Warm weather has finally come to Munich. (At least the Springtime version -- inconsistent, and still chilly in the shade, but the air has changed.) That means everyone will be spending a lot more time in the English Garden.
We're really looking forward to this and pulled out a few photos from last year to tide us over until our first 'Saturday in the park'. (Yes, the English Garden is physically larger than Central Park in New York City, but they have completely different auras. More on this in a later post...)
From Odeonsplatz downtown, you can walk through the Hofgarden to the south entrance to the English Garden.
This building below greets you just before entering the English Garden, and I've always loved its yellow against a blue sky.
The same water (it's an artificial stream) seen above runs through the English Garden, and the walking path follows it for a while from the southern entrance. Sometimes it flows lazily, other times it is swift with runoff from the melting snow in the mountains. There is even one point where people can surf! (more here)
One of the most popular parts of the Garden is the Schoenfeldwiese (Schoenfeld meadow) -- partially because it's a huge open space with lots of sun, and partially because nude sunbathing is permitted here. Many a tourist have had a memorable cultural experience/shock! I organized a game of American football here once, and that drew funny stares from the Germans!
From the meadow you can look back towards the city and see the two spires of the Frauenkirche (middle/right), the yellowish Theatinerkirche (far right), and the Bavarian State Chancellery (Bayrische Staatskanzlei, left).
Here's a zoomed view of the two churches:
Both of the prior photos were taken at the far end of the Schoenfeldwiese, at the top of a small hill where the Monopteros sits. The Monopteros is a Greek-style "temple" that replaced an older wooden "Apollo Temple". It was completed in 1836 using leftover material from the Residenz.
How safe is Munich? I've taken early walks to this point and seen people "camping" out -- overnight with just a sleeping bag. They enjoy watching the sunrise from here and therefore just crash. No worries. Now that's different than Central Park. I don't have a photo of sunrise yet, but this is what they see (below). Now you know why Frau A and I will do more photoblogging from here this Summer.
