Altes Kaufhaus

This amazing example of Rennaissance architecture catches the eye and just won't let go. In the Middle Ages, it served as a meeting place and central trading post for merchants. Now it houses a theater where performances of plays and music may be seen. On the front are reproductions of original statues of important monarchs. I unfortunately never had the chance to see a performance of any kind in this building. So I guess I'll just have to go back someday. Out in front of the Kaufhaus there were always tables full of books for sale on market days. I never bought a book there even though I can rarely resist the temptation to buy a book whenever the opportunity presents itself. We had to think about packing up all our stuff and taking it back on an airplane. More books I didn't need. But still I'm amazed that I didn't buy even one. I think I have a rare and mostly harmless psychological disease called bibliophilia. It's mostly harmless in that I have a constant urge inside me to buy books. Even books I won't read. I just love books. It can become harmful if in the later stages no action is taken to shore up the foundations of the bibliophile's house. With so many books in the house, it might collapse at any time.

Kornhaus

In this aerial view, you see the old granary of the city where food was stored against the possiblity of famine or should the city ever be sieged. The Kornhaus is across the square and on the other side of the Münster from the altes Kaufhaus. It houses a toy museum now but most importantly there is an Irish pub in the basement. It's one of those loud pubs where neither the beer nor the food is really that great but you can have a great time if you put your mind to it. There was a much better Irish pub over underneath Augustinerplatz. It had great atmosphere and though it was just as loud as the other one, it sometimes had decent live music. Mostly I'm just blathering on here so that it looks like I've written something. I don't imagine many people will have read this far into a boring description of some old building on another continent. And who could blame you? But I have to say that the Kornhaus sure was easy to identify. It says it right on the front! Are you ready for another blindingly obvious and meaningless observation? The Kornhaus is certainly part of the group of buildings around the Münsterplatz. I hope you've enjoyed reading this. Back to the Virtual Scrapbook.

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