Where in the World is Sara D. Ray?: Location: Munich, Germany

So in continuing with my late entries of where all I went this summer (not even in the states yet...) we come to Munich, home of the olympics sometime in the 80s.

Now I've been here a couple times, but it's still ajoy to go re-visit a city if you can and find new adventures and spend it with different people. This time it was with my parents and siblings.

Whenever anyone asks me about Munich and what is there I automatically think, Glockenspiel. The Glockenspiel is the big kookoo clock that sits atop the Rathaus or 'city hall'. No joke this thing is massive and old! Though it runs all day long and chimes at the top of every hour it only 'plays' once a day (3 times during the summer).

This is a picture of the Rathaus taken from a tower on the other side of the square.

A close up of the figures that dance for us. This clock has 43 bells and more than 30 LIFE SIZE figures that dance, spin and even JOUST!

And just showing how the clock tower looks. Now of course there is a story to this!!

There are two different sections. The top part has knights on horse back that joust. This is in honor of a local duke, who also founded the hofbrahaus (which is probably why he's the most famous), and his marriage to a lady of another area of Germany. To celebrate their marriage the knights each wear different colors. Bavaria, where the duke is from, wears blue and white. The land where the lady is from wears red and white. Now, being that Munich is IN Bavaria, the Bavarian knight always wins of course ;)

The bottom half is a celebration of the Coopers' dance. During the 16th century Germany and particularly this area was hit by plagues and everyone went into hiding and would not socialize with anyone outside of those that lived in their house. The first members of this area to come out of hiding were barrell makers and to show everyone that it was ok to come out they danced in the street. The duke at the time ws so happy to see this and to see everyone out again that he commanded that this dance be done every 7 years, which it still continues today. Can be seen during Fausching in Munich, but not until 2012.

So the tower we watched the clock from was a little high up there and it was a little cold. As you can see from the picture, Simeon REFUSED to leave that window sill. He would not let go of it for anything!

We had all tried to get Alex to go to the top with us, but after seeing Simeon not enjoy it, it was probably good that he stayed on the ground with Mom, he hid inside her coat due to the chilliness (THIS WAS IN JUNE!!!)

This clock is so amazing and if you have the chance to ever see it or if you haven't seen it yet you need to. Google the times, but it's usually at 11 as well as noon and 5 during the summer.

But wait, what is this I see? Oh, it couldn't be could it? A FOUNTAIN??? Of course it is!