Munich: Science, History, and Horse Butchery

Earlier this week, we spent the day in München, known to us English speakers as Munich.  It was my first time in Germany, and hopefully not my last.

First up - the train ride.

Sidenote:  Austrians are known for being a little bit pushy when it comes to public transportation.  Whether it's a bus or a train, you need to fight your way on and off.  If you think that you're standing close enough to the door to be the first person on, think again.  In my experience, the personal space that we enjoy in the US is non-existent here.  People will get extremely close to you to be closer to the door.  That's just the way it is.

Well, Ben and I brought food for the train ride, and we wanted to score a table so we could have room to eat it.  I was determined to get a table so when the train arrived, I thought to myself, When in Austria, do as the Austrians do.   And you know what?  I got it.  I shouldn't brag too much; there were certainly enough seats and we didn't displace a family that wanted to sit together.  But, it was nice to travel with room to spare.   

Here's a good time to point out how we bought our train tickets.  For the first time, we used L'TUR, a discount website for last-minute travelers booking their tickets shortly before their journeys.  The discounts are quite amazing, so if you find yourself in Europe, check it out!  They send you your ticket as a PDF and after printing it, you're ready to go!

And, we'd like to give a special thanks to my dad who funded our train ride.   Thanks, Dad!

We navigated the subway system and arrived at the Deutsches Museum.  The Deutsches Museum focuses on all things science-related.  From aeronautics and astronautics to ceramics and print-making, this museum was filled to the brim with exhibits.  I kept thinking that if I were a science teacher, this would be a golden field trip location.

Amerikanischer Hubschrauber  

I'll admit that when I saw this, I thought that it was a model of a space shuttle.  Instead, it's a V2 rocket used during combat by Nazi Germany in World War II.  It was the first long-range missile created, and it would enter space before descending on its target.  From a positive perspective, it inspired the design of space shuttles.  I was absolutely stunned by its size.     

Okay, you get one guess as to the purpose of the yellow undergarment with the plastic tubing.  We watched this video about the International Space Station last night, and it seems like they figured out a more Earth-like way to deal with this problem.  Space sure is funny. 

This is a photo for Ben's grandfather who worked on the lunar module.   Hi, grandpa!

A display of a monk making a handwritten copy - the beginnings of literacy!  

I can see myself showing this photo to my future students.  

Another obligatory recycling photo.

Pretzel in the subway.

Here's a side view of the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) in Marienplatz.  The first town hall on this site dates back to the 14th century.  It was remodeled a few times in different styles.  After being heavily damaged in World War II, it was restored.

A speech that Goebbels gave at the Altes Rathaus in 1938 led to Kristallnacht.   

Now, the building hosts a toy museum. 

 

We spent some time at the Viktualienmarkt.  The Maibaum was decked out in Christmas gear.  We picked up a delicious loaf of ciabatta bread and some mead for later.  Then, we came across this establishment.  Metzgerei means butchery and pferd means horse.  I guessed that this butcher sells horse meat and Ben guessed that the horse is just an unfortunate choice for a mascot.  What do you think?   

 Notice the bike lane.

The Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) in Marienplatz - Wow.  As you can see, it was built in the Gothic Revival Style during the 19th century.  Besides its impressive appearance, the Neues Rathaus is known for its daily glockenspiel shows.  Figures in the tower spin around and the bells chime, of course.  Check this out.

Color Yourself Fascinated

Here comes the final installment of my year-end series on the Ten Most Fascinating Aspects of Life in Austria!

7. Austrians' Commitment to the Environment - Recycling

Generally, Austrians are conscious of how their actions affect the environment.

Case in point: their recycling system -

First, they recycle paper.  

Then, they recycle organic waste.  In our kitchen, we have a "bio bin" under the sink for food scraps.  No food is thrown away here; it all goes into the Biotonne. 

Finally, we have bins for plastic bottles and other plastic products, glass, and Restmüll, for the rest of it. 

Recycling continues on the train, as seen here, in malls, and other public places.

8.  Austrians' Commitment to the Environment - Others

Many Austrians bike and take public transportation in lieu of owning cars.  Outdoor markets and grocery stores are filled with local produce, cutting down on pollution caused by transporting food far distances.  For home heating and energy, solar panels are common, as well as the use of recycled wood pellets (made from leftover scraps of wood).  Austrians are concerned with being efficient in how they use their resources, and I think that this is an element of their culture that will continue to resound with us when we move to the US.

9. There's History Here.

And that history goes far back.

A castle sits atop a hill as our train rides by.  

Salzburg's Cathedral looms large in any lighting.  The first cathedral on this site was built in 767.  Let that date sink in. 

 Tarnished copper and gold decorate the top of a building in Salzburg's Altstadt. 

Hiking up Kapuzinerberg where monks have lived for centuries, dining at the Augustiner Bräu where beer has been brewed for centuries, visiting Festung Hohensalzburg which has defended the city for centuries -  the past is palpable.  That is not to say that Austria isn't modern; it's to say that here there is a lovely harmony between the past and the present that will continue into the foreseeable future. 

10.   It's Really Very Similar.

For Americans, it is very easy to feel comfortable here in Austria. There are many, many things that are similar, and spoken English or English written on signs about town is common. The supermarkets are similar, as are the malls, the type of work available and its demands, and even the people. Once you get to befriend a few Austrians (not as easy as befriending Americans), you can find yourself wanting of few things else, American or otherwise.