Munich – The Capital of Bavaria, Beer, Sausages and River Surfing

Destination 4 – Munich, Germany

Where? Motel One München Sendlinger Tor

When? Monday 1 June – Thursday 4 June

Official language? German

Interesting facts I’ve learnt about Munich:

• Munich (German: München) is the capital of the German state, Bavaria.
• Third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg.
• There is a strong sense of culture and tradition in Bavaria, to the extent that some Bavarians would prefer that the state be its own country, separate to Germany.
• Munich has many specialty dishes including Weißwurst (white sausage) and Schweinsbraten (pot roasted pork) with Knödel (potato dumplings), all of which John has tried and absolutely loves!
• Each year Munich is home to the world’s largest beer festival, ‘Oktoberfest’ (we are a couple of months too early!)
• No ocean in Munich? No worries. Hidden amongst the Englischer Gartens (you guessed it, ‘English Gardens’) are river surfers!

River surfers in the Englischer Gartens

A snapshot of thoughts and insights I have gained over the past couple of days in Munich:

• While we only had 2 full days here, I can easily say that Munich is my favourite city so far! It’s charming, cheerful and has lots of shopping spots!
• John should live in Bavaria. One more sausage and I think he’ll turn into one.
• I want to be a river surfer. Imagine the street cred!

We arrive into Munich central train station on a Monday evening. At which time John has already enjoyed his first currywurst (first of many sausages while in Germany) from the train food cart! Sure, it was mass-produced and a far cry from an authentic currywurst but any sausage is a good sausage in John’s books.

We arrive at our hotel, just as the rain starts to fall, and squeeze into our shoebox room. As we walk through the door, calming music starts to play and a video of fish swimming around in the ocean appears on the TV screen. Perhaps it’s intended to distract us from the fact that there’s hardly room to move in here! On the bright side, it’s modern, clean and in a central location so for about $100 a night, I think we’ve got ourselves a pretty good deal.

Walking out into the fresh air, I immediately feel happy. Munich has such a positive vibe. There are quirky little boutiques speckled everywhere.

A shopfront in the Munich city centre.

The central square in the middle of the city, the ‘Marienplatz’ is just beautiful. You can’t walk into the square without noticing the exquisite Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall). ‘New’ in that it was built between 1867- 1908. Within the Neues Rathaus, is an open-air traditional Munich restaurant called ‘Ratskeller’. Not the most appealing name but it’s a lovely place to sit down for a bite to eat!

Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)

John eating yet another sausage at the Ratskeller.

Eating a kiddies ice-cream with Smarties, a wafer, sorbet, ice-cream and some super sour lolly dust! #bigkidme

We decide to stroll through the ‘Englischer Gartens’ and walk passed a wet suit-clad guy waxing a surfboard. John laughs at me when I suggest he must be getting ready to surf. Seconds later we hear gushing water and before our eyes are river surfers! We sit for ages on the hill slopes either side taking videos and photos, wishing we could join them. It looks like so much fun!

One of the few female river surfers kicking butt!

Some of them make river surfing look so natural, like ducks to water. Others, particularly the young ones, really struggle against the power of the water, paddling like mad on their stomachs until they finally get swept downstream on their surfboards, no longer able to resist the force. They’re persistent though, determined to ride the river wave!

Multi-tasking at its finest. River surfing and munching on a nectarine!

One of the pro river surfers.

Posing in the Englischer Gartens.

Munich is a city we won’t be forgetting in a hurry. Keeping John happy is the endless supply of Bavarian beer and sausages. For me? Yes, it’s great to have such amazing food at our fingertips but there are more important things. Like the shopping, the toned bods of the river surfers and the look of the buildings at night when they’re lit up making the city look like it’s been plucked straight from a fairytale. Thank you Munich, you’ve been an absolute treat!

You’re welcome.