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Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
I've Lived in Germany for Nearly a Decade —and These are My Favorite Places in Munich
Scenic view of the North facade of the Victory Gate in Munich, Germany. Credit: Westend61/Getty Images Since moving to Germany eight years ago, I've had the pleasure of exploring nine of the country's 16 federal states. I live in Germany's capital city, Berlin, and on my first visit to Munich, I discovered these two sides of the country are polar opposites: Berlin is gritty and futuristic, rooted in the center of old East Germany; Munich is the clean, traditional stronghold in Germany's largest state, Bavaria, and the economic center of old West Germany. Both have their charm, but Munich more accurately reflects the culture and aesthetics that many Americans associate with Germany: alpine landscapes, lederhosen and dirndls, and, of course, fairy-tale castle architecture. As someone who has explored Munich several times, here are my favorite places to visit in the city. Ludwig Maximilian University in the university district of by impressive architecture dating back to the Bavarian monarchy, I love wandering the streets of Maxvorstadt, the arts and university district where students spill out of buzzy cafes and record stores. The area is also home to two universities and some of the city's best museums, but for me, stepping into the passageways where you can sit and enjoy the sunlight is one of the best parts. The art cafe and homemade cakes of Gartensalon make me feel like Munich is just a small, friendly town I get to enjoy by myself. The famous Pinakothek der Moderne Museum in Munich. The Pinakothek der Moderne, one of my favorite museums in all of Germany, is made up of four distinct modern art houses: fine art, prints and drawings, architecture, and home design. From the history of Volkswagen cars and models of post-war architecture to modern art photography and the sleek design of household appliances in the '100 Years, 100 Objects' exhibition, I've spent many hours exploring the Pinakothek der Moderne. It's the one museum I know I'll always visit. The Thai Pavilion, an ornate structure, stands in Berlin, parks are usually just some trees, scraggly wild grass, and rugged natural paths mixed in with a monument or statue here and there and several walls scattered with graffiti. So when I first visited Munich's Westpark, I was stunned at the immaculately designed landscapes surrounding me. The park was constructed in 1983 for a garden exhibition and still contains gorgeous rose gardens, a pagoda surrounded by Asian gardens, and several ponds and water features. In the summer, open-air cinema and theater performances take over an amphitheater on the edge of the lake, which makes for a stunning setting for watching the sunset. Cafe Gans am Wasser (that's 'Geese on the Water') is a cozy hangout, with mismatched furniture and DIY artwork. Exterior view of the Munich City Museum and Filmmuseum at St.-Jakobs-Platz. A special section of the Münchner Stadtmuseum (Munich City Museum), the film archive is home to more than 5,000 copies of German films, which are regularly screened in retrospectives and programs. As a filmmaker myself, I was excited to see rare silent films with live music (like the 1927 classic "Metropolis") and enjoy a program of German masterworks. Don't be fooled by the building's nondescript exterior—the tiny displays of classic photos and stories inside, combined with the affordable €5 ticket for retrospectives and programs with filmmaker participation, won me over immediately.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Issue with Living Longer
Credit - Westend61—Getty Images We're living longer than ever—but those extra years aren't unfolding the way many hoped. Instead of later years spent thriving, millions are instead facing chronic illness, cognitive decline, and financial strain. As of July 2025, the estimated global average life expectancy is approximately 73.5 years. This represents a slight increase from previous years, continuing a long-term trend of rising longevity (despite a temporary dip due to the COVID-19 pandemic). High-income countries with advanced healthcare systems, good sanitation, and healthy lifestyles have an even longer life expectancy average, reaching up to 84 years. Our lifespans have expanded, but our healthspans—the number of years we live with mental sharpness, physical independence, and emotional well-being—has not kept pace. If we don't prepare now, the result won't just be personal hardship. It will reshape families, erode legacies, and overwhelm the caregiving systems we all depend on. For much of the modern era, societies structured life around a four-stage model: youth, family-building, work, and a relatively short retirement. That framework no longer reflects reality. We now live through five distinct life segments, two of which—mid-life caregiving and prolonged dependency in later years—are stretching families, economies, and communities in entirely new ways. The modern life course now looks more like this: Youth (0–20): Education and early development Single and Working (20–30): Career-building often accompanied by personal growth through travel and experiences Family Formation and Caregiving (30–50): A phase defined by diverse paths—raising children, supporting chosen families, or balancing demanding careers and eldercare responsibilities Working with Dependent Parents (50–67): The 'sandwich generation,' increasingly caring for both younger and older generations Retired, Often Dependent (67–80+): Longer retirements, often accompanied by increasing cognitive and physical decline The shift from four to five segments may seem incremental, but the consequences are profound. Mid-life adults are being pulled in multiple directions, often while navigating dual-income households or living alone. Retirement, once a brief final chapter, can now stretch 20 to 30 years, and too often, those years are marked by rising dependency. Systems of support—social, economic, and medical—are struggling to keep up. What's emerging is a global healthspan gap, where we're living longer but not necessarily living well. The healthspan gap—and what it costs Research suggests that we're entering the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history, with trillions expected to pass from older to younger generations. But much of that wealth may never arrive. Long-term care costs—especially when not covered by insurance or public programs—can quickly erode assets. Just a few years of residential or home-based care can deplete savings accumulated over a lifetime. Many families face these costs without adequate safety nets, and in aging societies, public eldercare systems are under mounting financial pressure. If fiscal tightening leads to austerity-driven cutbacks, families may shoulder even more of the burden—quietly draining the legacies they hoped to pass on. We're not just living longer—we're also living longer with dementia, Alzheimer's, and other forms of cognitive impairment. And without meaningful action, this trajectory could accelerate. This is not a dystopian fantasy. It's a tangible future scenario if healthspan continues to lag behind lifespan, and our support systems fail to evolve. The healthspan imperative If we want longer lives to truly become better lives, we must shift our focus from simply extending lifespan to improving healthspan. That requires new thinking in prevention, technology, policy, and planning. First, we must prioritize prevention and delay—not just in old age, but across all stages of life. Expanding access to community-based wellness programs focused on movement, nutrition, and connection can promote healthier aging. Preventive care must start earlier and before symptoms emerge, with lifelong attention to cognitive and emotional health. Supporting flexible work and phased retirement can reduce stress on caregivers in their peak working years. Second, technology is a powerful enabler. AI assistants and care robots can assist with mobility, medication reminders, and safety monitoring to help older adults remain independent longer. In parenting, tech is already expanding: AI tutors and robotic companions support learning in dual-income or single-parent households. Predictive tools and remote monitoring systems can detect early signs of decline – whether cognitive, physical or emotional – and trigger timely intervention. These tools don't replace human care. They extend it by enhancing independence, extending capabilities, and reducing caregiver stress. Our public systems must also evolve. Governments should shift more funding from institutional care to proactive, community-based models. Policies that support aging in place, expand caregiver tax credits, and create savings incentives for long-term care can align care with reality—especially as aging populations strain public budgets. Finally, we must plan across generations. Families need support to discuss roles, responsibilities, and expectations before a crisis hits. Healthspan should be integrated into financial and estate planning, because how long we live well directly affects what we leave behind. Caregiving, aging, and inheritance are not separate life challenges, but parts of a shared human journey that requires input and support from all those involved. We stand at a global inflection point. If we let longevity unfold without intention, we risk decades of dependency, fragmented families, and generational loss. But if we choose to invest in healthspan—early, equitably, and boldly—we can reshape the future. We can protect the well-being of aging populations without sacrificing the financial and emotional security of younger generations. We can use innovation not just to extend life, but to enrich it. And we can build communities that grow older with strength, grace, and resilience. We've already added years to life. Now it's time to add life to those years. Contact us at letters@
Wales Online
14-07-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Herbs will grow and thrive in summer after two-minute task is done weekly
Herbs will grow and thrive in summer after two-minute task is done weekly Popular culinary herbs such as oregano, mint, and thyme will need a little more care than usual in the summer This simple task will keep your herbs healthy over summer (Image: Westend61 via Getty Images ) Most potted herbs, including oregano, require minimal upkeep and can flourish on your windowsill for weeks with scant attention. Nevertheless, during summer months they demand slightly more care. Warm weather prompts herbs to grow thick, woody stems which help them retain water more effectively. This process drains considerable energy, meaning herb plants cease producing leaves, whilst any existing foliage becomes intensely bitter. Fortunately, there's a remedy: pruning. Nell Foster, a gardener and founder of Joyus Garden, suggests houseplant enthusiasts should set aside several minutes weekly for trimming their herbs. "Oregano, like mint or sweet marjoram, has softer woody stems," she explained. These old stems will eventually get woody over time, particularly in warmer climates. The plant becomes quite dense, making it difficult for new growth to appear in spring and summer. Make your oregano thrive easily (Image: Liudmila Chernetska via Getty Images ) Article continues below "This is why pruning is crucial. The fresh oregano leaves are much tastier than the tougher, older ones. I prune my mint, thyme, and marjoram in the same way - out with the old and in with the new." Trimming stimulates herbs to keep generating fresher, more tender, and therefore more flavoursome leaves rather than focusing energy on stem development. It also maintains herb health by stopping them from becoming overgrown, which not only looks messy but also raises the risk of fungal infections affecting the plants, reports the Express. The secret lies in checking and trimming them consistently throughout summer. It's straightforward: all you need to do is give your herbs a light prune, removing any old or woody-looking stems. Regular pruning keeps plants healthy (Image: FreshSplash via Getty Images ) This shouldn't take more than a few minutes. Using a pair of clean, sharp scissors, trim back approximately three inches. Article continues below Ensure your herbs are positioned in a sunny spot such as a windowsill or balcony if possible. They also flourish well in your garden. You can determine if the plants need watering by checking the soil - if it feels dry, then it's time to water. However, be cautious not to overwater them, as Mediterranean-originating woody herbs can't withstand waterlogged soil. With weekly attention, your oregano, thyme, and mint plants should thrive wonderfully this summer, supplying you with a plentiful harvest of fresh, fragrant herbs.
National Geographic
11-07-2025
- National Geographic
Witness the medieval-style German tournament where jousters battle on the Danube
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). As two flat-bottomed river boats steer towards each other from either bank, powered along by a crew of three oarsmen, thousands of knuckles tense. The route is short, the boats cutting swiftly across the Danube to the sound of pounding drums. All eyes are on the two costumed men, each standing at the stern of his boat with a lance positioned on his hip. The aim: to thrust your opponent into the river. On this particular occasion, neither opponent is spared. Two well-placed stabs result in gasps, a theatrical splash and the cold, wet shock of defeat. The crowd, however, roars its approval, the cheers echoing off Ulm's medieval walls. Then all eyes turn to the next pair already taking to the water. You might be forgiven for thinking of a jousting tournament as a competition settled between metal-clad knights on horseback. This southern German city, however, urges you to think again. After all, Ulm was the birthplace of Albert Einstein and has always had a knack for thinking outside the box. It is said by locals that the best feature about the Bavarian riverside is the view of Ulm's skyline and its world-renowned cathedral, which took 513 years to be completed. Photograph by Westend61; Getty Images A piercing legacy During the Fischerstechen ('fisherfolk's jousting'), fields are replaced with the Danube and horses with traditional boats, while opponents wear costumes inspired by local folklore. The quadrennial spectacle, held in July and organised by the century-old local fisherfolk's guild in partnership with the city, has been a hotly anticipated occasion in the cultural calendar since as far back as the mid-16th century. Participation is a family affair, reserved only for the descendants of Ulm's original fishing families, and the premise is simple: 15 pairs of jousters go lance to lance over the course of two tournament days. In each round, two of the traditionally decorated fishing boats, steered by bargemen, start from opposing banks and pass each other in the middle. To stay dry and win the clash, each combatant must absorb the impact from the other while maintaining their balance (ducking and dodging is strictly forbidden). Certainly, no easy feat. One aptly named jouster, Florian Fischer, has seven tournaments under his belt, having broken one rib and bruised two others during these short but intense bouts. 'We don't nudge, we pierce,' he explains. 'We've always started from one side of the river and met with a very powerful push.' It's a dynamic that separates Ulm's version from other long-running water jousting tournaments dotted along the Danube, which see the combatants meet in the middle of the river and slug it out instead. A highlight of the parade is the two jesters cheekily trying to interrupt the farmer's dance with his wife. Photograph by Stadtarchiv Ulm 'The guild's insistence on the preservation of its history and portrayal of the tradition is unique,' Fischer explains. And it's true, Ulm's fishers' jousting reaches a whole new scale. Each tournament day begins with music and a colorful parade across the city, with jousters and members of the guild performing in elaborate costumes. Starting at the city's gothic Ulm Minster church, the procession marches past Central Library (a distinctive glass pyramid), through the old town's romantic back streets and over its willow-strewn stone bridges. It's during this march that spectators first come face to face with the folklore and historic personalities they'll cheer for on the water hours later. While most have been fixtures in the tournament's line-up for hundreds of years, others have joined the cast more recently. Many represent notable figures from local battles or the city's collective memory; one character who's stood the test of time is the White Fisher, a spectral wraith dressed entirely in white who's regarded as the guardian spirit of Ulm's fisherfolk. The 625-year-old restaurant 'Zur Forelle' (Trout's Tavern) in the fisher's quarters, has been run by one of the guild's founding families since 1873. Photograph by Maciej Noskowski; Getty Images Following the current As the tournament progresses, the balancing act becomes more urgent — and more slippery. Again and again, soaked jousters heave themselves back inside the little boats, puddles pooling in their wooden vessels. But plunging into the Danube has become an honour and witnessing the spectacle part of this city's DNA. 'I've never given it any second thoughts. It's always been a source of pride,' Fischer says, explaining how he's followed in the footsteps of his father by stepping into his jousting role. Other than glory, there's no grand prize. 'It's simply part of being from Ulm,' Mayor Martin Ansbacher explains. 'It goes beyond two men pushing each other into the water — it's what makes up the spirit of the city.' The dedication to the tournament's heritage seems to run deeper — and longer — than the Danube. Missing it is out of the question. Fischer, however, takes it a step further: he always wants to be the first on site. 'No one's around. You might see the first few costumed figures appear, but I'm there first thing in the morning to see the water. To see how high it flows, how strong the current is. It's a magical moment I always want to experience.' This year, the tournament takes place on 18 and 20 July. Tickets start at €10 (£8.50) per day to stand and €20 (£17) for a seat in the stands. Getting there: The nearest airport, Memmingen Airport, is serviced by multiple airlines, including Ryanair from Stansted and other locations in the UK. With a DB shuttle and train combination ticket, visitors can reach Ulm's main train station in one hour for €23.30 (£20). Where to stay: Maritim Hotel Ulm is located on the banks of the Danube, a 10-minute walk from the historic fishers' quarters. From €151 (£129). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Wales Online
09-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
New Covid strain with 'unusual' symptoms identified as cases surge
New Covid strain with 'unusual' symptoms identified as cases surge The new Covid variant, labelled NB.1.8.1, is causing unusual gastrointestinal problems, health officials have warned The new strain of Covid is the result of two variants combining (Image: Getty Images/Westend61 ) Health authorities have issued an alert regarding a new strain of coronavirus after a surge in cases. Residents in Ireland are being advised to self-isolate for two days if they exhibit any Covid symptoms, as the new variant - which presents with unusual symptoms - is also linked to gastrointestinal issues. The variant, known as NB.1.8.1, has already been identified in the UK, US and Australia. Specialists emphasised that while previous strains have been associated with flu-like symptoms, NB. 1.8.1 can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and heartburn. Patients experiencing bloating, constipation and abdominal pain could also be suffering from Covid-19, reports the Mirror. The World Health Organization (WHO) has added the variant to its official watch list, suggesting it may be more transmissible than other strains. However, there's no evidence yet to suggest it leads to more severe illness. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . According to WHO, the strain first emerged in January and by late April it accounted for approximately 10.7% of global infections, a significant increase from just 2.5% a month earlier. The variant has also been identified in renowned holiday destinations such as Thailand, Egypt, and the Maldives. It has rapidly become the prevailing strain in some Asian regions, including China and Hong Kong. Article continues below Dr Lara Herrero, an Associate Professor and Virology Research Leader at Griffith University, shared details about the symptoms: "Common symptoms [of NB.1.8.1] include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases."
