Servus an Alle!

Welcome back to the Munich Post! The purpose of this newsletter is to share: 3 bits of news, 2 upcoming events, and 1 amazing restaurant/café for expats living in and around Munich. This way, you have a pulse on what’s going on without scrolling through thousands of pages.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today (slightly longer, brace yourself):

3 bits of news

Munich Votes: The Aftermath

Let’s chat about the recent State elections, shall we? Perhaps you were among the early birds, casting your votes at 8am and then maybe even cheering on those marathon runners?

As expats, following the political scene not only interests us, it can affect us in many ways, so we are here to help you make sense of it and what it could mean for us moving forward.

The CSU, retains its crown holding firm at 37% of the votes in Bavaria while the Free Voters shook the scene with a notable 15.8%, to snag that second spot. The Green (Grüne) party took a slight tumble to the fourth spot with 14.4% and even though the Greens established a stronghold in the heart of Munich, the outskirts stayed loyal to the CSU.

In the midst of CSU receiving its lowest level of support in over fifty years, it’s also noteworthy to point out the significant surge, a leap by 10%, in support for AfD (a far-right anti-immigration party).

Prime Minister Markus Söder has pushed away talks of a coalition with the Greens, so maybe we’ll see the Free Voters cozy (or perhaps cozy-ish?) up with CSU. The Free Voters is a populist party known for critiquing immigration, gender-neutral directives, and environmental policies (also considered a decent alternative to conservatives). They were dealing with a scandal even before the elections. Upcoming negotiations are bound to be riveting, especially with Free Voters demanding a fourth ministerial post into the upcoming cabinet ring.

Wondering about the national impact? The undercurrents of this election stretched far beyond our Bavarian borders with political tides washing over all three parties currently in the national coalition (SPD, the Greens & FDP).

Craving a deeper dive into the various political parties, or want to polish your German, then have a listen to Marvin Neumann. 

For more details on the polls, read here (in German) and for more information about how the different Munich districts voted, you can click here (in German).

Expect more delays to the S-Bahn

If the S-Bahn is your mode of transport for zipping around the city, you might have noticed a few hiccups in the schedule recently. The Munich S-Bahn is sprucing itself up and Deutsche Bahn is splitting this essential maintenance over several weekends including that sneaky holiday at the start of November.

So, on the weekends of October 6-9, 13-16, 27-30, and November 3-6, the S-Bahns will run a bit more sparsely from Friday night (10:20 pm) to the fresh hours of Monday (4:40 am). And mark your calendars for October 20-23 too; during these days, from Friday, 10:30 pm until early Monday morning, our main line will be taking a complete pause.

Navigating through unexpected alterations in schedules can be trying; we're here to keep you informed every step of the way. So plan your trips carefully, especially if you’re catching a flight this month.

For more details, check here (in German).

Germany shines in mail delivery

That’s right, Deutsche Post, our reliable carrier of letters and parcels, has clinched the third spot in the world for postal excellence.

Thanks to a thorough analysis by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), Germany follows only Switzerland and Austria in providing top-tier mail services. The UPU lauded our postal sector's stellar 95.7 out of 100 score, emphasizing its reliability, reach, relevance, and resilience—four key Rs that determine the effectiveness of postal systems worldwide.

Despite plans to switch things up by limiting delivery days (with an eye on ensuring consistency and economic wellness), we’re cruising smoothly on the postal express. The Federal Network Agency has intentions to scale down services from six days to a cozy three days a week, all while still ensuring our letters find their way home.

Even though Deutsche Post bagged an impressive score and an eyebrow-raising profit of 8.4 billion euros, changes are in the works, with aims to streamline even more.

For more information, read here (in English), or the detailed report, here.

In Partnership with Granite Financial

It is our desire to bring our readers the best information about Munich — at zero cost to you. In keeping with this theme, we thank our sponsors for today’s newsletter.

Retirement Planning in Germany (Free Webinar)

Did you know that the concept of retirement dates back to ancient Roman times? 🏛️

In those days, Roman soldiers were promised a pension or a piece of land after serving their empire for several years.

It might not sound like a super pressing yet if you are below 50, but the earlier you start, the more benefits you get from it. Although they can feel overwhelming, retirement planning can be quite fun! Have you envisioned how you want your life to look at 70? Dream about it for a second; this is what could become reality if you plan for it.

Fast forward to today's Germany, where retirement planning has evolved into a crucial aspect of securing your future. Discover how modern-day retirement planning in Germany can help you navigate the financial landscape and ensure a comfortable retirement.

Granite Financial is all about holistic financial planning; we cover investing, financial planning, and retirement planning, to name some of our services. Our team of experienced advisors can help you assess your current financial situation, set realistic financial goals, and create a roadmap to achieve them. We'll also work with you to create a budget that balances your income and expenses and identify areas where you can save money. With a solid financial plan in place, you can feel confident that you're on the right track to financial success in Germany!

Let’s talk! Contact us now, or join our Webinar about Retirement Planning in Germany on the 23rd of October. It’s free! Hope to see you there. Click on this link to register.

2 upcoming events

Embark on a journey through timeless feminine narratives

Now’s the time to head to the Haus der Kunst and experience a magical interactive journey unfolding right in our own backyard.

“Inside Other Spaces” is stealing the show until March 2024 as it pays tribute to the incredible contributions of women artists from 1956 to 1976.

It’s an immersive experience that spans generations and continents, bringing together the works of eleven female artists from Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Your journey through these “other spaces” begins by slipping off your shoes and grounding yourself in the rich history and narratives crafted by these incredible artists.

And, on the last Friday of every month the museum welcomes everyone for free (from 4 - 10 pm).

Here is a preview of what you can expect.

Purchase your tickets here.

Check out this other video from Munich Insider:

General information 

📅 Until Sunday, March 10, 2024

📍 Prinzregentenstraße 1, 80538 München

⏰ 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (30 min time slots) 

💶 €14 & €10 for Pensioners

Discover Munich’s nighttime museum

Long Night in the Museum is back this weekend on Saturday, October 14 and almost 100 different venues, from cozy galleries, art hubs to awe-inspiring museums, will be open from 6 pm to 1 am, offering a delightful journey through exhibits and special events.

Grab your tickets here, or for the spontaneous night owls, grab your ticket at Odeonsplatz on the day of. The ticket will grant an adult and up to four kiddos (aged 4-14) access to all venues and a ride on the MVG shuttle buses. Hop on and off at any stop, creating your own tailor-made tour through Munich’s treasures.

They have got a handy program that you can download (in German).

General information 

📅 Saturday, October 14

📍 Various Locations

⏰ 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

💶 €23.50

Bonus

• German citizenship law scheduled for Bundestag reading in November

• Germany quietly achieved its most surprising basketball victory and hardly anyone noticed. 

• Circus Roncalli in Munich from October 14 - November 12

• Tanz den Gasteig - Salsa-Nacht at HP8, Thursday, October 12

• Germany’s other beer and wine festivals

1 new restaurant/café to try

SOJO

Set your compass to SOJO – and then make your way to Schwanthalerhöhe, where Asia meets Africa. This elegant restaurant brings you an innovative fusion that remains true to the roots of both cultures. From the healthful delicacies of Japanese cuisine to the vibrant, rich notes of South African dishes, they’ve stirred up a pot that guarantees an enthralling dining adventure with every bite.

Whether you're diving into the crispy dumplings, savoring the tender roasted duck, or getting a bite of those delightful pineapple-prawn skewers, you're in for a special culinary journey.

Oh, and if you're looking for that perfect Insta-moment, their high-style interiors provide the perfect backdrop.

Make your reservations here. 

General information

📍 Schwanthalerstraße 13, 80336 München

🥘 Asian - African cuisine

⏰ Tuesday - Thursday 5:00 p.m. to Midnight

Friday - Saturday 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Sunday 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Closed Mondays

🔗 https://www.sojomunich.com/

Meme of the week 😂

Wisdom from The Munich Post Community

Last week, we asked if Munich is a smart city and we made fun of how we still use cash everywhere. But this counterintuitive opinion was insightful. So, we thought about sharing it with you all.

The content we found useful for expats & immigrants because it’s in English.

Free Webinar: How to get a mortgage in Germany

Do you dream of owning a home in Germany but the whole homebuying process feels overwhelming? Sign up for the free webinar from Hypofriend and discover the shortest path to your dream home in Germany. But be quick: Spaces for this event are limited!

Thanks for reading and sharing the Munich Post 3-2-1 newsletter.

See ya next week!

Aazar, Arlene, Christina, and Heidi

Hey there! Just wanted to let you know that this newsletter is absolutely free for you to enjoy. We genuinely value your feedback as it inspires us to continuously improve and bring you even more amazing news and content. It would mean the world to us if you could spare a moment to share your thoughts and leave us some comments. Your input is truly appreciated!