Today we took a walking-tour of Munich. Although it was freezing cold and snowy, the city tour was really interesting—the guide kept it exciting. City tours are something that I am very familiar with considering they are quite popular on cruises, but this one was so much better because she made it very personal—it wasn’t a mass-produced money-making tour. We walked through Munich’s city center and stopped at many churches and monuments in Marienplatz, but more than exactly where we went I remember some random bits and pieces. For example, the area that is currently an ice skating rink is located in what is technically called Karlsplatz—named after a past ruler of Bavaria. He was unpopular because he tried to sell Bavaria to Austria and so the locals instead call the square Stachus, after a popular pub owner. The tour guide also pointed out random sculptures/statues at the top of columns in one of the churches that you would've never noticed otherwise.
She also told us about the legend of the devil’s footstep in the Frauenkirche: the devil made a deal with the builder of the church (which is why it was finished so quickly) on the condition that it has no windows.
The builder made it so that the columns in the church cover the windows in the spot where the devil’s footstep is. When the devil figured out he had been tricked, he couldn't do anything because people were already worshiping in the church and could only stomp his feet. Also at this church, certain groups have their own prayer areas. One group’s—the bakers’—area has a pretzel under their crest. The tour guide told us that pretzels are shaped the way they are because they used to be eaten only by monks during their lent-like time when they prayed, and they prayed by crossing their arms across their chest.
In another area, we learned that Hitler had applied to art school in Austria but was turned down because he wasn’t good enough. He then came to Germany to apply but the same thing happened and instead joined the military. From there he heard about the Nazi party, went to jail, and started writing Mein Kampf. I can’t imagine how different things might have been if Hitler got into art school. Interestingly enough, Munich was also the start of the White Rose movement against Hitler.
Our tour guide was telling us about how bad the plague was in Germany, and then realized that this year was a special year—a year of a cooper’s dance. Apparently when the plague was finally over, all the keg/barrel makers did a dance, and now to celebrate the fact that there is no more plague, they do a dance every 7 years. I couldn’t believe our odds—that this dance only happens for a month or so every seven years, and we happened to be here when it happened! The dance in and of itself wasn’t super exciting—a bunch of men with hoops covered in greens and super repetitive music—but the idea behind it was exciting. Go health!
After the dance we went to Hofbrauhaus for lunch and then had the rest of the day free. A few of us decided to go check out the BMW Welt (World) for something to do. It was pretty interesting; though it was mostly like a giant show room—I’m sure my brother would be in heaven though. We will also go to the BMW plant on Monday where they actually make the cars so that should be really interesting! We then wandered around the stadium where the 1972 Summer Olympics were held. I’m not much of a sport person but the sheer size alone was enough to make anyone be in awe.
Tonight we are going to check out some more nightlife since tomorrow is a free day. I’m still trying to decide between going to a modern art museum or to a concentration camp. Only time will tell!
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