Don't Miss These Sights When Visiting Munich

Munich is beautiful! This is one of the reasons why I always recommend Munich to all my friends who are visiting Germany. Munich is one of my favourite cities in Germany not only because it is the capital of the state of Bavaria but simply because it is truly a lovely city. It is noted for its architecture and culture and most of all for hosting the world's most famous and largest festival, the Oktoberfest.

Munich has these six amazing attractions to visit:

1. Nymphenburg Palace

I visited this Palace twice already. If I have the chance to go there again, I would still love to. This palace is located in the heart of Munich. Many of the palace showrooms still have their original baroque decoration. The gardens around the palace are a perfect place for an afternoon walk or a picnic.

The Fountain at the garden located at the back of  Nymphenburg Palace during my second visit last May  2012.

2. Viktualien Market

This is Munich's largest outdoor market place. This market has a variety of foods from many different countries. Different wines, breads, cheeses, and beers are all sold here. Even if you're not on a major shopping spree this is still a great place to stroll through and grab a bite to eat.

3. English Garden

This is one of the most breathtaking city parks in Munich, Germany. This park was created in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thomas. Today you will find many people playing Frisbee and football in the park. Horseback riding and sunbathing nude by the horse track are two other favorite activities to do in the English Garden.

The Chinesischer Turm or Chinese Tower with beer garden at the English Garden in Munich. I was there!

4. Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower)

This amazing tower stands 291 meters high. The observation platform, which is located at 191 meters in the air, gives visitors a breathtaking view of Munich. There is also a revolving restaurant where visitors can enjoy a meal and the views of the city at the same time.

Our visit to the Olympiapark and seeing the Olympic Tower last 2009 was a wonderful feeling for me. Sad to say, we don't have the chance to go up to the tower. Hopefully in our next visit.

The Olympic Tower in Olympiapark in Munich during our trip last 2009.

5. Deutsches Museum

With forty-five exhibits, this is one of the largest science museums in the world. The museum is located on an island in the beautiful Isar River. Priceless artifacts include the first automobile and the first diesel engine. One of the most popular attractions at the museum is the high voltage display that actually produces electricity.


6. Pinakothek der Moderne

If you like visual arts then you will definitely want to visit this large museum dedicated to 19th and 20th century visual arts. The collections at this museum range from the industrial revolution up to today's modern computer culture.

To all international guests and tourists who are trying to find cheap Flights to Germany, I am quite sure you can find a lot  online. There are a lot of discount airlines that are serving affordable flights in most airports in Germany like Ryanair, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic and many more.

For sure you will going to have a wonderful and memorable stay in Bavarian's lovely capital. Have fun!

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Passing-by at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Bavaria

First of all I would like to greet everyone a wonderful start of June! I hope you had a great start of the month. Yes, I do because I was busy again today doing some  offline jobs. It was quite tiring but I enjoy doing it much. I was just busy  with our homeville and gardenville.

I am just sharing this snapshot I took of the Allianz Arena located in the Bavarian capital city of Munich. I can't exactly remember how many times did I already passed this building. It is actually a football stadium.

The stadium was the venue for the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final.

The Allianz Arena while passing-by it  last May 31, 2012. It is visible from the highway and I took this snapshot  while inside the car.

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Not To Miss Events and Festivals When Visiting Europe in 2012

Events and festivals in Europe, these are some of the reasons why travellers, visitors and party-lovers from around the globe are visiting this continent. There are a lot of things to experience here especially the famous and colourful festivals and events that are happening from time to time in the different places and cities in Europe. Be sure to plan and book your international flights ahead of time. There are always affordable flights you can find online to any destinations in Europe.

Venice Carnival in Italy is one of the unique and colourful festivals you can witness in Europe. Here you will find participants wearing masks of various forms, colours and styles. It is simply a Venetian tradition which made it famous not only in Europe but also around the world. This year's festival will take place from February 11-21. If you want your visit to be memorable, why not buy a mask and a costume and participate in a palazzo ball.

a woman wearing a mask and costume while on a gondola ride during a Carnival in Venice. I was in Venice thrice already.

The Lemon Festival in French Riviera- This is is an annual event held every February in Menton, a town in Cote d'Azur in France. It is nicknamed "The Pearl of France". The place is famous for its mild climate and known to have 300 days of sunshine in a year. During this festival, you will witness a parade with various floats decorated with lemons and oranges of different motives, forms and designs.

Menton, France during our visit last April 2011.

While the other parts of Europe are still having winter during this time, a multicoloured festival under the sun will be taking place in this beautiful town of Menton. The parade of "Golden Fruit" will take place from February 17 to March 7, 2012.

St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, Ireland- St. Patrick Day is celebrated around the world but its celebration in Ireland is very special and unique because this is where its history started. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and he was the one who brought Christianity to this country particularly in Heaton Celts 1500 years ago. Christians and non-Christians from around the world visit Ireland to witness and participate this famous festival. It will take place from March 16-19, 2012. Don't miss to watch its highlight, the St. Patrick's Day Parade on the 17th of March.

London 2012 Olympic Games- This is one of the highlights for this year's event. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in London, England, UK from July 27 to August 12, 2012. London defeated Paris, Madrid, Moscow and New York City during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore last July 6, 2005.

view of Big Ben and the London Parliament as the London eye was ascending. It was a wonderful experience riding this wheel. Taken during my 3-weeks vacation in England last 2008.

For sure, many of you had already booked your flights and tickets for this event. I believed many are still looking for cheap flights and accommodation to London at this time. Try your luck in searching for low-cost airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair, Air Berlin, Germanwings and many more.

Oktoberbest in Munich, Germany- known as one of the most famous events in Germany and also the world's largest festival, this Bavarian culture is visited by 5 million people from all corners of the world every year. Don't miss to taste some of the German beers and the German delicacies such as Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Bratwurst, Weisswurst, Steckerlfisch...I guess I have to stop mentioning about food right now because it just makes me hungry. It is held in Theresienwiese in Munich from September 22 to October 7, 2012. If possible reserve your seats earlier in one of the many beertents in Oktoberfest.

one of the beer tents in Oktoberfest during our visit last 2010.

Semana Santa in Andalusia, Spain- You can pick some of the big cities in the region of Andalusia to witness its famous Holy Week festival known as Semana Santa. Seville, the capital city of Andalusia and Granada are very famous for this religious celebrations. Semana Santa is one of the famous traditional event in whole of Spain. Don't fail to witness the processions of paso and other religious sculptures.

Plaza de Espana in Seville, Spain during our trip last December 2011.

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The Huge Beer Barrel in Hofbräuhaus in Munich

After doing some errands this afternoon like grocery shopping and household chores, I am finally back online. Those beer barrels inside the famous Hofbräuhaus are huge enough to hold thousands of liters of beer. It is made of wood and not stainless steel barrels. This is not really the biggest beer barrel I had seen. The biggest one I saw was inside Heidelberg castle during my visit with friends last November 2010.

Just letting you know that Hofbräuhaus has the second largest beer tent in Oktoberfest. It is named Hofbräu-Festzelt. I just remember this since Oktoberfest is fast approaching soon. Its own brew is the only beer served in their tent.

This year's Oktobest last 17 days and will take place from September 17 to October 3. I might see you there!

taken during my third visit with friends last August 2011.

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Munich Sightseeing: Things Not to Miss

This is one of the beautiful cities to visit in Germany not only due to its location near the Alps but also due to its noted architecture and culture. Munich, called in German as München, is the capital city of Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany. It is the most livable city in 2010 as ranked by Monocle.



Here are some of the sights and things not to miss when visiting Munich. Quick travel tip: Plan your trip ahead, for sure you can find cheap accommodations and flights to Germany.



Marienplatz



Located in the city centre, the Marienplatz or Mary's Square is the central square in Munich and one of the main hang-outs of tourists. The Old and New Town Hall is also located in this area. The Mariensäule or Marian column which gave Marienplatz its name, was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation is also located in this square. Don't miss to watch the Glockenspiel in the tower of the new city hall.

a lot of people watched the Glockenspiel in the new Town Hall tower in Marienplatz during our visit this month.

Olympiapark



An Olympic Park which was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. It now serve as a venue for cultural, social, and religious events. If you want to have a good view of Munich city, you can go up to its Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) which is 291 meters in height.



Frauenkirche



Known as the Cathedral of Our Lady in English, it is a landmark and the most iconic symbol of Munich. You can climb the stairs to the south tower to have a unique view of Munich and the nearby Alps.



Nymphenburg Palace



Known as Schloss Nymphenburg in German, it is a Baroque palace and was the main summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria. The palace, together with its park, is now one of the most famous sights of Munich.



If you want to get away with the busy city centre, you can have a more relaxing atmosphere in this area. Schloss Nymphenburg is accessible by Munich public transport's tram number 17. This line passes through the city centre, including Stachus and the main train station.

Oktoberfest during our visit last 2008.

Oktoberfest



Considered as the biggest fair in the world with more than 5 million people attending every year, Oktoberfest is one of the best experience you can have when visiting Munich. It is a 16-18 day festival held in Theresienwiese, called for short as Wiesn, which is located near Munich's center.



Oktoberfest is considered to be an important part of Bavaria culture. The first Oktoberfest took place on the 12 October 1810, to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen.



This year's Oktoberfest celebration will take place from September 17 to October 3.



Hofbräuhaus



Don't miss to visit one of the famous beer hall in Munich. You can try Bavarian dishes such as roast pork, pork knuckle, and sausages such as Weisswurst in Hofbräuhaus. You can also try its wheat beer, wine and Helles, served in a mass. While dining and drinking, you can also hear traditional Bavarian music inside.

Hofbräuhaus, during our second visit lately this month.

There are still other sights to see and to experience in Munich. Visiting its museums and castles nearby, shopping and entertainment are only some of it. There are also airlines that offers cheap flights to Munich and its nearby cities like Ryanair, Easyjet, Air Berlin and many more.

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The Marienplatz in Munich, Germany

The Marienplatz, commonly known in English as St. Mary's Square is a central square in the city of Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria, Germany. You can see here the New City Hall ( Neues Rathaus in German) which dominates this area. It is also one of the major tourist attraction in this city.

Some of the images I took during our visit last August 2010. It is always nice to see this city from time to time.

View of the Neues Rathaus (New City Hall) and Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) looking westward. It was built between 1867 and 1908 by Georg von Hauberrisser in a Gothic Revival architecture style. It covers an area of 9159 m² having 400 rooms. It hosts the city government including the city council, offices of the mayors and part of the administration.

The famous Glockenspiel in the tower of the new city hall. It is a major tourist attraction in Munich. The Rathaus-Glockenspiel, performed by an apparatus daily on 11am, 12pm and 5pm.

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The Siegestor

The Siegestor in Munich, also known as Victory Gate in English is a monument which has a three-arched triumphal arch crowned with a statue of Bavaria with a lion-quadriga. If you have been to Rome, Italy, you will see that it is almost the same structure with the Arch of Constantine and in Paris, it is similar to the The Arch of Triumph.

Highlight for today: If you trying to lose weight, you can browse online for the fast weight loss pills that will help and guide you in losing weight.

This Victory Gate was originally dedicated to the glory of Bavarian army during the time of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. It is also a symbol and a reminder of peace. It is 21 meters high, 24 meters wide, and 12 meters deep. I will share next time an image of the Arch of Constantine in Rome taken during our Europe tour last August 2010. I guess, I already share some images of the Arch of Triumph here. See you next time again.

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Oktoberfest 2010 is Coming Soon in Munich, Bavaria, Germany

I already posted some images and information about Oktoberfest in my other site, Travel and Explore Germany. Feel free to click the link to read more infos about the largest fair in the world that is held every year in Theresienwiese in Munich, the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. This year's celebration commemorates the 200th anniversary and will run from September 18 to October 3, 2010.

Here are some of the snapshots I took during our visit last September 2009.

Around six million of people visit Oktoberfest every year. Be careful if you are bringing your kids with you because there are truly a lot of people in the festival.

The original "Oktoberfest" occurred in Munich, on October 18, 1810: For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (namesake of the Theresienwiese festival grounds) organized a great horse race (the marriage took place on October 12; the horse race on October 17—therefore, there are different dates named as being the first Oktoberfest).


MODERN FESTIVAL

Since 1950, there has been a traditional festival opening: A twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at 12:00 by the incumbent Mayor of Munich with the cry "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!" in the Austro-Bavarian language) opens the Oktoberfest. The Mayor then gives the first beer to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria. The first mayor to tap the keg was Thomas Wimmer.

By 1960, the Oktoberfest had turned into an enormous world-famous festival. After this foreigners began to picture Germans as wearing the Sennerhut, Lederhosen, and the girls in Dirndl. Horse races ended in 1960.

It is customary for people during the Oktoberfest to wear cowboy shaped hats, which contain a tuft of goat hair. In Germany, goat hair is highly valued and prized, making it one of the most expensive objects for sale. The more tufts of goat hair on your hat, the wealthier you are considered to be. But now, due to textiles and cheap imitations, this tradition has been ending because it is so easy to fake goat hair with the technology at our fingertips. more here

striking a pose during our visit last September 2009. You can see the tower of the Paulaner beer tent in my background.

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The Bavaria Statue in Munich, Germany

If you are visiting Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany this year or had been to Munich's Oktoberfest, for sure you have already seen the Bavaria Statue. According to wikipedia, Bavaria is the name given to a monumental, bronze-cast 19th century female personification of the Bavarian homeland, and by extension its strength and glory. It is one of the most well-known of the many allegorical figures of the same name produced over the centuries and appearing on coats of arms, paintings, reliefs, and statues which allude to terra mater Bavarica. Off topic; Do you also have an idea what does hgh stands for? I just read that it stands for Human Growth Hormones. Feel free to browse online for more information about it. Below are also some information about Bavaria Statue;

The statue is part of an ensemble which also includes a hall of fame (Ruhmeshalle) and a stairway. It was commissioned by Ludwig I of Bavaria, with the specific design being chosen by competition. It was cast at the Munich foundry of J.B. Stiglmair between 1844 and 1850 and is the first colossal statue since Classical Antiquity to consist entirely of cast bronze. It was and is up to the present day considered a technological masterpiece. Because of its size it had to be produced in several parts; it is 18.52 meters high (60 ft. 9 in.) and weighs about 87.36 tonnes (96.2 tons).

An internal circular staircase leads up to a platform in the head, where four openings in the helmet provide a view of the Theresienwiese and downtown Munich. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bavaria_statue

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Hello Europe, Goodbye Philippines

I am back! I am finally back in Europe since yesterday. Dear HB picked me up in Munich International Airport and he was very happy seeing me once again. I guess he had a great Valentines day too! I was a bit sad about the weather here. It is totally the opposite in the Philippines. I am wishing to be backed in warm PI but I can't. I guess an almost three months vacation is enough. Anyway it is not really a vacation because there are some small projects that I took care of. HB was also happy with the accomplishments that I made there especially some improvements in our house in Cebu province. I am welcoming myself in cold Europe and in freezing Germany in particular. Thanks to all friends who frequently visited my blogs while I was away. I truly appreciate all your time and effort. Thank you very much for all! I will see you soon!

The picture below was taken yesterday in Munich International Airport when the plane I boarded landed. More photos and updates in my other blogs.

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