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Nicholas Halsall, a Kiwi expat Nicholas Halsall, a Kiwi expat Bavaria is famous for its excellent ales and hearty cuisine. What made you decide to move to Germany? The first time I moved to Germany was to Munich in order to join the sports business which I worked for. Now, I live in Germany with my spouse and son. We were in New Zealand on holiday in Christchurch visiting friends and family when the earthquake of February 2011 occurred. We needed to alter our plans and this meant staying on in Germany. It was a lot easier to move from an apartment in the city to a stunning Bavarian village called Andechs — about 40 minutes from central Munich and a much better place to bring up our son. What do you do there? I am currently the sales and marketing manager for Europe & Middle East for Contiki. It’s a travel for youth company. What are your favorite and least favourite things about living there? Contiki was founded in Europe by an NZer. I feel privileged to do what I do and the places I am doing it. Oktoberfest is a great time of fun, and I like attending events and festivals during the summer. It is not uncommon for winter to mean six to seven months of snow. This isn’t something I enjoy. What do you think New Zealand compare in terms of cost of living? It’s fairly good. Germany is a great healthcare system and most people, even if they were on welfare benefits have enough money to pay for food and drinks. In a city such as Munich is generally higher however that’s more of an European trend. The cost of utilities is affordable such as electricity, petrol and gas. What can you do at weekends? Andechs sits in a region known as Funfseenland or Five Lakes District. As you’re able to imagine, with five lakes close by, there’s a lot of activity based on and in the water and swimming during summer is a top priority on my list. The house also sits on a hill and it’s surrounded with trees. I enjoy running in the sun and the snow. It takes me quite a while to mow the lawns. What are your thoughts of the food? Bavaria is known for its pork and potato variations.
So you can’t make a mistake with a large pork knuckle and potato salad (schweinshaxe and kartoffelsalat). However, I’ll admit that whenever we get sunshine (and sometimes, not) I do my best to cook it on the barbecue. What is the most efficient way to get around? Munich and Bavaria are both easy to get around. Underground trains and overland trains are frequently in operation and adhere to the scheduled schedule. The Munich centre is compact and easy to walk around. How is the shopping? Munich shopping is absolutely amazing. Munich is a favorite place for travelers who like to shop. What’s the nightlife like? Munich’s nightlife scene is diverse. You have your traditional beer halls, which are a great time and must-visit, There are other venues like KultFabrik which is Europe’s biggest entertainment and clubbing area after the bar closes. Which is your favorite area of Munich? It’s Andechs which is where I live. All the advantages of village life are at hand however, we are 40 minutes away from Munich’s 1.2 million people. Which time of the year is best? Munich is certainly a city that has two seasons. Winter has Christmas markets with Mulled Wine (gluhwein) and skiing, while summer brings beer gardens and charbroil grills. Every town and village is home to a festival during summer (volksfest). For my vote, July to September are the most ideal months to travel, just for the summer lifestyle. What’s one thing you must do to recommend to visitors? Bavaria, Germany and Munich are all well-known for their beer gardens. There is no better way to spend your time than drinking great beer, eating tasty food in an amazing setting and experiencing the «gemutlichkeit» which is a term used to describe traits unique to Germans and German cultural traditions. Your top travel tips for tourists: One of my favorite days in my calendar is the day I go for the Flossfahrt. Back in time when Munich was being built they employed huge wooden rafts in the Isar River to transport everything needed to get the job done and provide the people with food. The rafts were dismantled and the wood was then used to construct the city. Today we continue our classic route of the river, starting beginning at Wolfratshausen through Munich. There are 50 people on the raft as well as food, beer and a group of four. The journey takes about 8 hours, but is a lot of entertainment and the raft is dismantled at finish and the timber that was utilized to build Munich! And my town Andechs is known for its Benedictine Monastery , which holds relics from Christ. It is based on the German Purity Laws for brewing beer (called Reinheitsgebot), Andechs is known for its beer as well as the stunning views across the countryside and over the Swiss and Austrian Alps. What is the easiest way to travel back to New Zealand? There are a variety of flight options that make it easy.