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German culture has seen great changes in modern history. From being the antagonist in so many conflicts, the country has made striding steps toward reform. Ironically, it is the rest of the world that still has not shifted its view on German. Recently, on a separate trip, I experienced a snippet of German culture in Berlin. However, I am back for more, this time a much more personal look at Germany.

Munich is surprisingly strong and well as a city, despite losing ninety percent of its historical buildings to bombs in World War II. Much of the heritage has been preserved. Combined with modern culture, most of the historical Munich is now transformed into shops and restaurants. Locals, as well as tourists, waltz the streets in search of something that catches their eyes. However, Mom and I were not here to shop. Munich is one of the more populated cities in Europe, hosting around 1.5 million residents. Furthermore, tourists come and go all year round, regardless of the weather. Therefore, it's no surprise that Munich has immediately sky-rocketed to the top cities I've seen yet.

In a short description as to why Munich mildly reminds me of Rome. Cities with rich histories and integrated modern civilization resulting in spectacular cultures and unique aspects, Rome and Munich truly mimic each other almost identically. Munich only slightly differs from its historic roots because of World War II, which caused a little more than just property damage. However, the Germans quickly rebuilt the city, restoring much of what it had lost, which is understandable due to their legendary mechanical skills.

What we have left is a bunch of parties and fairs on the streets for no apparent reason or purpose, like the Go Vegan Festival. The streets are really something that sets Munich apart from other cultural cities in the world. The fact that random carnivals can just be generated is a sign of a great cultural step. People were not afraid to be themselves, riding bikes and smoking and drinking beer on the street. Granted, some aren't good hobbies, but most people seemed healthy enough.

However, every city has not escaped its roots quite yet. Munich, like nearly all large cities in Europe, had a church around every corner. Truthfully, the churches are nothing compared to Notre Dame in Paris or St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Nevertheless, its people and the atmosphere on the streets are what sets it apart. The contrast between street havoc to the quiet nature of the churches depicted two sides of Munich. These two sides can be found in many places. For example, the plaza with the food market and music had a backdrop of medieval statues and ancient fountains. Parks with people racing through the trees were surrounded by old chiseled pillars and bygone arches. Essentially wherever people looked, they could see the two sides of Munich. Much like the two sides of the coin, one could not exist without the other.

【红霞译文】

在当代历史上，日尔曼文化发生了翻天覆地的变化，德国曾几度成为世界公敌，如今正力求悔过自新。滑稽的是，全球其它国家依旧无法改变对日尔曼民族的看法，最近一回我初访柏林，多少能感受到这点。然而当我今年重返这片土地，想必对德国会有一个更加深入的了解。

尽管第二次世界大战摧毁了僧侣之城百分之九十的古迹建筑，但这座城市却以惊人之举重整家园，从而使许多文化遗产得以保留下来。老城业已注入现代生活气息，大多数繁华地带挤满了商家店铺，当地人也伴随游客们华尔兹节奏曼舞大街小巷自寻乐趣，不过我和妈妈没想买啥东西。僧侣之城算作欧洲人口密度比较集中的地方，大约有一百五十万居民住在这里，何况一年四季无论天气冷暖，到此一游的观光客川流不息，难怪僧侣之城很快成为我所走过的都市中出类拔萃的佼佼者。

之所以给予高度评价无非在于，僧侣之城让我不由得想起罗马，两座城市历史悠久，现代文明洗礼又让原本辉煌强盛的民族文化和别具特色的地域风貌大放异彩，在这方面彼此发展得竟然非常相像，只不过二战才使僧侣之城透出稍有迥异的历史根基，远不止财产损失。好在德国人很快振兴，凭借祖传的机械技能，竭力让自己从战后废墟中重新崛起。

我们所到之处五花八门的聚会庆典层出不穷，像“素食节”就是其中一例，街头巷尾充斥各种活动的确让僧侣之城成为天下盛开的一朵奇葩。事实上，随性即兴的狂欢方式标志着一种极佳的生活状态，人们无拘无束，满大街骑单车抽香烟喝啤酒，千万别误解，有些嗜好未必算得上好习惯，但多数人看起来挺健康的。

然而，历史定会给各地打下不可磨灭的烙印。僧侣之城像欧洲其它名城一样，每个角落都建有教堂，说句实在话，这里任何一座都无法与巴黎圣母院或者梵蒂冈圣彼得大教堂相媲美，不过倒自然而然地把行人及所在氛围区分开来，街道上的喧嚣与教堂内的宁静形成鲜明对比，恰好再现了僧侣之城双重特色，并且反映到老城内外，譬如：广场上前面搭满吃货地摊唱歌舞台，后面矗立中世纪雕像古式喷泉；公园里穿梭林中之人被旧石柱和老拱门所包围，基本上无论你走到哪里，都能亲眼目睹僧侣之城动静两种状态，正如硬币两侧，谁都离不开对方。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2017: Munich the Village of A Million, DEU(德国僧侣之城─百万人庄)

2017: Munich the Secret Capital, Germany(德国僧侣之城─隐形首都)

2017: Munich the World City with Heart, DEU(德国僧侣之城─爱心之都)

2016: Moscow the Third Rome, Russia(俄罗斯莫斯科─第三罗马)

2016: Moscow Red Square, Russia(俄罗斯莫斯科红场)

2016: Moscow Kremlin, Russia(俄罗斯莫斯城堡宫)

2015: Medieval Mdina, Malta(马耳他古都先知之城)

2015: Capital Valletta, Malta(马耳他首都湾谷城)

2015: Colonized Nation of Europe, Malta(欧洲本土殖民地马耳他)

2014 World Cup—USA vs. Belgium(美国对比利时世界杯足球赛)