Vaschdengas Boarisch? Do you understand Bavarian?

Hello! This time I´d like to tell you about wonderful Munich, the city
which, for a few years after I left the USA, was my home away from
home.
With the Sept. 11th 2001 attacks I not only lost my job (at
Continental Airlines) but also my flat, many friends and almost the
will to go on!

At the time I was attending a theatre school in New York – in my free
time – when I met some guys from Munich who were studying directing.
They helped me apply to Lufthansa for a flight attendant position,
and being lucky enough to be immediately accepted, I moved to Munich
without much time to think.
My German became better after a few months (from being barely
conversational) and soon I got accustomed to my new life, I met new
people and I made friends from all over the world (Munich is a really
cosmopolitan city), so colors started coming back into my life.
I found out that Munich people, especially those around my age, were
nice and kind and many spoke with the Bavarian accent which I so like
(I tried to learn a few words right away!). I also made many friends
from Greece and Turkey – there are many living in Germany. I was happy
about my new job and my new colleagues. Moreover, the entire world was
at my feet: contrary to the US, where I almost always flew the same
route, here I flew to all destinations "on rotation", to Asia, to
Africa, the Americas and, of course, old Europe.
I was flying a lot, but in my spare time I was eager to discover,
little by little, everything this lively city had in store for me.
The possibilities are unlimited: museums, art galleries, churches,
shows, all kinds of events, a huge cultural agenda, and not to mention
the many parks and gardens. The walks along the green river Isar,
which bisects the city at its core, the cute fruit and vegetable
market, the Viktualienmarkt – which is expensive, but has specialties
from all over the world and where you can enjoy the world`s best
sausages along with a glass of fantastic Bavarian beer – are
unforgettable.
Behind it is Marienplatz, the heart of Munich and the city´s main
square, famous for its old clock with puppets that rotate to the
tourists´delight.
Even the bars, the restaurants, the cafés and the beer gardens in my
neighbourhood (Glockenbach) were always full of people and would
"explode" when the wheather was nice and it was possible to sit al
fresco.
It was almost like being in southern Italy.
In America, I definitely needed a car, but in Munich it´s not an
absolute must. Here I could finally circulate with my bike (there are
pathways everywhere) or on foot. In addition, there’s a great
transportation system, (subway, trams and buses) which covers even the
outside areas.
Winter can be rather cold due to the close proximity of the Alps, but
spring and summer are glorious. I suggest visiting between the end of
May and the end of September, but do keep in mind that rain is never
far away!
It is a fact that Munich is very famous for the Oktoberfest (between
the last week in September and the first week in October) and it´s
worth seeing it, but book hotel rooms and flight tickets well in
advance, as tourists arrive from everywhere: the States and Canada,
Australia and New Zealand, Japan and all European countries. Can´t
even count the number of Italians.
Close to the central station (the Hauptbahnhof) there´s the TOURIST
INFORMATION bureau where all employees speak English and where you can
get information on almost everything, including hotels, museums and
events. I tried to work there after I was released from the hospital,
but it was difficult to reach because of my handycap.
Also visit www.muenchen.de (and then click on the British or US flag)
for various information.
Munich welcomes strangers. The majority of my friends were "exiles"
like me: Americans, British citizens, Turks, Greeks, Croatians. The
Italians are in the tens of thousands. Just take one of the TUIfly
planes which fly non-stop from Palermo or Catania, and you´ll realize
there are not just German tourists on board.
It is very difficult in Munich to find an apartment (and they are the
most expensive ones in Germany), but I had incredible luck: I met a
lady in a bar and as she was sipping her cappuccino, she casually
asked me if I knew anyone who needed an apartment….I signed the
contract that very afternoon and never regretted it! It was a small
studio close to the center, close to the subway and with a view of the
Isar!
I loved this little slice of paradise just a stone´s throw from
Gärtnerplatz, the small square with its cafés, its shops and the
theatre where many of my friends performed ballet. Not far from my
home, on a small isle on the river, is the Deutsches Museum, one of
the most popular museums for all things technical and for inventions
(it´s not by chance that in front of it is the EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE,
where Albert Einstein used to work). Near the entrance of the museum
is an irresistible shop full of interesting books, model cars and
airplanes and games for all ages…I used to go all the time!
Going further along the river, after a while you could see the old
Bavarian Parliament and then the "Friedensengel"(the angel of peace),
which with the Fauenkirche is a symbol of Munich.
I could go on forever, but don´t worry: I´ll hit the breaks! I can
only add that it is impossible to get bored in this city. I considered
myself very lucky to be living so close to the river, which in the
summer would turn into a beach resort: with ice-cream and soda
vendors, volleyball players, surfers and even naturists! And all this
just a few paces from the city centre.
At the end of the day, thanks to the Maximiliankirche´s bells, the
same bells which years before had announced the election of the
"German Pope", I knew it was getting close to supper time.
Well, enough for today! Oh, I almost forgot: when you´re in Munich,
drink "ein helles" (a beer) to my health!

Anthony Failla

Vocabulary:
GUTEN TAG = HELLO/GOOD DAY
DANKE = THANK YOU
BITTE = YOU`RE WELCOME
SPRECHEN SIE ENGLISCH? (shprehen zee anglish?) = DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
JA = YES
NEIN = NO
ENTSCHLDIGUNG (enshuldigoong) = SORRY/EXCUSE ME
AUF WIEDERSEHEN = GOODBYE
POLIZEI = POLICE

The number to call the police is 110 and dial 112 for emergencies