Munchen - the name of the city means "land near the monks"
See my name?!
I am one of Munich's sisters!
Neues Rathaus - New Townhall, Gothic style building built in 19th century.
At 11 am, 12 pm, 5 pm, the musical clock tower shows dances telling pieces of Bavarian history.
(See more photographs of town centre including details of the clock tower)
Altes Rathaus - Old Town Hall houses the Spielzeug Museum (Toy Museum) on one side of Marienplatz.
I love all the 100 teddy bears there
St. Peter's Church, like many churches in Munich, was damaged severely in the 2 world wars.
The superior architectural design yielded a more spacious and brighter interior but a more fragile structure that could hardly survive bombing.
I really admire the people of Munich in their determination and persistence to restore the city to the way it once was. As you can see, the walls of St. Peter's church are mostly restored. The ceiling mural took 50 years to get re-painted and was completed shortly a few years ago.
There are many other places in downtown that was restored. People gathered photographs, paintings to restore all the beautiful buildings.
(See more photographs of town centre including the devil's footprint, churches before and after restoration, restored city wall)
Marienplatz - Mary's Plaza. This gold statue was made with all the gold left in the city after a war to thank Virgin Mary's blessing over the town.
Legend says the builders made a deal with the devil to build this cathedral and the devil required the cathedral to have no windows. The smart architect placed columns in the right places that if you stand at the entrance, you can't see windows. When the devil found out, he was so mad and stepped hardly onto the ground. Even today, you can see a big footprint inside the church. Who knows whose footprint it belonged to...
Felderrnhalle (Commander's Hall) at Odeonsplatz has bronze statues for 2 18th-century Generals. There is a 3rd statue. At first, I thought the lady is the Bavarian goddess. No, Bavarian goddess is not depicted by a man. The statue was commissioned for a different country but bought by Bavarians.
The stage was being set up as Pope Bendict XVI was going to have a public appearance on the day I would leave Munich.
Munich Residence (Royal Palace) and Museum of Egyptian Studies along Residenzstrasse next to Felderrnhalle.
The Residence building was built with an Italian style. See if you recognize elements of virtual reality?
Another thing is to pay attention here is the police car. It is not obvious, isn't it.
Theatinerkirche (Theatine Church of St Cajetan) faces the Residenz on the other side of Felderrnhalle.
The yellow paint is a formula from Leonardo da Vinci. Since 1675, this church is painted every few years. Apparently, Leonardo was inventing many new paints but usually not too long lasting.
On one side of the Residenz is the Max-Joseph-Platz.
In the afternoon, I went inside the Residenz as it holds the royal treasures and is a fine museum.
The Opera House in the background was burnt down several times in history. Once, people wanted to save it but water was not available, so they poured beer trying to put out the fire. (Is this real? Wouldn't alcohol help it burn more?)
Of course the statue here depicts King Max-Joseph. He was a businessman. He took the deal from Napoleon and turned himself from Duke to King without fighting a war.
Fountain Courtyard
The statue in the fountain is a duplica. The real statue is inside the Residenz.
Ancestral Hall
Bayerns Krone 1806
Perhaps it was fate. The exhibition was supposed to be from Mar 30 - July 30. I was lucky to see the Crown Jewels at such close distance.
He asked me where I come from, how long I am staying in Munich, where I stay... and then he asked me if I want to go out with him on Saturday. I told him I am leaving on Saturday. Then he asked if I want to dine out with him the next day. I told him I am eating out with friends. I never expected Germans to be this bold, I thought it's only French and Italians, haha.
I continued strolling in downtown after the Munich Residence closed. European cities never lack artists. I found one painting on the ground.
As Marisa was busy until past 8 pm, I had an excuse to visit one more museum especially it closes at 9 pm on Thursdays - Deutsches Jagd und Fischereimuseum (Museum of Hunting and Fishing). The museum building seems to me that it used to be a mansion.
I found musicians outside the hunting museum.
Boar! Boar! Arrh... Wild Pigs!
When I saw the seagulls and pigeons, I suddenly had a thought - that I rather see the seagulls and pigeons flying than in the museum.
Yet, I admire the Germans in their expertise in making specimen.
There are also hunting carts, equipment.