I was in Munich for about a month this summer, so I thought I'd share a little about the city, for anyone interested in visiting or daydreaming about Munich.

A little background:
Munich is a very old city (over 750 years old) in Germany. It is the capital of Bavaria, the largest and southernmost German state. The city is Germany's third largest, and although many Germans still think of it as a town, Munich has over over 1.3 million residents (the entire metro area has over 5 million). Munich is home to two palaces, several world-class art museums, and a variety of other museums of all sizes.

The city's colors are yellow and black; Bavaria's are blue and white - both are frequently used in decoration. Many Bavarians take pride in their state - some see themselves as Bavarian first and German second. Bavaria is more traditional than much of Germany and many of the things we think of as being uniquely German (ie: lederhosen, dirndl dresses, liter steins of beer, and Oktoberfest) are actually Bavarian.

Munich's German name is München, which is derrived from the German word for "monk," as the city was founded by monks. Monks remain a common motif throughout the city - the city's shield shows a monk, who is refered to as the "Münchner Kindl." Somewhere along the lines, the image of a monk morphed into a child in a monk's robes in popular consciousness, and one frequently sees that image instead of an adult monk.

The city was largely destroyed during WWII, but the city's residents, who have always been rather traditional, rebuilt much of the city as it had been before the war, so it still has a wonderful, old feel. Many of the city's treasures were hidden away during the war, so many of the historical buildings that were rebuilt still have some of their original furnishings.

More to come!