MUNICH, GERMANY

2001

Maybe they didn't found the City, but when Christian monks came to it they gave it its most famous asset - beer! And that, in turn, has contributed to the city's aura - its Gemütlichkeit. The Muncheners call their city Die Weltstadt mit herz - "a world city with heart". And at the heart of the city is the Frauenkirche, the city's Cathedral.
Much of the inner city was seriously damaged during WWII. It has been rebuilt retaining its medieval charm. Munich is the third largest city in Germany. Yet, its inner area is largely pedestrianized and very accessible and enjoyable. And it is a great city for shopping. Here we are at one of the fine structures downtown as the sun was setting.
This is the world famous Augustiner Bierhaus. The Augustinian monks were the ones who introduced brewing to the Bavarian population. Many in Germany consider the Bavarians to be somewhat crass and tacky, we have been told. But the truth is Munich is a cosmopolitan community with charm and wit.

 
Here Jim is at the Hofbrauhaus - one of the most famous biergartens in Germany. When in Germany do as the Germans do!

 

At the main square of Munich is the "New" City Hall. In the central tower is the glockenspiel, a wonderful clock that not only chimes out the time, but puts on a great show of guildsmen dancing around the clock. We saw several excellent museums and, of course, other grand churches.  

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