Special

As a lot of Germans will admit, Bavaria is a "special" place.  I don't think any other place in Germany has preserved its traditional culture as well as Bavaria.  In fact, when most people around the world think of German culture, they're referring to the beer drinking culture of Bavaria.  And when you walk around Bavarian towns and see people dressed in traditional garb, carrying around massive beer steins, and having a jolly good time in the beer gardens, you realize that even today, Bavaria is still very much connected to its roots.

Perhaps because of such a rich culture that is still very much alive, Bavaria has a fierce sense of pride and independence.  As many people here say, you have Germany.  And then, you have Bavaria.  It's truly the Texas of Germany.  In fact, the official name of Bavaria is the "Free State of Bavaria".  There's even a Bavarian political party with the slogan (roughly translated) "Because we can do it ourselves".  Although Bavaria is, of course, not a free state, there is the sense that Bavarians are different from the rest of Germany.  Munich, in the heart of Bavaria, embodies this culture, pride, and independence.

When I visited Berlin last weekend, I realized there's no place more different from Munich than Berlin.  Berlin is a place of incredible history and mixing of people, cultures, and ideas.  People from Munich say Berlin is "dirty and creepy and icky", but in truth, Berlin is not dirtier than any other major city I've seen before.  Instead, what you have is an incredible alternative atmosphere that's very cool and very hip.  You have art all over the city in the forms of graffiti and street art, and the city never sleeps.  In fact, in many parts of the city, the streets are busier at 4am than at 4pm.  It's clear people there don't care what you think about them and their city.  They love it all the same.

There's a perpetually ongoing discussion in my lab about which city is better:  Berlin or Munich.  I find it impossibly difficult to answer such a question.  The cities are so different that they feel near incomparable.  They represent two very different sides of Germany, each with its own charm.  I'm just glad I've been able to brush the surface of both sides of Germany.

Cool art from Berlin below.  These are on the Berlin Wall, but the real masterpieces are scattered all around the city!