Munich

I came to Munich for two reasons – to attend a panel on Online & Offline Convergence at the a4uexpo organised by Existem and the fine PR agency that is FY Associates, and to meet a guy from Allianz.  I was up and out of the house at 4.15am on Wednesday – eventually arriving at the Hilton Park Munich at around 11am.

The panel was moderated by Marcus Rader from Trade Tracker – an interesting man from Finland, now working out of Amsterdam.  Also attending the panel were Ricki Jones (Impact Radius) and Caroline Ferguson (leads2travel).  I thought it went well, we had about 100 people listening, and I saw a few ‘old faces’ in the crowd, which helped me get comfortable with my surroundings.  It felt a bit odd to begin with, because I was thinking “do these people care about what I have to say?”.  I settled in quite quickly, and enjoyed throwing my hat into the ring.  The session took about 50 mins in total, and we had a fair few questions at the end from members of the audience so that was good.  Afterwards I saw a number of people who were getting ready to go to the airport as the Expo was well and truly oer for them, most of whom were still broken from the night before, which I missed thankfully due to my timings.  I also sat in on an excellent session moderated by Duncan Popham of TSS fame, and attended by Tina Judic (Artemis 8) and Sri Sharma (Net Media Planet).  Three of my favourite people in Affiliate Marketing, and got to chat with them more in the hotel bar afterwards.

So to the bar for a few vodka sodas and then eventually on to the second night party hosted by Existem – at 089 club in town.  Lots of vodka there, and Singstar where I was fortunate to take the stage with the lovely ladies from Lastminute – Lina and Emma.  James Little was very entertaining as ever, although sadly the video footage I took of him wasn’t as successful as that taken by Chris Johnson the previous night. It was dark, and James was barely audible.  Luckily someone else did get him on film.  Read about Chris’s version of events here:

Off the Record – 21st May 2010

Meanwhile Liane Dietrich (Linkshare) and Lee Brignall Cash (Fusepump) ruined a perfectly good 80s hit with their horrific rendition (of what I do not know, nor recall). This alas did not make it to video either. The incentive for “Singers” to “sing” wasn’t only global notoriety, but a free tumbler of Prosecco – wooooo – and I did take to the podium with Lina and Emma from Lastminute for that timeless number, Club Tropicana by Wham!

The following morning, after a badly timed conference call with a prospective client, I left the Hilton at 12 noon and took a taxi over to meet Sarah Arti for lunch which was a top hour spent chatting (English) and eating (Italian) – needed a carb load after last night’s shenanigans.  Washed down with a couple of colas, and a peppermint tea.  I know. Crazy.

I then took the U-Bahn (underland), which after much time cursing the overly complicated ticket machine, I bought a single fare and started planning.  I had a meeting booked in at Allianz Arena, which was cancelled last minute, by the chap I was supposed to meet.  Mildly frustrating but he said he is in London next week and we can catch up then – prob best as my brain isn’t working properly right now – again a by-product of late vodka and shouting charged night.

Anyway having grappled with the ticket machine I managed to get a single journey and jumped on.  The U-Bahn is very old school – a lot of Munich I have seen feels a bit like a retro version of now and the u-bahn is a perfect example of this.  Lots of concrete, bold primary colours – reds, yellows.  The train pulls in and it’s a pale metallic blue.  Looks like the train Triumph should have built.  A long Toledo.  Possible even an Austin Princess.  Inside is all hardwood and shiny surfaces. and very comfortable, firm seats.

I’m listening to the Rifles at this point and in the guide book (which isn’t great though serves purpose) I notice a wicked looking church tower – the Herz-Jesu-Kirche.  It was remarkable and literally took my breath away.  I had a wander around there, then sat and contemplated the power of God, and the love of His people.  Whomsoever built this certainly loves God. A lady there said that when the sun shines the whole front of the church is opened up – it’s a huge 45 foot high blue glass door. The detail on the glass panels are hundreds of tiny nails – a reference to Jesus and his being nailed to a cross.  There is also a large installation of the crucifixion itself – quite daunting in fact – in wood on the wall directly behind the blue door.

From there I walked and I have walked all day with plenty of things keeping my mind busy, not least now my own relationhip with God, His plans for me, my endless numbered days, and such things.  The North West area of the city is delightful – lots of interesting dwellings and greenery and I decided to wander further North as I had seen on another may that the Olympiapark was just North of where my guide book map ends.

There are bicycles everywhere in Munich. They are ridden along the miles of dedicated bicycle paths, which put London’s attempts to shame. They are propped up against trees, unlocked.  They are lined up outside residences, adorned with baskets front and back, and pannier baskets.  They often have stands so they stand alone on the side of a pavement.

Pulling my wheelie bag behind me – my trusty steed by my side I walked until I saw in the distance the big Tower that is central to the Olympic site.  I walked across a large stretch of wasteland (parkland) gravel, and the tower got bigger.  I then entered the main site and that too is pretty impressive – you can smell the history.  Munich 72 is remembered because of the killings by Palestinian gunmen of innocent Israeli sportspersons, which is a shame because the site and the various stadia are incredible – very Pompidou.  Looks too modern to be built 4 decades ago, and that’s testament to the designers.  It looks a bit like a zoo in fact. One can easily imagine the place teeming with colours and flags of the World’s nations.  I hope London 2012 holds some of its own history as well.

I am wandering about chatting to myself all day, which at that point makes me wonder if I’m going a bit mad.  It starts to make sense to me that other people do the same, and that in itself is a worrying sign.  I’ve also come up with some start of a new song.  It’s a reference to plastic surgery, revenge, dodgy practitioners, the porn industry and the misguided actions of people in deceit.  Yes that’s better.  The chorus goes: “You fucked their faces, fucked their faces, fucked their faces, now they’re going to fuck you”.  I think it’s got legs.

While walking through the Olympic park towards the base of the tower I notice a big building in the background with the BMW sign.  BMW HQ! Writing this I am sitting inside BMW Welt, which is mind-blowing. It is difficult to describe but here goes.

It is a architecturally acclaimed building, which serves as a consumer and corporate customer facing physical representation of the BMW brand.  The structure itself is about the size of two football pitches, and is spread over4 or 5 floors.  The entry level floor is basically put a huge car showroom. Ragtops on the right coming in – Z4, 118i, 318i, 650i – climb in any of them (I haven’t). Couple of emergency vehicle examples. Upstairs is like a model of a garage you had when you were little except it’s real.  There is a motorcycle display area, and it’s all bonkers frankly.  Every single item in here is built to top spec.  The doors, the lifts, the loos, the seats at the café, the tables at the café, the ambient sounds, the coffee, the floors, everything.  Lights, handrails, TV screens, salespeople. It is a physical manifestation of BMW’s version of perfection.  I’m not even a huge fan of BMW – well I wasn’t but I am now. It’s like a modern art gallery, fun fair, Rhyl Sun Centre all rolled into one, then lots of shiny cars have been added. There’s a tour apparently but I think I might go madder if I went on that.

It’s good to sit down too, though am feeling bit jaded now despite a massive kick in the glands from the Black Americano I asked form but the octuple espresso I seem to have been served.

I have seen one black person so far in Germany – working the checkout at a local minimart. Bavaria really is the home of the white man.  Not the white supremacist as far as I can tell.  It is a strange omission though, well not an omission but a lack thereof. The Bavarians are a proud people though, and I heard on more than one occasion that they do not like the French.  I happily introduced my origin as Wales, or as walisisch.  The Germans like the Welsh, and it must be said the Welsh travel better.

The weather outside is grim, wet and cold in fact, but in here the weather is perfect.  Not too warm (like a usual museum), plenty of fresh air, a hint of air con. I fly back to Gatwick in 4 hours time.  If I can find a piece of pork and a glass of Bavarian beer then I can then legitimately say I’ve made a fist of Munich.  As it is I make a knuckle, or rather order a knuckle – on the advice of Andy and Thorsten – two men I make the acquaintance of in a traditional Bavarian brauhaus near the centre of Munich.

Soon after a large plate of food arrives, which looked not unlike this – a huge joint of pork knuckle, and the meat is very tasty and plump.  It comes in a thin gravy, with a round white doughy potato dumpling, and a side bowl of cold, white sauerkraut.  The beer is good also.  I order a small beer and it came as a pint; apparently a standard is the 2-pint stein.

And that’s me.  Off to the Flughafen and flight back to UK.  Munich is a fascinating town, and I will certainly return, if not for the celebrated white sausage, then for the Allianz Arena. Danke schoen.