SIPPING UP THE CITY

I'm sitting in Starbucks sipping a caramel frappucino. All around me they're speaking German, no big surprise as I'm in Munich. What a selection of breads, cakes and rolls in the bakery across the street, divinely delicious. I have 2 hours before my appointment so I take a walk down the Sendlingerstrasse, a trendy shopping street which oozes energy. The Teashop, shelves and shelves lined with hundreds of tins with any kind and flavour of loose tea you can imagine. I opt for a lemon and papaya rooibos and buy a fancy tin to go with it. Then there's truffles, biscuits and pastel coloured candied sugar sticks.

Walking away from Sendlingertor, I arrive at Marienplatz. It's 10.50am and hundreds of people are gathering in the square of the townhall to watch the famous Glockenspiel which comes alive at 11am and 5pm everyday. This is a wedding celebration explains a tourguide, to a group of eager Chinese tourists, all fiddling with their state of the art digital cameras ready to click away - I don't even think they're listening to her parrot like explanation. The Glockenspiel is one of the city's major attractions (I have yet to work that one out) and celebrates the marriage of Wilhelm V with Renata of Lorraine. The bells and the figures come to life, everybody looks up and oohs and aahs.

10 minutes later I walk on to the Viktualienmarkt. This is the traditional farmer's market and dates back to 1807. It's a colourful square crammed with characteristic stalls exploding with fresh produce, cheeses, meats, pickles, homemade goodies, sausages and more sausages -
a gourmet's paradise. Huddled in various canopies and stalls, one can find the locals who have gathered to be cheerful and have a beer. Prost they say and clink their mugs (probably would be more accurate to say jugs).

Over the street is the Schrannenhalle which means grain market in german and it was here where the original building was constructed in 1853 by Karl Muffat. Made from glass and steel, it was noted as the first of its kind in the world. In fact, the Eiffel Tower, using similar construction techniques was built 30 years later. Inside it still has a market feel, a mix of culture and speciality crafts. Different booths feature the works of local artisans, glassblowers, bookbinders, silversmiths, basketmakers and it is also used as a venue for events and concerts. One can eat at the Bavarian Hall on the east side or simply order from any of the inside restaurants which serve all different kinds of cuisine and cultures. I obviously pull up a chair at the Sushi Bar and tuck into some california rolls for lunch. Ichi, ni, san ... Arigatou!