Day 11: Touring Munich

I got up, suited up, and showed up on time to join a group on a free tour of Munich. (Can you see me down front left in the pink t-shirt and jeans?)
It was worth the time to have a guide through the city, telling the stories and history behind all the sights. Several things amazed me as we went along.

First of all, few, if any of the memorials or city landmarks are actually marked in any way!
In the states, historical landmarks are often accompanied by placards, indicating the historical significance. Here, even if I could read German, there is little to explain the rich history of the city.
Secondly, I was really struck by a concept presented by our tour guide having to do with the German people's struggle to reconcile with their past. Is it fair that this city, with a history extending back for hundreds of years, should be associated only with the events that took place during the 12 years of the Holocaust? I was really thankful for the stories related to us by our tour guide that demonstrated the incredible attitude of the German people as they have worked through the past several generations with humility and determination toward a more positive future.
Third, it is very much a curiosity to me how people's lives intersect. I spent the majority of my waking hours today with strangers, who I may or may not see again. Still, I shared this experience with them, and was a part of theirs in turn.


There were so many things along the tour, the churches, the market, and other tours of the city, it was clear that I'm not likely to fit it all in during the time I have allotted to visit. I wondered if I could end up like some of the people I encountered who live here as a result of coming for a visit and falling love with the city, unable to tear themselves away!

In the latter half of the day, Carl and I went out for a traditional Bavarian meal. Yum! I had heard some favorable things about the Augustiner brand of beer, so we ate at one of their larger restaurants just off the Marienplatz. (There are six local brews and any pub or restaurant generally only serves one of the six.) We sat and Carl ordered a beer for me, which got me instant street cred from the waiter. I ordered a pretxel to accompany said beer and was passed a basked from the other side of the bench table. Apparently you just keep count and tell them at the end of the meal how many you had.
The dish I ate was a mix of things and far too much for any one person. Shame, the leftovers would have been amazing! I had a couple of meatballs, some HUGE raviolis, spaetzle, topped with cubed carrots and potatoes, with a GENEROUS portion of mushrooms in a cream sauce over half of it. Then, for a finishing touch, there were crispy fried onions sprinkled on top.

Fighting off food coma, we made our way safely home. Another successful day in Munich!