Munich special: Karin Ertl presents the City (Part 2)
"Munich is a beautiful city", Karin Ertl says. And the indoor European Champion on the heptahlon from 2000 must know what she is talking about. Sie lives here since 1994. Even the bavarian metropolis is a big city, it still has a rurual and rustic charm. For the heptathlet exactly this is the certain something, what makes the city so attractiv. "I like the rest and quiet and a lot of trees and flowers. Then I feel really good," the 27 year old athlete, who`s husband is a real munich person, says. And both of them she has a lot. Karin Ertl was walking to the most beautiful and most interesting places and corners of the EM-City from 2002, which will be from 6th until 11th August the hub of the world. On her walking tour the tall blond athlete presents funny occurrences, imposing buildings, culinary delicacies, comfortable cafes, breezy seats, traditional festivities and amusing parties and celebrations. And she discovered a lot of new exciting things in the city, where live about 1,3 Million people. A little bit of local studies she got inclusive at this occasion.
The English Garden she likes very much. "Because I am a person who loves the natur". This place has an area of 373 hectare and offers a huge green location for the population where the people can relax and forget the hectic in the city. At summertime a lot of beergardens expect the visitors. And there is the possibility for the persons who are interested in sport, to walk or ride their bicyles. In the winter you can see a lot of men, women and children doing iceskating.
The visitors can see the Chinese Tower, the Seahouse, the Monopteros where you can have a wonderful Sight to the towers in the City and the japanese teahouse.
More time to enjoy the miracles of the nature
The former bavarian Minister Earl Rumford gave the order to design the marshland to gardens of millitary. 1808 the elector took care that the huge parkarea was built. Karin Ertl prefers the warmer seasons - the spring and summer - to walk around the park. And if it will be to hot, this is no problem, she put her feet in the Isar, the river which flow around Munich. "I wish I would have more time to enjoy the miracles of the nature", says Karin Ertl yearning.
The heptathlete is a professional. Sports forms her life. The morst important thing at the moment for Karin Ertl is athletics. In the last season she had to fight with a lot of injuries. That means that her plans were mixed up, because she couldn`t train how she wanted to do. Nevertheless the German athlete reached the fifth place at the World Championships in Edmonton. And the most important thing for her was one thing after this competition: "I allowed myself to eat sweets again, because three weeks before an important competition I always make a diät", Karin Ertl tells.
Before the World Championships she even couldn`t go in one of the comfortable nice cafes at the famous Marienplatz , because she hadn`t time. Chocolatecakes, Cream or gateaus and hot chocolates were a dream for Karin Ertl. But even she was not allowed to eat sweets, she could walk along the pedestrian zone with a lot of big and small shops and modern elegant boutiques. But the Marienplatz also is a location for a lot of events. From the christmas-market with a lot of nice smells of sausages, almonds and cinnamon the people are fascinated as much as from the carnival in February. At this time the Marienplatz will grab from the white an blue bavarian crazy fools.
One of the most famous symbol is the Frauenkirche
In former times the Marienplatz was called "Schrannenplatz" and was the most important east-west- bussinessaxes. From the year 1310 it was not allowed anymore to build houses. The biggest attraction ist the new townhall. Thousand of people daily listen to the chime.
One of the most famous symbol in the inner-city is the Frauenkirche. The towers at the gothic church, which are 99 m high, are remarkable. The south one of the two towers offers a breathtaking view to Munich and the alpes. "Here you can see how beautiful is our home", Karin Ertl says at the tour through the city. When the Frauenkirche in the 15th century was built, it offers space for 20 000 people, even Munich had only 13 000 inhabitans at this time. 1944 the dome was disturbed, but it was rebuilt in different stages.
