Experiencing Munich on Two Wheels
Touring through the main parts of Munich on a bicycle was perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences; as a person who loves cycling and as an avid traveler, I can see no better way to experience Munich like a German resident than by experiencing the excitement of biking through the city and through the English Gardens.
While there were many historical sites and monuments, it was not overwhelming by any means, and each stop, I took the time to admire the history behind the history of Munich and how it played a part in the history of Germany as a whole. Our tour guide, Steve, gave us a good view of a bit of the more modern history, especially noting landmarks that had been destroyed or damaged through the sufferings of World War Two. On a social context, it was interesting to see how much of the city’s long past played different roles time and time again throughout history, with different meanings and different purposes to different people. To some, a city plaza was a gathering spot, to others, it is a memory of a battle hard fought. The churches erected in Munich serve as a long-standing reminder of what the city has seen through its centuries of existence.
And yet, it’s most wonderful to see what still remains. As we walked by the different areas of the city, we heard violinists playing classical music, a melodious flute singing the tunes of the Classical Era (I, being a flutist, was most intrigued by this, especially in a country with such a heavy influence on the Baroque and Classical periods), and even a fiddler and an accordionist replaying Bavarian folk tunes. It seems that culture has not all been lost with technological advancement and it is still prevalent in modern times.