Vacationing in Munich, Germany

Dr. Michael Wilson, a practicing podiatrist with the Veterans Administration in Winston-Salem, N.C., and his wife, Sheila, have just returned from a vacation in Munich, Germany. Dr. Wilson is the author of the 2011 book, “Death of a Politician: One Man’s Run From Defeat to Victory” which chronicles his political campaigns.

Wingcom Watchdog asked Dr. Wilson to provide some details of his trip from an African American perspective.

Bakery on tour of Munich, Germany

We would wholeheartedly encourage any African-American to visit the city of Munich, Germany. Despite one rude guy at the airport, everyone else we came in contact with was very cordial and friendly. At no time did we feel threatened.

One neat thing we observed was that everyone waits patiently at the crosswalks until the light changes, and no one jaywalks! Another German oddity that deserves mentioning is that when drinks are served, even coffee, there are no refills. Also, soft drinks do not come with ice!

Despite the thrill of all signs and cultural sights of Munich, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that most Germans speak English fluently, having been taught since 3rd grade! Most signs are bilingual, with German and its English translation on the same sign.  As a result, we had no trouble communicating with anyone we came in contact with. A dictionary is not necessary if you are a visitor.

We could not understand all of the German TV stations, but we were able to latch onto CNN and TBS English speaking stations. The hotel was very comfortable, and the staff were very friendly and accommodating.

Street scene in Munich, 2012

Michael and Sheila Wilson at Munich's HR Cafe

As for seeing other Blacks on our visit, we saw very few, if any, Blacks in Munich. Although we were the only Blacks seated in the Hard Rock Cafe, we were very well received by the staff and received great service.  

One interesting item was that Munich was the birthplace of the Nazi Party. The tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp was a very sobering and historical experience. The weather was a bit cooler, and we had to wear jackets during the day. It rained every day. Another disadvantage of the trip was the poor showing of the Euro.  For example, one 100 Euro (dollars) is equivalent to only $73.  In short, your money does not go far, so you have to spend wisely. We made it easier by getting some Euros from AAA before our trip and also by securing a "money" debit card.

The subway and train stations were curious and interesting experiences. There is an 'honor system' in place where you purchase your ticket and simply walk into the subway - no turnstile, and no one checks to see if you paid.  Also, unlike large cities in the US, we saw NO police anywhere in the city.  OK, once in a while you saw a police car go by, and a couple of police in the train station, but amongst large crowds, no police anywhere to be seen.

The music and beer are great in Munich.

Although Munich is very safe, appears to be a great place to live, and it’s very easy for Americans to get a visa, the tax rate on everyone is very high (35%).  Also, as you know, there is a big problem with the European economy as a whole these days, but Germany is the most fiscally solvent of all of the countries in the Euro Zone today.

Again, we felt very safe at all times, and everyone spoke very fluent English. We most certainly want to return to Germany, possibly to another city next time.

Mike & Shelia Wilson