes various smaller buildings and vehicles, indicating an urban environment.

The image shows a tall communications tower with a distinctive design, standing next to a modern, curved building. There are trees and parked cars in the foreground, and the sky is clear and blue.

‘Designed & engineered in Bavaria’ on the frame of a bike; I thought that only Apple does this: ‘Designed by Apple in California’ on each of their products :). Still couldn’t find where the bike had been manufactured, I suppose that in China otherwise they would have had written ‘Designed, engineered & made in Bavaria’.The image shows a close-up of a white and red object with red text printed on it. The text reads: "Alp Rider 430mm, Fronttravel 100mm, Designed & engineered in Bavaria." There is also a small graphic of a bicycle frame next to the text.

The image shows a white and black mountain bike with red accents, leaning against a wall. The bike has a water bottle mounted on the frame and a small red bag attached to the top tube. The wheels have orange reflectors. The bike is positioned on a grassy area.

“Frauenkirche (full name “Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau”) is a major landmark and dominates with its 99 meter high twin towers the skyline of the Bavarian capital. It was built between 1468 to 1494 by Jörg von Halsbach and today it serves as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and seat of its Archbishop. The cathedral can hold approximately 20,000 people, and Catholic Mass is held regularly. The interior of the cathedral, which is among the largest hall churches in southern Germany, consists of the nave and two side aisles. The arches were designed by Heinrich von Straubing. Much of the interior was destroyed during WWII. An attraction that survived is the Teufelsschritt, or Devil’s Footstep, at the entrance. This is a black mark resembling a footprint, which according to legend was where the devil stood when he curiously regarded and ridiculed the ‘windowless’ church that Halsbach had built.” (from Munich Wikitravel). The image shows a tiled floor with a pattern of alternating dark and light squares. One of the light-colored tiles in the center has a dark, irregularly shaped stain or mark on it, resembling a footprint or a smudge. The surrounding tiles are a mix of reddish-brown and dark gray colors.

Out of 10 taxis, 9 are Mercedes (and this in BMW heartland!!!) and one Toyota Prius that proudly displays ‘ecotaxi, cleaner drives better’. I have been in hybrid Prius (not in Munich) and the discussion I had with the taxi drivers was along the line that the car paid for itself by the savings in fuel. I wonder why not most taxis are Prius (Warning: I have 5 shares in Toyota, used to own 10 but lost my patience and I sold the half for some $1 profit just to recover half of my money; my hapless adventures in stock investments here).The image shows a street scene in an urban area with several cars lined up on the road. There is a bicycle parked and locked to a pole in the foreground. The background features a large, multi-story building with arched windows and a classical architectural style. The sky appears to be overcast or during dusk.

The image shows a busy street scene with several white taxis, including an "EcoTaxi," parked or driving in front of a large, historic building with a sloped roof and multiple windows. The building has several flags hanging from it, and there are other buildings visible in the background. The scene appears to be in an urban area, possibly in a European city.

People taking photos of the world famous Glockenspiel in MarienplatzThe image shows a crowd of people gathered in front of a row of multi-story buildings. The buildings have various architectural styles and are closely packed together. There are several blue umbrellas providing shade for the people, and a white and red barricade is visible on the right side of the image. The scene appears to be in an urban area, possibly a city square or a pedestrian zone.

Asam Church (German: Asamkirche), very beautiful. It was built from 1733 to 1746 by the brothers Egid Quirin Asam and Cosmas Damian Asam as their private church but due to resistance of the citizens, the brothers were forced to make the church accessible to the public. Initially when I read the story I thought they were some rich foreign (their names don’t seem to be German) merchants. I was wrong, they were painters and sculptors and German.

The image shows the ornate facade of a historic building with baroque architectural elements. The building features intricate carvings, statues, and decorative details around a large arched window. The facade is adorned with various colors and textures, including marble-like columns and painted surfaces. A small tower with a clock and a golden statue is visible at the top of the building. The sky above is partly cloudy.

The image shows the interior of a highly ornate baroque church. The ceiling is elaborately painted with religious scenes and figures, and the walls are adorned with intricate carvings, gilded decorations, and statues. A large, circular stained glass window is visible in the center, allowing light to illuminate the richly decorated space. The overall atmosphere is grand and opulent, characteristic of baroque architecture.

The image shows an ornate ceiling with intricate frescoes and detailed artwork. The ceiling is richly decorated with gold accents and features various figures and scenes, likely of religious or historical significance. The architecture includes arched windows and elaborate moldings, contributing to the grandeur of the space. The overall atmosphere is one of opulence and artistic mastery.

I was in the tower of the Neues Rathaus in Marienplatz and I saw people in the opposite tower.The image shows a tall church tower with a green spire and clock faces on its sides, set against a backdrop of a cityscape with numerous buildings and a partly cloudy sky. The city extends into the distance, with rooftops and other structures visible under the blue sky with scattered clouds.

I couldn’t resists so I went to the St. Peter’s Church as well as I like to go up in towers in the cities I visit and here is the view of the other tower I had gone up to just 20 minutes before.The image shows an aerial view of a cityscape with a prominent Gothic-style building in the foreground. The building features a tall clock tower with intricate architectural details. The city extends into the background with various other buildings, including a notable yellow structure with twin towers. The sky is overcast, adding a muted tone to the scene.

No idea why the locks are there, who put them and why.The image shows a view of a historic cityscape with a prominent Gothic-style building featuring a tall clock tower. The scene is viewed through a metal fence with several padlocks attached to it. The city below has red-roofed buildings and a large open square with people walking around. The sky is overcast.

Otto von Bismarck’s statue near Deutsches Museum A large, red stone statue of a man stands on a pedestal in an outdoor park setting. The statue depicts the man holding an object in his right hand, with a stern expression on his face. The sky is clear and blue, and there are trees in the background. A person is sitting on the edge of the pedestal, looking down at something in their hands. A bus and a few other people can be seen in the background.

I found it strange, that he was depicted holding a sword, he was a prime minister after all not a general (I think I saw paintings of Saddam Hussein holding a Kalashnikov). Perhaps the sculpture is in reference to one of his speeches when he said: The great questions of the time will not be resolved by speeches and majority decisions—that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849—but by iron and blood. (that is, military power).

However, in the 1880s Bismarck’s social insurance programs were the first in the world and became the model for other countries and the basis of the modern welfare state. While he was a chancellor old age pensions, accident insurance, medical care and unemployment insurance were introduced.

3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Top 15 Cities to Live In - The Skeptical Traveler

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