By Heidi Trautmann

It drew me more than once to the old centre of Munich during our three weeks stay, to its living room which I found wide open to all kind of people of all colours and nationalities, a sort of reunion of the big family of the world. Nobody minded, they were all united in the atmosphere and beauty of the place. I had taken the subway to Stachus and when I came up from the underground the white blue sky of Munich was above me and colourful movements around me. There, on this very day, the City of Munich and its various organisations held a meeting to memorize the drug-related deaths, speeches and information, photos of the dead drug consumers, the number had gone up in the last year. Drug consumers who were now under control and regulars at these institutions, played music and beat the drums.

I went on through the big gate into the living room which extends to Marienplatz. What a crowd. Until 1972 the old tram still ran but was given up for the occasion of the Olympic Games in 1972 to create a pedestrian area, my living room of Munich, and the best visited place now by all people of the world. Chairs are set up for them to sit and watch others going by. The locals love their city and often come and feel at home here inviting others to sit with them and talk.

There I sat and listened to some street musicians. Classical music played by Russians, another group further down were from Croatia and one even from Israel playing the typical Jewish music and everybody tapped their feet and clapped their hands. Here a tune by the Russians…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qujeB57C_2E

At the other end of my living room, having crossed Marienplatz and the statue of Mary, the old Municipality building where thousands stood watching the figures come out of the tower and listen to the glockenspiel/chimes, I went to visit the old Toy Museum inside one of the gate towers. To finish my day I visited the Viktualienmarkt, the famous big open market, where I was surprised to find so many people sitting between the fruit stands and market huts selling local specialities. There, opposite the market place is one of the oldest cafés ‘Café Frischhut’ where now for nearly 50 years the ‘Schmalznudeln’ are made by hand.  A must to visit and taste, and to see the guests in the surroundings that have never changed.