One of my favorite ways of spending Saturday afternoons is going to the Farmers‘ Market, just off of Nollendorf Platz. Be it cold or hot, farmers are there with fresh fruits and vegetables right from their gardens. But I don’t go there to buy those, I go to have lunch. There are a number of stands which offer great variety of food such as grilled fish, or ‚Shashlik‘ (BBQ), Russian pelmeni, Swiss raclette, etc. Usually there is a long line of people waiting to have lunch so it’s better to go a little early or after the busy lunch hour.

The last few times I went, the Russian guy who makes pork BBQ on skewers wasn’t there. It was disappointing but instead I had delicious fresh grilled fish with a glass of wine. The atmosphere is nice. It’s also a goof ‚people watching‘ place. Oh yes, and I always buy a loaf of Turkish bread to take with me home.

During my stay in Munich I managed to take a day trip to the thermal bath and spa complex in Erding. I have to say that Germany has a remarkably vibrant sauna and thermal bath culture, which reflects the country’s obsession with feeling good and living well.  The German concept of a spa is a far cry from, let’s say, the American version revolving around massages, manicures and pedicures. The German baths have several indoor and outdoor pools (even in winter), soaking tubs, tubs with different mineral contents and temperatures and a variety of saunas and, of course, a full-fledged bar to get a beer! It’s a great opportunity to mingle with the locals and they are very affordable (4 hour stay consts 24 euros including your train ticket -round trip).

My experience showed that a day at the thermal baths can be a great way to experience the best of Germany. The Spa complex in Erding has a retractable dome that cover the entire facility. During the summer the roof is retracted which gives the island resort feel. I highly recommend visiting this place if you happen to be in the area.

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