Munich is beautiful, dynamic, voted several times as the most livable city in the world. Home of Oktoberfest and Bayern München team, the Bavarian capital is traditional, yet hip – a winning combination in my books.

The journey itself is my home.

Greeting with “Gruß Gott” and the feel of a village in Altstadt, the old town of cosmopolite Munich. Classics in district Altstadt are Marienplatz with the new Town Hall in the center, the churches Frauenkirche, baroque Asamkirche and Theatinekirche.

Royal vibes start at Munich Residenz Palace, former residence of the House Wittelsbach of Bavaria in Odeonplatz near National Theatre, and at Hofgarden (Court Garden). Continue at royal avenue Maximilianstraße until Maximilianeum Palace.

Fashion

One highlight this summer was attending the Thierry Mugler: Couturissime expo at Kunsthalle München, about the fashion creations and runway shows of the House, but also the work of Mugler in photography and music videos, presenting “150 haute couture and prêt-à-porter outfits”.

Mugler designs are feminine, celebrating the woman body, and often with an exaggeration, in order to create the perfect “clepsydra” silhouette. He wrote he wants to make the women/man feel more powerful when wearing his pieces.

Couturissime can be visited until 28 February 2021 and more information are on the website. I enjoyed exploring the expo and really recommend visiting if you are in Munich.

My only measure is excess

Thierry Mugler

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Einen Kaffee, bitte!

Traditional coffee place in an Italian style are common in Munich, as is Bar Centrale (Ledererstrasse 23), that could be an espresso bar/café from Milan, or classic Aroma KaffeeBar – Eis Eis Baby (Pestalozzistrasse 25), that reinvented itself.

Husband and wife Marco and Cornelia Mehrwald opened one of the first specialty coffee roastery and café, Man Versus Machine (on Müllerstrasse 23). I read they said “coffee is a fruit and should not be bitter”. I couldn’t agree more, as I drink often my coffee black without added sugar or milk.

Coffee is a fruit and should not be bitter

Man versus Machine café owners

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Sights

What I loved was the atmosphere in cute areas Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz, in neighborhood Isarvorstadt. There, Hans- Sachs-Straße is the pretties street for strolls.

Square Gärtnerplatz is named after Friedrich von Gärtner, an architect of King Ludwig I. The circular square is very lively, colorful, and the streets around have a theater with the same name, restaurants, cafés, vintage shops and boutiques.

A few minutes away from Gärtnerplatz are Viktualienmarkt and the Italian restaurant and market Eataly.

Viktualienmarkt is a traditional open air daily market, with many vendors selling fruits, vegetables, wine, flowers, and even souvenirs and coffee roasters. I went twice for lunch and I confess I had the best goulash soup at Münchner Suppenküche. I recommend.

From Eataly I left with pizza, ice cream, coffee and sweet focaccia with apricots.

Not to forget, Englischer Garden is the largest public park. Is near the center of Munich and has a Japanese teahouse, a Biergarten, and even is possible to surf due to an artificial stream flow in the Isar river. Something you don’t see every day.

Der Weg is das Ziel. The way is the jorney

Bayern was blessed with amazing nature and mountains views. Lakes around Munich are Starnberger See and Ammersee. A little further, in the Bavarian Alps are Chiemsee, Königsee or Tegernsee, just to name a few. I left Neuschwanstein castle and Eibsee with Kugspitze to pay a visit next time. Looking forward to return!

While at one lake in the Alps, I was reflecting on the last years. Making an effort to learn and speak daily German was worth it. All in all, perhaps thanks to the language, this week I noticed that I adapted well and I feel at home everywhere in Germany and parts of Austria.