This cafe on the water is where Alyssa and I got fries and Glühwein. During the summer (and no pandemic) they have live music and events here. I hope that I will be able to experience its lively atmosphere!
This stairway is a popular photo, specifically Instagram, spot for tourists and locals alike.
The Ruhmeshalle mit der Bavaria, or Hall of Fame and Bavaria Statue, stand proudly over the Theresienwiese, the grounds where Oktoberfest, and other major festivals are held.
In this image you can see some busts of important Bavarians who are honored in the Hall of Fame.
Aside from hosting the world renowned Oktoberfest, the empty Theresienwiese provides space for locals to partake in varying activities. I saw bikers, dog walkers, tennis players, and kite flyers to name a few. Apparently it is also a popular spot for people to play in the snow. In this picture you can see St. Paul’s in the background.
The peak of the tallest hill in the Olympiapark provides a commanding 360 degree view of the city, its surrounding area, and even the Alps in the distance. From this view you can see the Olympic stadium to the left and the Olympic Hall and Natatorium to the right.
The park has large open fields for activities. If you look to the left off in the distance you can see a large white rectangle which is the stadium for the Munich’s soccer team, F.C. Bayern München. The large tower on the far left is part of a large BMW complex which includes a museum.
The hill in the center is the peak of Olympiapark and where I took the preceding pictures.
Here is a peek inside the Olympic stadium.
St. Benno’s is a Roman Catholic church in my neighborhood. Bavaria is a Catholic stronghold within Germany.
Much like Versailles, the Schloss Nymphenburg is a palace that was built as a country estate for Bavarian monarchs.
The Amalienburg is a hunting lodge on the Nymphenburg grounds. Ever since learning about this small Rococo masterpiece in my sophomore year Architectural History class, I have wanted to visit in person.
The rear, or garden, facade of the palace is a focal point of the extensive grounds, both manicured and wild, that provide a popular backdrop for locals looking for a nice day in the sun.

Monday seemed like a turning point for “moving in.” I finally have a carpet and Christmas type lights that make my room feel more homey, and I did my first load of laundry! Additionally my drafting board arrived so I can start working on drawings and diagrams.

On Tuesday I caved in to my floormates’ invitations to go on a run with them. I told them not to wait for me since they have been going on runs roughly twice a week for who knows how long and, well, I have not. They were very nice and ignored my pleas not to wait for me and didn’t let me get too far behind. We ran to the Olympic Park, where the 1972 Summer Olympics were held. From the top of the hill we got an amazing view of the city and the Alps beyond! I also played darts with some floormates and learned that subtracting large numbers mentally in German is a little bit overwhelming. 

Wednesday was uneventful, but I broke up my work by streaming Ash Wednesday Mass and snacking on Krapfen, traditional Bavarian seasonal donuts, with my floormates. 

Thursday proved to be exciting as I went on a walk with Alyssa, another Fulbright student researcher based in Munich. We walked through Westpark, a quaint park neither of us had visited before, and got french fries and Glühwein, the German name for mulled wine, from a cute little cafe on the pond. Next we visited Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest is held. The Bavaria Statue overlooks the fairgrounds, and the Ruhmeshalle, or the (Bavarian) Hall of Fame, stands behind her. In a pandemic-less world, you can climb to the top of the statue to get a stunning overview of the city. 

I capitalized on the beautiful weather this weekend by taking long walks. On Saturday I went back to the Olympiapark so that I could explore more and take some pictures of the beautiful views, while on Sunday I visited the park and gardens of Schloss Nymphenburg, or the Nymphenburg Palace. Naturally, the interiors are closed but the stunning surroundings are open. I was especially eager to see the Amalienberg, which is a hunting lodge on the Palace Grounds. This little pink structure is the pinnacle example of the delicate and heavily ornamented Rococo style.

I capped off the week by ordering pizza with a bunch of my floormates!

This site is not an official site of the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State. The views expressed on this site are entirely those of its author, Stephanie Kubus, and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State, or any of its partner organizations.