On Wednesday our first, and most important, stop was Munich’s surf spot. Apparently, is it one of the world’s best known river surf spots in the world and is surfed year-round. The Eisbach River drains into a canal at the base of the Englischer Garten Park in Munich. The city (or locals?) have placed boards at the end of ropes (think a wooden swing dragging in the water) that creates a “surf break”. The short board surfers drop in from each side of the canal and surf the river. They actually surf opposite what occurs in the ocean. With ocean surfing, you surf the break following the direction of the water. In Munich, you do the opposite – you surf against the flow of the water.
We discovered that surfers have been surfing the river since the 1970’s; however, Eisbach River surfing was illegal until 2010. It was great watching guys (yes, there were only males) drop in. There clearly were different levels of experience; and, it was great seeing some of them just drop their board in the water and jump on to it. Unlike ocean waves, you have no time to paddle in and stand up-you need to be ready to ride from the moment you hit the water.
After lunch we visited the Munich City Museum. The museum was supposed to be about the development of Munich as a city; but, we came out more perplexed than enlightened. The exhibits were organized in a confusing layout with historical artifacts and then suddenly you see a conveyer belt with fake food and appliances from the 1950’s! They also had a special exhibition on fashion through the ages (some of those German dresses were pretty ugly!) which Lesley enjoyed. The special puppet and musical instruments exhibitions were enjoyable. The national socialism permanent exhibition was the most credible part of the museum. Although it was rather poorly arranged, we were surprised by the upfront and frank handling of the subject. It traces the birth of the Nazi party in Munich up until the end of WWll. We have seen so much about WWll and the Holocaust on this trip, we feel like experts on the subject.
