Munich in Black and White

Augsburger Dom


Voralpenland


Tree “attacking” Muffat tower


Late winter afternoon in the Englischer Garten

Leftover advertising signage from a post World War II era

Art in the Fünf Höfe Mall

Arches inside the Augsburger Dom

A late evening ride in a commuter train

Munich street scene

Deutsches Museum - Electricity

Deutsches Museum - Stairwell

Walking giant in Schwabing

Munich Airport - Terminal 2

Max-Weber-Platz

Seeing More Of Munich’s Sights

Snow falling inside one of the many courts of the gothic-style city hall



The view down Rosenheimerstraße, just outside our hotel



The Sankt Lukas Kirche by the Isar river, my grandmother’s church

Reflection of the Kongresshalle, next to the Deutsches Museum

Isartor, one of the remaining gates that were part of the medieval city wall dates back to 1337

A German bullet train, the ICE, awaits its departure from Hauptbahnhof, Munich’s main train station and one of the world’s largest terminal stations

George in front of the Gaststeig, the cultural center of Munich with a huge concert hall, theater and libraries, provide an array of activities and events

A typical Bavarian farming village, accessable only by small country roads in the hill country around Bad Tölz

George and I on the Ludwigsbrücke

Münchnerische Zufälligkeiten

Below are some random photos taken while on our vacation to Munich, Germany.

Along Ludwigstraße, near the university

Along the embankments of the river Isar

The main cathedral, Frauenkirche

Light art at the Tollwood winter festival

George always cracks up when he hears “Einfahrt,” or anything with “fahrt” in it

One of the courts of Fünf Höfe, or Five Courts, a shopping mall

Marking signs for municipal utility lines

An old lantern at St.-Anna-Platz, a square the neighborhood I grew up

Munich

I can’t believe it’s been almost a week now since George and I returned from our trip to Munich, Germany. But what a great trip it was. Despite the cold weather there, a new terror attack attempt on an American plane and the subsequent stricter airport security procedures and the fact that Germany doesn’t have the things that I used to like anymore.

Although it was cold we were lucky with the weather. We were told that Germany just endured an arctic blast of frigid temperatures and tons of snow just days before our arrival. And the cold snap apparently returned right after we left again.

But it was cold enough for both of us the way it was, thank you very much!

Not that we were complaining though. We were bundled up enough so our wimped down bodies, used to desert heat waves, could brave any kind of wintery conditions.

And we were fattened up handsomely too by my family and friends, adding more to the insulation overall, so to speak. They welcomed George with open arms and made him feel part of the family right from the start, for which I’m very grateful. Everyone made sure that George would get plenty to taste from the local cuisine since it was his first trip to Germany. We can most definitely say that we had more Bavarian and Swabian food that we could have ever asked for. And cappuccinos. Plenty of cappuccinos. They’ll last us for a lifetime.

The culinary landscape in Munich has changed quite dramatically over the last eight years since I’ve been in Munich the last time. Back then and when I still used to live there were not too many options when it came to restaurants. It was either heavy, greasy Bavarian food, pizza or McDonald’s. With a few “exotic” flavored little places sprinkled here and there which were too expensive, especially back then. Now, there is an array of restaurants and fast-food places offering all kinds of foods. What’s up with all the Chinese take-out and Sushi joints at every corner? Even American fast-food chains entered the German market which I thought would never work there in a million years. There are places like Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway and Starbucks, to name a few. Starbucks? In the land of Kaffee und Kuchen? And they also seem to be quite successful.

But it also triggered the opening of an army of German-version Starbucks stores that now litter the streetscapes of Munich. Such as Coffee Fellows, The San Francisco Coffee Company and other similar chains. Unfortunately, they too help with the demise of little family-owned bakeries and coffee houses. It was hard to find any independent baker, shop or any kind of store anymore. Most were turned into franchises of large corporate chains. I’ve also noticed that the German coffee isn’t as strong anymore. Still better than that colored water which is served in most American coffee shops, but not even close to how I remember their coffee used to be. That’s why we stuck with cappuccinos most of the time. Also, because they were comparable cheaper to regular coffee. Which, by the way, are also being sold as “Tall” and “Grande.” Just like in ‘merica. Doesn’t anybody offer a Kännchen Kaffee anymore?

We were amazed at how busy all the McDonald’s and other American franchises were that we’ve passed. It’s really funny how Europeans love to complain and make fun of everything American and yet they go crazy over Cheeseburgers, Levi’s Jeans or Lady Gaga. Most German kids don’t look any different than American kids. Same clothes, same music, same craving for plastic food.

However, one thing stood out in particular about McDonald’s in Germany. They’ve become a trendy, cool looking hangout. Most restaurants have been revamped to rival some of the trendy lounges in those swanky Las Vegas casinos. The regular McDonald’s menu is still crap and too expensive but what they offer in the McCafé sections is actually quite delectable. Yes, they too have cappuccinos which are good and for one Euro a cup a real bargain. But their pastries and cakes are indeed delicious and not expensive at all. And get this. All is served on real porcelain plates, real porcelain cups with real silver ware. There is a candle and a small bowl with freshly cut flowers on each table. Imagine that in a McDonald’s in any urban American city.

Obviously we’ve done more than just eating Spätzle or Quarkstrudel and drinking Cappuccinos, Spezi and Radler. We walked...a lot. We didn’t use the very efficient subway system as much as I thought we would. For some reason I’ve never realized before how close everything in Munich was. This city is a very walkable place. I showed George my old neighborhood, the building I grew up in, my old school and everything in-between. Our first full day was the only day with clear skies and lots of sunshine. It was still cold however. But a perfect day for walking and we covered a fairly large area. From the old center of Munich, to the Englischer Garten, and along the river Isar, George probably saw more of Munich than most tourist will ever see on one of these horrible tour busses.

The weather for the rest of the week was rather cloudy, with some snow and sleet on certain days. It didn’t stop us exploring more and pay a visit to my family and friends. We took the train to Augsburg and spent the day with my cousin and her husband. Again, lots of food was involved, especially breads, cakes and liquorized coffees, but also lots of walking. The next day we took the train back to Augsburg again to visit another friend who lives in the countryside just outside of town.

The days after that were used mainly to do more touristy things, like visiting the expansive Deutsches Museum, some window shopping and taking in the hustle and bustle of a big city. We’ve met other friends of mine who invited us to yet more typical Bavarian fare at one of the oldest restaurants in Munich. They also treated us to an evening at Zirkus Krone, a very traditional circus which has a permanent home during their winter hiatus from traveling the world. The show that evening was quite a departure from all the Cirque du Soleil shows we have all over in Las Vegas.

Sadly I noticed, however, that most of my favorite treats, like certain pralines or cakes and some of the stores I used to frequently visit are all but gone. It’s the sign of the times I suppose and Germany is definitely not immune to changing styles and tastes. It also meant that I didn’t spend money on frivolous things. As a matter of fact, we didn’t buy anything for ourselves. Well, the attempted terror attack on the Delta flight enroute to Detroit on Christmas Day didn’t help much either. Because of that, the security measures for all U.S.-bound flights have become so stringent that it would have been more trouble than it’s worth. We tried to travel as light as possible to begin with, which proved to be a good thing. Especially now with all the hassles of modern day air travel.

It was quite visible that Germany wasn’t as hard hit by the economic crisis like the United States was. People were shopping, going out and having a good time.

Overall, I noticed that Munich has dramatically changed over the last eight years. While things have turned around for the better in Munich, I felt like it was the total opposite for the United States in comparison. Simple things like the cell phone coverage is far superior to the American one. Not to mention their train and public transportation system. The city is being reconfigured to make it a more livable and breathable place. While the German cities are curbing more and more vehicular traffic in favor for a more environmentally friendly and human way of living, American cities keep building more freeways and adding street lanes to choke up the already congested cities and suburban areas even more.

Europeans are more conscience when it comes to matter of environmental issues and quality of life. It’s a group effort on a large scale that benefits a nation and its society as a whole. In the United States, people are more concerned of wanting their stuff, their services and their demands met first than worry about any consequences down the road. If at all. And the welfare of others seem not to be of much interest to most American nowadays.

Interestingly enough, it never used to be like this. I remember a time not that long ago where Americans were once regarded as very a open, welcoming and generous people. All that changed under the administration of George W. Bush which used the 9/11 terror attacks as a disguise to changing laws for its own purpose, limiting freedoms for the average citizen and turning the United States in a quasi fortress.

Our return flight wasn’t as horrible as one might have imagined, even with all the newly implemented additional security measures. Checking in at the Munich airport was a breeze, because we arrived there extra early. We had a layover in Amsterdam and despite being in the transfer area, every single passenger still had to go through metal detectors at the gate before boarding the plane for our connecting flight. Each carry-on item was emptied and individually hand checked, and every passenger patted down by security officers. This delayed our connecting flight to Minneapolis/St. Paul by more than one hour. Luckily, we had strong tail winds over a cloudy Atlantic and arrived in the United States half hour earlier than scheduled.

Here’s a word of advice for international air travel. Try to avoid international airports which seem to be obvious choices for leaving or entering the United States, such as New York’s JFK, Chicago’s O’Hare, Los Angeles’ LAX or Atlanta‘s Hartsfield airports. Instead go for flights departing and arriving at airports like Cincinnati, Charlotte or like in our case Minneapolis/St. Paul. You will be spared not only the enormous crowds of angry passengers and frustrated ground personnel, but also the long lines at passport controls and customs check. Most of the immigration and custom control officers are not as rude or threatening as they are at those more traditional hubs and don’t act much on that authoritative power trip. My passport control officer at Minneapolis was very to-the-point but friendly. It must have been that Midwestern charm.

Now we’re home in Las Vegas again and we’ve been back to work for a week already. Has it already been that long? Time flies when you’re having fun. And fun we had in Germany. Everything was great, meeting all my friends and family again, our hotel and its staff, the food and the sights. We could have done without the cold but then again we saved a lot of money as this time of the year is considered the dead season.

There will be a lot going on for both George and I this year. Another trip overseas seems highly unlikely this year. But one never knows. We may consider a long weekend in Canada later this year but we have to see how things fall into place first.

For now however, it’s back to school for George to finish his Master in Education and more work for me in the wonderful world of graphic design.

Trying to make concrete walls for a flood channel look fabulous is such a glamorous job.

I’ll be posting random photos from our trip to Munich in the next few entries.

‘Tis the season

There’s not much to report at this time as George and I are extremely busy with work, classes and everything in-between. The weeks and days leading up to the holidays were always a busy time for me. For whatever reason everyone thinks that the business world will be coming to an end if employees actually have a day or two off. Couple those days with a weekend and Capitalism as we know it truly comes to a complete standstill.




On top of that, I have the audacity to take a vacation. The nerve of me! Now everyone at my company is completely panicking and throws every imaginable project at me to finish before I leave for my vacation. You know, in case our plane nose-dives into the Atlantic or we decide to ask for political asylum in Germany or something like that. At least all my company’s projects will have been taken care of before I’m off donning some lederhosen and joining a yodeling group.




‘Tis the season after all.




Next Monday our friends Rover and Cal will be spending a few days for a romantic getaway at the Encore in Las Vegas. We’re looking forward to seeing them again, having a nice dinner together and a few good laughs. Then it’s time to slowly prepare for our upcoming trip to Germany. Departure day will be here before you know it and I’ll probably forget to pack something important.




Like my passport.




Below are a few random shots. An amazing sunrise after a night of blistering winter storms. A close-up of some holiday lights we’ve put on our mantle at home and an older picture of me when I was still a graphic artist at KSR/Snapdragon Interactive. That was by far the best job one could ever ask for. I still miss it.




Do you think I was trying too hard to look cool in this last picture?

Auf geht’s nach München

In two weeks George and I will be off to the old world. Germany to be precise. We’ll be spending the holidays and New Years in Munich and also a day or two in Augsburg.

It’s George’s first time ever to Germany. So it’s a whole new experience for him. I haven’t been back to München in over eight years. And before that I haven’t been back to Germany in ten years since we’ve moved to Las Vegas in 1991. It’s going to be nice seeing family and friends again after such a long time. There’s a lot of catching up to do. One can only tell so much about the events of one’s life in a short phone conversation or a quick e-mail. But nothing can match spending real time with a good old friend and chatting away over a cup of coffee and some fresh cake.

Kaffeekränzchen und viel Tratsch.

Conversing in German again may feel a little strange too as I don’t speak much German anymore since my Mother has passed away in 2001. Of course, George doesn’t speak much German and I don’t want him to feel alienated. I taught him a few words and sentences over the years and I think he could actually get by without me. But being fully immersed in a conversation spoken in a foreign tongue might be a little more than just challenging for him. German is not the easiest of languages. Luckily, most of the people I know in Germany also speak English.

Also ich versteh jetzt nur noch Bahnhof.

It’ll also be interesting to see how it feels to be back in Germany after years of absence. One tends to see things that once were rather ordinary in a completely different light. On the other hand, it felt like nothing has really changed the last time I was there in 2001.

Munich seemed to be in a time freeze back then. Everything looked just like it was when we left Germany for good in 1991. Sure, there were a few new building or stores here and there. But generally, nothing else really changed. With the exception of the people. The people of Munich have a reputation to be always “grantig,” or sort of grumpy all the time. Which is true to a certain degree. I should know since I’ve spent half of my life with those “Grantler.” What I’ve noticed during my last visit was that people were even “grantiger,” or grumpier. Why Americans always think of Munich to be this happy-go-lucky party place is a bit beyond me, but then again they never had to actually live here to find out that it’s not such a happy-go-lucky place. That doesn’t mean that every Münchener is constantly in a bad mood however. There are plenty of very friendly and happy folks living in the Bavarian Capital. And I am lucky to call some of these people my friends and glad that we’ve maintained these friendships over the years.

Nun geh mir bloß nicht auf den Keks!

Munich has its charm of course. It is indeed a beautiful city, especially during the warmer seasons when all the trees are lush and green and flowers are blooming everywhere. The Englischer Garten, the city’s huge park, is my favorite place to be. I basically grew up in that park. Then there’s the city’s rich history and culture. It can be found wherever one goes. In it’s architecture, the cathedrals, the castles, the galleries and museums. It’s a paradise for first-time tourists as there’s almost too much to do and even more to explore for returning visitors.

Na, daß ist aber doch toll, nicht wahr!?

I can’t wait to show George my old neighborhood of Lehel with its old buildings and close proximity to the city’s center and the Englisher Garten. I’d like take him to the Deutsches Museum, the largest technology and science museum of its kind in the world. One could spend a whole day there and still not see everything. We’ll most likely see a traditional circus at the Zirkus Krone and try to squeeze in a night at the Bayerische Staatsoper or the Theater am Gärtnerplatz to either see an opera or a ballet. Maybe we even find time to drive out with one of my friends somewhere in the Bavarian countryside to visit Neuschwanstein Castle or a short crossover into Austria or Switzerland. We may spend New Year’s Eve on top of the Olympiaberg which overlooks the city and is a perfect spot to watch the fireworks. Who knows? We’ll just play it by ear. And lots also depends on the weather.

Verdammtes Sauwetter nochmal!

You see, the weather in Germany has always been and always will be unpredictable. Especially in winter. Next week’s prediction calls for temperatures around the 30º F mark with lots of clouds and precipitation in form of snow and sleet. Throw in some wind and it’ll be even colder. Not that it’s much warmer here in Las Vegas right now, mind you. But that may be a good thing. We’re already being acclimated...so to speak. It’ll be my first winter in almost 20 years. It’ll be George’s first real winter...ever!

What were we thinking? Did we temporarily suffer a major case of brain freeze?

When I was a kid growing up in Munich I was one tough cookie. The cold and the snow didn’t bother me. I was out and about with my friends all the time, whether it was sunny, rainy and icy cold. I was never sick as a child. Now I’m a wimp. The warm desert climate can do that to you. One always expects the sun to shine and the temperatures to be hot here in Las Vegas. The few “winter” days we have in the Mojave Desert are nothing compared to the freezing winter months I grew up with. But that’s what thick winter jackets are made for. Unfortunately, I absolutely despise thick winter jackets. Or any other kind of jackets or sweaters. I’ve become a t-shirt, shorts and sandals kinda guy.

There are not too many things I miss about Germany however. I was never a big fan of German food and Bavarian food in particular tends to be too heavy and greasy for my taste. I miss an occasional Leberkässemmel or their delicious cakes and delicate tortes though. Okay, I admit it. I really do miss German bread. Walk into a bakery there and you’ll know what I mean. Germans have the most variety of breads anywhere. Granted, it has gotten way better when it comes to breads here in the United States, especially when you live in a city like Las Vegas, Los Angeles or New York. But nothing comes even close to German bread.

Ein Stück Schwarzwälderkirschtorte gefällig?

In addition to that, I miss a public transportation system like the one in Munich. I don’t really like driving a car but it’s a necessity here in the Western United States. Sometimes I wish I could just hop on a subway like I used to when I went to work in Munich and not worry about other idiot drivers or road rage.

Der fährt doch wie ein Henker!

More than anything, I miss the Englischer Garten. Do I ever! We have a nice park not too far away from where we live in Las Vegas but it consists mostly of desert landscaping. Obviously, living in an arid desert doesn’t allow for a lush green park which goes on for miles and miles. Then again, I really do love the desert too. Have I ever mentioned that I’m just a tad weird?

Du hast wohl nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank, oder?

Consequently, I don’t think I could ever live in Germany again. The Germans can be rather petty and small-minded and their stubbornness can drive one up the wall. I’ve become too Americanized. Ironically, I’m more an American than most Americans. As corny as it sounds but I do believe in the core principles of the American idea and the promises to the people of the United States. You know, the freedom, equality and the ability to living one’s life in the pursuit of happiness which the Republicans, the religious nutcases and some corporations are trying to alter for their own purpose and trying to take away from fair-minded people? Yes, those ideas are part of reason why I love America. And I still love America, despite of the many recent flaws. Despite the growing homophobia, the hate-mongering and the systematic dumbing down of the American people by greedy, unconscionable media conglomerates, I still wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Die spinnen, die Amis!

Because there are still many great people living here whom want the best for this country and its people. Once again, George and I are lucky to call some of them our friends. And we will not give some backwards thinking wingnut hick the satisfaction of driving George and I out of the country we love.

Herz, Schmerz, Gefühlsduselei.

Besides, America is one beautiful place. Germany may have its castles, its delicious breads and the Oktoberfest. But once you've sat on a red sandstone with not a soul in sight, overlooking the White Domes on a clear sunny day at Valley of Fire in the desert of Nevada, nothing else matters. Not one thing in Germany, or in Europe for that matter, can even compare to the magnificence of the American Southwest. Or Big Sur along the Californian coastline. The Black Hills in South Dakota. What about the islands of Key West? The list of amazing places is endless.

I guess I’ve become an “Ami” after all.

But not to worry. I still like Germany. George and I will enjoy our trip to Munich immensely. And I will have that Leberkässemmel!

Na dann, Prost Mahlzeit!

Grüß Gott!

Munich's main cathedral, the Frauenkirche

George and I will be spending the holidays in my former neck of the woods. Yes, we’ll be flying to Munich to visit family and some friends and to show George around my old stomping grounds.

I haven’t been back to München since September 2001. Up until then, traveling has always been a very pleasant experience for me. But since the awful events on September 11th, traveling has become a hassle, almost a chore and I’m not necessarily looking forward to the flying part of this trip.

Interestingly enough, I always loved to fly. Flying used to be very special to me back in those days. That was when airline passengers weren’t treated like cattle. When there was still something called customer service and a certain pride to keep passengers happy. When people were still pampered by the airlines and were served complimentary meals and drinks on long-haul flights. Heck, even on shorter routes airlines would at least serve sandwiches. And remember pillows and blankets? Well, not anymore. Not only are passenger being treated like cattle, the airline industry discovered that passengers are cash cows. Now airlines charge for everything. There’s a fee to implement a fee. I wait for the day when they start charging for the usage of lavatories.

Oh wait, that already has been suggested by an Irish airliner. Oh joy!

But for now we’re just happy to have found airfares and a hotel which were reasonable. Even trying to book a trip has become a pain. When did every little pleasure in life become such a hassle?
Anyway, that part is done and we’re just concentrating on having a grand time in the Bavarian capital. Not only have I not been back in over eight years, it’ll be my first winter in almost 20 years.

Uh-oh, what was I thinking?

The Eisbach flowing through a wintery Englischer Garten

Maybe the weather won’t be as cold and there may not even be any snow on the ground. It usually gets really snowy and icy by late January and February. Then again, this may be the winter of all winters and it’ll have full-blown blizzard conditions. Since this would be George’s very first winter experience, why not go out all the way?

Oy!

It’s funny how we ended up going to Germany. First we thought of visiting Bangkok and Hong Kong, maybe Japan. It ended up costing more than we anticipated, despite the really good offers we had found at first. Then we thought about spending a few days in London (my other stomping grounds) or Amsterdam.

They want how much for this dumpy looking place? Uhm...No!

Even staying in the good ol’ US of A is getting way too pricey. Americans can’t even afford their own country anymore. On top of barely getting any vacation time whatsoever and having no money, how are Americans supposed to explore the world if they can’t even make it past their own city limits?

Traffic signals in Munich usually don't stay red as long as they do in Las Vegas

Believe it or not, but Munich is a real bargain in comparison. So why the hell not? George has never been to Germany and is eager to visit. He already knows some basic German phrases. I’m sure that knowing how to say “I’m hungry” and “I love you” will help to get him through any sticky situation that may arise in case I’m not around to translate. Of course, saying “Ich liebe Dich” to the wrong person could prove somewhat perilous.

That’s the stuff of what future memories and great stories are made of.

The Maxmonument on Maximilian Straße. I used to live just around the corner.

So, my fellow bloggers, look forward to more riveting entries and prepare yourselves for breathtaking photography in the coming year. However, fantastic tales of drunken gamblers and sleazy girls must suffice for now. Not that you would ever find us in that kind of milieu. But who knows?

This is Sin City after all.

Tackylicious

Obama Fingers?



You have got to be kidding me!



And I thought only America could be so tacky.



Then something like this comes along. And it's made and being sold in Germany, of all places. Seriously, I'd expected a little more class from the country where I grew up in.