Spring!

Finally. The interminable winter in Munich is starting to recede. Being from California, I never understood why people here got so excited about summer. Because to be honest I think in the Bay Area you get sunny days all over the place, not just exclusively in the summer.

Not so in Munich.

Actually the whole city goes into some sort of depressing hibernation, with the worst months being January and February.

It started getting cold in September but there was still a lot going on. First Oktoberfest. Then the Christmasmarkets and Tollwood (winter festival that has a berkeley feel to it actually).

So until then it's a bit cold, but everyone is still lively. But then the dreaded months hit.

Absolutely NOTHING happens in January or February. No bier fests no nothing. Nobody seems to leave the home. Especially since it gets a hell of a lot colder.

I thought December was cold but was also cocky enough to think I had mastered it. And then I came back from a week and home. And nearly died. I thought I was having problems adjusting but it was actually that while I had been dealing with 0 to 4 degree weather (32 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit).

But then I realized it was -8 degrees Celsius (approx 17 Fahrenheit)!!! Before experiencing it's a type of cold I couldn't imagine. No amount of tshirts, sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, jackets, seems to make you any warmer.

Without any sort of major events and the biting cold the whole city pretty much shuts down. Munich is a large city for Germany, but to be honest its more of a large town and it's charm sort of lies in its many outdoor activities and events. Without them it's depressing as hell and these past few months have really draaaagggged.

But now the sun has finally made a reapprance and the first of the bierfests--starkbierfest---has begun. So now I totally understand everyone's fascination with summer and am basking in the 12 degree weather while eagerly awaiting the reopening of beer gardens and the increase of all the volksfests and such.