Raju's Wanderings

Munich is the capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria, part of Germany. But Munich is distinctly different from Berlin, since it wasn't part of Germany till 1918. Munich beer was brewed by monks ("munichen") who gave the city its name. At 6 million population in the metropolitan region, it is about two thirds as populous as Hyderabad with 8.7 million. A homeless man sleeping in a sitting position in the subway tunnel. Contrary to the photo, Munich has the lowest rate of unemployment in Germany (3.6%). It has been rated world wide as the third best at quality of living (after Vienna, and Zurich). Public transport is great, streets are safe, economically, it is the best in Germany. The city is close to the Alps so hiking is easy. And you can go around the city on bicycles. Real estate and rents are however, high. Living out of a suitcase! I now know what it means.  Marienplatz (Mary's Square). This is one of the oldest squares in Munich from 1...

Venice is supposed to be the city of bridges, the city of canals, the sinking city (every year it sinks a few inches), one of the greatest European cities. When I visited it, I found a truth that every Venetian knows - more than anything else. Venice is a museum to the past, a mummified dead city, whose only life seems to come from tourism, and paradoxically, it will die of tourism long before it sinks into the sea. I am talking of the historic city of Venice with a total population of 55,000 people, of which 5,000 are leaving every year. And there are 2.5 million tourists every year taking 100 Euro pathetic Gondola rides, gushing over how romantic and beautiful the city is. Behind the facades, and the glitzy restaurants, when one walks down the "roads" of Venice, it is decay and centuries old plaster falling off, with ghost houses, occasionally turned into a shop, a bar, a hotel or lodge. Even the shop keepers and hotel owners are too wise to stay the night, bes...