First impressions of Munich, Germany

Guten tag,

Yesterday was officially my first day in Munich. I chose Munich, based on my trip last summer when I flew into this city and had a chance to check out the aerial view of this place. I had found it charming, green and somewhat peaceful below the clouds.

The flight to Munich yesterday was a breeze. I even had a chance to nap, which isn't something I do all that easily. The airport is in the midst of a forest. The city center of Munich is about 30km. I tried to negotiate with a desert dwelling cab driver, to no avail. I even begged! Failure totale!!!

I arrive at the sofitel in Bayerpost and the lovely blue-eyed, blond haired lady desk manager informs me that it will take a few hours to give me a room, as the hotel is fully booked. She convinces me to drop everything and begin discovering the area.

So my discovery of this city begins....a stroll along Bayer strasse/street, where I am surprised to see so many Lebanese vendors. Arabic writing on the store windows, signs, menus... I continue along Neuhauser Strasse and Kaufinger strasse/street to reach old town,a touristy, cobble-stoned square with cafes, a town hall, and a church. It is said that between 1319 and 1791, this gateway served as the entrance to the Old City through the second fortified ring wall.
Nearby is the Burgersaalkirche (church) which holds the tomb of Father Rupert Mayer, whose opposition to the Nazis cost him his life.

Once I arrived to the square, I found a nice outdoor cafe and enjoyed my morning latte and watched people walk on by. I was blown away by the TALL folks walking by, the mannequins at H&M were GIANT size to represent the German population. The locals have a sense of style. The women are elegantly dressed and the men HAD NICE SHOES and Jeans (I guess now would be a good time to tell you have a shoe fettish-men's shoe that is!!!) I was too tired to pull out my camera and focus...hohum....otherwise, I would have been clicking away to add to my collection of Men around the World!

At 11am I had the pleasure of listening to the Glockenspiel/Carillon of the New Town Hall, a neo-gothic building which was erected between 1867 and 1909. The 85 meter tower is a Bavarian attraction, with its 43 bells, and 32 almost life-size figurines which dance and entertain the crowds. The dance has something to do with the celebration of the wedding of Duke Wilhelm V to Renata of Lorraine.

I continued meandering for the next three hours and returned to the hotel, only to find out that my room was no where ready. They asked me to kindly be seated ans they would get back to me. I began observations of the patrons of this hotel. Burkas, black veils, while their MEN wore tank tops, shorts and sandals. Did I forget to mention that the temperatures were in the 35C and humid!!! I felt I could have been in Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait....and wait a second they are getting room keys!!! Why???
Oh manager....Jet lag finally reached its toll.

I did get a room and Bassam my syrian porter was kind enought to escort me to my room. I coudn't keep it in...from one desert dweller to another, I asked him "wasss up with all the burkas???" He laughed!!!!Hysterically!
Apparently, the Saudis can't stanf their local weather in the fifties; they travel on holiday to cooler climates ( like Munich's 30s) to chill!!! ...and shop apparently. Of course, true to Tania, I then asked..."shop for what????The Burkas cover everything, including NOSTRILS!!!" He burst out laughing again.

I settled in my room and turned on some television...only to see TV Kuwait, TV Dubai, TV SAUDI, TV AL Jazeerah and this went on...no joke.
Don't you think, somewhere on the hotel brochure or web page, they should have removed them gorgeous German blonds I like to check out and instead displayed Burka central....that way, I can choose to go there or NOT?? Just sayin'....if I wanted to see Qatar, I would have flown there, no?