Tag Archives: Munich

Getting lost the old-fashioned way

Points of the compass help in an American city, but how does a North American....

The strange cult status of white asparagus 

If you are in Munich and see people jostling for a spot in line at....

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The Superbowl is super in Germany, too

Football may be America's favorite sport, but it's gaining ground fast in Germany, too. I....

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‘Twas the Night Before Weihnachten

On a trip to a Christmas market in Munich, I was inspired by The Night....

What happened to Santa Claus?

Santa Claus, St. Nick, or the Christ child? The figure we associate with Christmas takes....

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Hot wine and cold toes

Christmas markets are popping up on every corner in Germany, including the medieval town of....

If this is punctuality, my watch is broken

Germans have a reputation for being punctual, but trains are a different story. During a....

The library, the monk, and the sandals

This stunning Baroque library tucked away in a monastery in a Bavarian village is the....

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‘Tis the season of the Wiesn: The Oktoberfest for locals and tourists

What some probably don’t realize is that while the Oktoberfest is the biggest folk festival....

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The tiniest stars of the Oktoberfest live in a drawer

The Oktoberfest is synonymous with beer for most people. Yet half of the fairgrounds consists....

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Protesting technology by battling bikes and coning cars

Munich had a run-in with e-bikes once a few years ago. They successfully battled the....

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Getting lost the old-fashioned way

Those of us who predate GPS know how to get around without using technology. Knowing....

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Munich comes full circle: From putsch to Rabbi Conference

The hand of history has done its work on the city of Munich. Named after....

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If an alien landed in New York, would he know where he is?

New York feels like another world compared to Munich. Many elements are obvious and in....

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In not-so-hot pursuit of the Way of St. James

Somehow I keep coming across the camino or Way of St. James, leading to surprising....

Welcome back, fleas! The Oktoberfest is on

Following a three-year hiatus, Munich’s favorite party returned. Corona didn’t dampen people’s spirits, but I....

Bombs away! The WWII gift that keeps on giving

Listen to Brenda tell the story One of the punctuality challenges to the Munich train....

If this is punctuality, my watch is broken

Germany has the reputation of being punctual and reliable. But recent snafus in city planning....

The ladies, the rest home and the bombs

The oldest residents of a rest home suddenly developed mild illnesses. They all shared a....

The 10 kilometers that triggered Acute License Plate Trauma

The small Munich suburb of Zorneding may not be famous, but harbors a few surprises.

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I tried to escape the Oktoberfest. I failed.

Listen to Brenda tell the story For the second time, the Oktoberfest has been canceled....

Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 4 – The Oktoberfest

26 May 2021  (Click here for parts 1, 2 and 3) Munich is known first....

Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 3 – Royal rollicking and frolicking

This cemetery is anything but dead boring. The people buried here come from many centuries....

How war shaped the Alter Südfriedhof

Part Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 2 Small German towns have monuments to the dead....

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Grave Thoughts – the Alter Südfriedhof Cemetery

Now in the middle of the city, this cemetery was once outside the city walls.....

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From Munich to Philadelphia with love

A chat group of expat Americans provides moral support during a days-long chat leading to....

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Italian – no problemo

I walked into Italian class and saw a room full of pensioners. But I didn't....

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Spectators turned spectacle, thanks to corona

Theaters are allowed to reopen, but only if they leave several empty seats between audience....

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Oktoberfest canceled by COVID – but the party went on anyway

Munich's Oktoberfest was canceled due to COVID-19, but locals are celebrating anyway.

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German Christmas means hot wine and cold toes

Every town has its Christmas market. I try my luck fitting in as a local....

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Halloween has gone global but strange things happened

Halloween has made its way to Germany, but some funny things happened to this holiday....

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An in-tents experience – My Oktoberfest visit

The Oktoberfest is inextricably linked to drinking beer. But there's a lot more beyond the....

The curious case of the X in the sock drawer

The old joke "I have to organize my sock drawer" as an excuse to skip....

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Of planes to Spain exploring new terrain

I was thrilled when my daughter decided to study Spanish in Spain, but so much....

Squished on the train – but it was fun

Being stuck on a crowded train gives you a close-up glimpse of its multicultural inhabitants,....

On the train from Munich to Berlin

It’s a bright sunny day as my daughter and I hop on the train to....