Our host school and families graciously arranged for our students to travel to Munich to discover the highlights of the Bavarian capital. After a short ride in on Deutsche Bahn we made our way to the Marienplatz to visit the Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) just in time for the Glockenspiel in the tower

We then gathered around our tour guide to venture off to the rest of the downtown

After Marienplatz our first stop was Alter Peter / Peterskirsche (St. Peter's Chruch) which has been standing on the Petersbergl since the 11th century

Another church we walked past was Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan (Theatine Church of St. Cajetan), built in the late 1600's

Right around the corner was the Hofgartenten

with flowers leading to the Hofgartentempel

And the Bayerische Staatsregierung (Bavarian State Chancellory)

Not far from this was the Das Haus der Kunst (Modern Art Gallery) next to the Englischen Garten (English Garden)

The English Garden was beautiful

Odd that there were surfers in the middle of Munich...this wasn't Tofino, It's the Eisbachwelle :)

And on the way back we crossed the River Isar on the Ludwigsbrücke by the Karl-Müller-Weg

And along with the churches we saw a few statues

We stopped at the Viscardigasse. This alley was an alternate route around the Feldherrnhalle (an official monument during the Nazi era to the Beer Hall Putsch) where passers by had to give a salute. Those who didn't want to salute (an act of passive resistance) would take an alternate route around the monument using the Viscardigasse alley. Originally named after a famed Swiss architect, the narrow road soon became known among the locals as the “Drueckebergergasse,” roughly translated as “Shirker’s Alley” or “Deserter’s Alley.” The bronzed paving bricks commemorate Germans who refused to give Hitler even the satisfaction of a salute.

After a nice meal

We made our way back to the Marienplatz

And thanked our hosts for an amazing time in Munich