Life Without an Air Conditioner

I had a sudden realization as to why Munich is such an “outdoor town”:

1. It’s only really the hot, beautiful summer that we all dream about for a few weeks a year (this is one of those weeks- we seem to have skipped over spring entirely and gone straight to scalding summer, at least for this one week); and
2. There are no air conditioners anywhere, so we are literally forced outside into the beer gardens, and the rivers and lakes, as a form of survival.
   

I think I sort-of made that connection before, but it’s really hit home this week.  And you know what?  I am sooo grateful that I live in a place where if there are no air conditioners, then fine, I can just walk out the front door and in 10 minutes be jumping into a cold, refreshing river or lake and immediately cooling down.  Too bad I can’t sleep there as well.

So, in celebration of summer, and water (!), here is my list of the best spots to go for a dip and cool off around Munich:

1. Isar River near the Reichenbachbrücke
   
2. English Garden – when the weather is really hot, locals love to jump off the small footbridges that cross over the Eisbach, or just wade in the stream traversing the park.
   
3. Feringasee
   
4. Feldmochinger See

And if you want to take a 30 minute drive south: Wörthsee