Bavaria is a land of excellent ales and delicious food according to Kiwi ex-pat Nicholas Halsall. Why did you move to Germany? At first, I moved to Munich to work for the company that made sports that I worked for. I am now living in Germany with my spouse and son. We were back in New Zealand on holiday in Christchurch visiting family and friends when the February 2011 earthquake struck. We needed to alter our plans and ultimately, we stayed in Germany. It made our decision easier to leave a city apartment to a stunning Bavarian village known as Andechs – about 40 minutes away from central Munich and a better area to raise our son. What are you doing there? I’m currently the sales and marketing manager for Europe and Middle East for Contiki. It is a youth travel company. What do you enjoy or dislike about life there? As Contiki was founded in Europe by an NZer, I feel especially fortunate to be able to do what I do and in the places I am doing it. Oktoberfest is always a great time and I love going to summer festivals and events. It is not uncommon for winter to mean 6 to 7 months of winter snow. This isn’t something I enjoy. How does the cost of living compare with New Zealand? It’s pretty decent. Germany is blessed with the best health system. The majority of people can purchase food and drink, even if on welfare. Rent in a city like Munich tends to be higher however that’s more of an European trend. The cost of utilities is affordable, including petrol, electricity and gas. What can you do on weekends? Andechs is situated in the region called Funfseenland or Five Lakes District. As you’d expect, there are five lakes in the vicinity and a lot of activity based on and in the water . Swimming during summer is a top priority on my agenda. It’s also situated on a hill , and is surrounded by forest so I enjoy getting out and running in the sun or in the snow. It takes me a while to trim the lawns. What do you think of the food? Bavaria is known for its many variations of pork and potato. It’s impossible to do better than a big pork knuckle served with potato salad (schweinshaxe and Kartoffelsalat). However, when there’s sunshine and even if it’s not, I do try to barbecue. What’s the best way to travel? Munich and Bavaria are easy to reach. Undergrounds and overland trains are often available and run according to the schedule. The Munich center is small and accessible to walk around. What’s the shopping like? Shopping in Munich is fantastic. Munich is a well-known destination for tourists who love to shop. What’s the nightlife? The nightlife of Munich is diverse. You have your traditional beer halls that are great fun and a must, then you have places such as KultFabrik which is Europe’s biggest entertainment and clubbing area after the bar closes. What is your most loved area in Munich? It’s Andechs, where I reside. All the advantages of village life are at hand in Andechs, and yet we are 40 minutes away from Munich’s 1.2 million inhabitants. Which time of the year is the best time to go? Munich is enjoyable in the two seasons. There are Christmas markets in winter, complete with drinks like mulled wine (gluhwein) and skiing, and summer is the time for beer gardens and grills. Every village and town has their own festival in the summer (volksfest). In my opinion, July to September are the ideal time to go to, simply because of the summer vibe. What’s your must-do thing for visitors? Munich, Bavaria and Germany are all famous for their beer and beer gardens. There’s no way to pass up enjoying a great drink, having delicious food in a stunning setting and experiencing the «gemutlichkeit» which is a word that describes the distinctive characteristics to Germans and German culture. What are your top suggestions for visitors? My favorite day of my life is that I am able to go on the Flossfahrt. Back in time when Munich was being constructed, they made huge wooden rafts along the Isar River to transport all the supplies required to complete the task and supply the population. When the journey, the rafts are then dismantled and lumber was used for the construction of the city. So on this day we take the old route that follows the river from Wolfratshausen up to Munich. Onboard the raft we have 50 people, food, a great German beer and a four-piece band. The event lasts for about eight hours, and is an absolute blast. The raft needs to be removed at the end, and web treasurehunter the wood used to build Munich. And my home town Andechs is famous for having a Benedictine Monastery that contains relics of Christ. Based on only the German Purity Laws for brewing beer (called Reinheitsgebot), Andechs is known most for its beer and amazing views of the surrounding countryside , and even the Swiss and Austrian Alps. How easy is it to travel back to New Zealand? This isn’t a problem because there are many flight alternatives.