Short people are people too: Marvelous Magical München:

Munich was our first stop on our ten-day scamper across Central Europe and it was easily my favorite city. It was all charming: the buildings were charming, the gardens were charming, the people were charming, the streets were charming, the cafes were charming, even the weather was charming. Part of it may be that it was our first city and so our spirits were high and our energy was yet to be waned from days of train rides and walking. I have the most pictures of Munich, the way parents have the most pictures of their first-born. But day-one-excitement is only part of the monumental magic of Munich. The place truly is magnificent. (Have I used enough M-adjectives yet?)

I began to lose my heart to Munich when I entered Hofgarten and gasped at its Renaissance beauty. There were couples scattered around the garden looking serene and pleasantly in love (as opposed to annoyingly in love à la all couples at BYU). In the center of the garden is a pavilion in honor of the goddess Diana. That afternoon, music was playing in the pavilion and a ballroom dance class was practicing (or perhaps performing) recently learned routines. We watched as middle-aged couples danced, some on beat, some off, but in obvious enjoyment of being with their loved one. It was a beautiful moment to watch.

We then walked a few blocks north to Englischer Garten. Englischer Garten is massive park, bigger than Central Park, and is more like a forest oasis amid the baroque urban splendor of the rest of Munich. The park isn't manicured like Hofgarten, it's overgrown and woodsy with rivers flowing through it. At the southern tip of the park, surfers surf artificial waves produced on the Eisbach River. Even on an overcast and moderately cool day, there were many people both surfing and watching in general amazement of the man-made swells.

We ended our perfect Saturday in the most perfect way. We walked back to the city center where we happened upon the annual outdoor classical music concert, called "Klassik am Odeonsplatz." The whole square was blocked off around the stage and entry fees were steep for a seat in the audience. So, we joined the crowds of young people laying down blankets, sheets, or coats on the lawns and opening bottles of wine in the gardens of the Residenz. As soon as the sun set, the performance began. And like the moment was scripted for us, we lay on the grass on a perfectly cool summer night and listened to the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra play some of the world's most famous classical movements.

I have no quality pictures from that night, so this stock photo of the Klassik am Odeonsplatz will have to do.

After the show, we meandered to Mariensplatz to see the Rathaus-Glockenspeil by night. On our way, we passed an outdoor club where a chandelier hung from a crane, obscure music played, and only handful of dancers danced strangely--more like hopped around like drunken deer. Granted, it wasn't even midnight and so it was still quite early for clubbing to begin. Anything before midnight is considered "evening" in these parts. Anyways, we left the eccentric behind and continued on to extravagant. Mariensplatz at night is one of the most stunning scenes I have ever seen. The crummy nighttime picture below hardly does it any justice.

The next day, we spent most of the morning and early afternoon touring the Residenz. The Residenz is the royal palace of the Bavarian kings and the seat of government for the old Bavarian state. Its construction began in 1385, but each generation of kings built a new section to the palace in the architecture and decor of the time. Thus, today the Residenz is a sprawling mansion with room after room of overwhelming glory. After hours of exploring, we still didn't get to see the entire thing. Excessive amount of photos following: