Day 102

31 July 2013

Munich-(Munchen)

I someone from Hamburger is a Hamburger and someone from Frankfurt a Frankfurter what is a person from Munchen other than a beer drinker.

I thought I had seen enough buildings by now but just had to stop this morning to take a picture of a city triumphal arch which looked very much like the Brandenburger Gate in Berlin. The statues on the top were different but the rest looked very similar.

The Deutches museum is something really special. Nothing is done half hearted here as for example in the shipping area you find several complete ships. One wooden sailing ship which is partly cut away to reveal its interior; another steel ship is there also (how did they get it in the building?) Sections of the hull were removed to reveal the boiler room and engine room with its steam engine. A picture and explanation hangs on the side introducing a gentleman who worked as its engineer for a period of 32 years. The temperature would often reach 55 degrees C. Not a pleasant working environment.

The aviation section was very interesting; I should have gone there with Rob last year as he would have loved it. Every kind of aircraft Engine, being a piston engine or a jet engine was there. All with cutaway sections and often with a pushbutton close by which you can let the engine spin around. Complete planes are there and also several in cut away sections.

A Boeing 747 completes the scene. Its engine is huge (as the picture shows)

There are complete underground mines and a tunnel section where all types of tunnel equipment is on view.

Nearby is the transport section with many old cars, busses, trains, motorcycles , bicycle etc. I will elaborate a bit more with the pictures. It was interesting to see that the concept of an electric car is by no means new and that many were produced in the 1920's; I found that surprising.