Impressions of Munich

According to ancestry.com, I’m 26% Germanic European. I believe this fact, combined with my recent layovers in Munich, qualifies me to make the following observations about German culture. 

1. Germans LOVE beer. The beer garden is a real thing. And a lovely way to spend a summer afternoon. 

I spent my weekends in Munich this month, moving around the city on the subway. The trains often had a party atmosphere, with groups of young people toting around 6-packs and sipping on bottles of beer. A. Apparently, Germany has a liberal open-container law. B. In Germany, beer never comes in a can. 

2. Germans love hanging out. They appear to be very social people and family oriented. How did I come to this conclusion? Because shops close early on Saturdays and stores never open on Sundays. (so plan accordingly) This allows them to spend the weekend with family and friends. 

It seemed like every weekend, every citizen of every age was out socializing in the city’s cafes, beer gardens, and green spaces. 

The cafes that line the old town square, Marienplatz, were packed. 

Another popular outdoor space was The English Garden. The English Garden is to Munich, what Central Park is to New York. But its name is misleading; because I didn’t see one single flower in the park. The English Garden looks more like a forest with a pretty river running through it. 

Families, friends, lovers, and pets flock to this urban oasis to sunbathe, play games, swim, and apparently…surf! 

The Eisbach is a small channel in the Isar River which runs through the park. People have been surfing this spot since the 1970s. Even in the snow!

Now this I have to see. But next time. Because unfortunately, I didn’t learn about this until after I left the park. 

Just as I knew I wasn’t in an English garden, I also knew I wasn’t in an American park -because I didn’t see one bbq grill. However, I did see lots of bikes. 

3. Germans love bicycles. And they have some clever ways of toting around their children.  

It has an all-weather convertible top!

4. Perhaps Germans also love church. Maybe that’s another reason why stores are closed on Sundays? I’m not sure; I was out and about on Saturdays.

That’s when I stumbled upon this beautiful old church by the main square.

St. Peter’s Church is the oldest Catholic church in the city, dating back to 1294.

After watching people file into a small side door, I paid my 5 euro admission and followed them into this narrow winding staircase.  

I really had no idea what I had gotten myself into.

But after about a million steps, with no water in 92 degrees, I was rewarded with this panoramic view overlooking the city center.

Afterward, I really would have loved a plunge in the river. 

But I’ve yet to try that activity. However, I have spent an afternoon swimming in a beautiful old public pool: Muller’sches Volksbad

-with cute little changing rooms and gorgeous architectural details.

This Art Nouveau pool was built in 1901 and costs just 4 euro to swim in -for 90 minutes. They also offer a sauna, a steam bath, and a Roman-Irish sweat bath. But beware, Germans saunas are often co-ed and clothing optional.  

Flight attendants schedules change monthly. So as July comes to an end, so do my Munich layovers. But I’ll be back! Maybe for Oktoberfest? Or perhaps for the Christmas markets?