A Day in Munich
- Admin
- Feb 9, 2018
- 4 min read
In April of 2016, two weeks shy of my 16th birthday, I left the country for the very first time. In a group of six other students from surrounding schools, I traveled across the Atlantic for a ten day exchange program in Germany.
For the first two days of our trip, before we went separate ways to stay with host families, we took a trip to Munich and I immediately fell in love with the city. From the the cobblestone streets, to the outdoor market paired with the clear spring weather, the Munich was beautiful and unlike any place I had ever seen.
Perhaps it was because it was my first European city, but to this day, Munich remains my favorite city that I have visited. Which is why I chose to revisit the footage I took on the first day of the trip.
Watch the video, then read about the places pictured below!
Flying out of Boston on a Wednesday night, it took around six hours to reach Dublin for our layover. Landing at 6 am Irish time (1 am back home), everyone was exhausted. Lucky for me, I had somehow managed to get some sleep, which I was grateful for later that day.
After a short leg to Munich, I took my first steps into Germany. Taking a coach bus into the city, I was the only one still awake, watching the countryside pass by with wide eyes. The weather could not have been better. The bright sun shone through the clear blue sky, making the scenes passing by seem even more friendly and welcoming.
We passed the Olympic Stadium, a glimmering metallic structure surrounded by rows of perfectly rounded trees, lines up like soldiers. The short ride took us into the city, which was nothing like the American cities I was used to. Instead of skyscrapers of glass and metal, I was delighted to see historic buildings, monuments, and townhouses hugging the busy sidewalks. Colors were bright and inviting - shades of yellow buildings, pale stone paths, and lush green grass.
After setting out bags down in our hostel, we met our tour guide and began our busy day exploring what Munich had to offer.
We set out to the nearest subway station, gathering on one of the busy cars into the heart of the city. I was shocked by how clean and quiet these stations were, so used to the loud, bustling, and dirty underground stations of Boston and New York City. Exiting the subway in a station encased in vibrant orange tiles, we emerged in Marienplatz, home of the famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel. We were promised that we would revisit the famous clock later that evening to see the full spectacular show.
Leading us on, we were given time to go off on our own to explore the food market. Exploring the cobbled streets, surrounded by tents and stands filled with a variety of different eats and goods - honey, sausage, fresh produce, nuts, marshmallows, and flowers. And of course, the Biergarten was bustling in the midday sun. I went off with some of my new friends, whom I had just met just the day before. Our trip leaders gave us each some euros to go purchase our lunch, and I ended up with a panini with basil pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella - not very German I suppose, but certainly delicious. We found that almost every shopkeeper spoke English to some degree, making it a breeze for a group of high schoolers who’ve never taken a German class. In fact, this trip inspired me to study German!
Before our next stop, we poked our heads into the St. Peter’s Church, the oldest in the district. Traveling Europe, you tend to visit many old churches, but this was by far the most stunning one I’ve seen so far. Grand white walls and columns, decorated with gold accents and fantastic artwork. Certainly unlike any church you would see in the States!
We made our way back underground to the subway, heading back towards the Olympic stadium we had passed on our way in. Our guide took us to the BMW museum to see the pinnacle of German engineering. The building itself was a piece of art, sleek, modern, and metallic, with sharp curves and edges. The park outside was just as gorgeous but encompassed the natural beauty of Germany over the manufactured.
Although I didn’t have my license (or the money, for that matter), I couldn’t help but eye all of the beautiful and sleek cars and dream about being rich. I did end up leaving that day with a new set of wheels, though. A brand new BMW keychain…
Another subway trip later, we made it back to the center of the city. We visited some more monuments and marveled at the stunning architecture of Munich.
To conclude the tour, our guide brought us back to the square facing the Glockenspiel, which was now packed with tourists all waiting for the grand presentation. At 6 o’clock, the bells began to chime, stirring up the crowd’s excitement.
Built in 1908, the Glockenspiel tells a tale of a royal wedding, as musicians and dancers spin around for the pleasure of the aristocratic newlyweds. The highlight- or most dramatic part, as our tour guide put it - was the joust between two knights, ending in the victory of the blue and white Bavarian horse. At the end of the 15-minute show, a golden rooster poked out, attempting to squeak out a few crows as the crowd cheered.
Our long day of exploring ended in a traditional German restaurant. I decided to go fully German this time, ordering a huge slab of pork, smothered in gravy, paired with a pretzel and potato dumpling. Delicious, but also incredibly filling, especially for someone trying to adjust to a new time zone.
The rest of my time in Germany was nothing but amazing and will be a memory I will cherish forever. I eagerly await the day I can return to this beautiful country to travel around and see everything that we couldn’t fit into ten days, as well as visit Munich again to experience the sights once more.
I hope to write more posts on my first trip abroad to Germany, so stay tuned!
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