15 years of orientation tours for JYM! The München bei Nacht tour by Michael Borio, a JYM favorite!
JYM is very lucky to have a knowledgeable and energetic tour guide who has been leading JYM students on tours of the Altstadt for over 15 years! He is the guide for the ever-popular München bei Nacht Tour, which has been on the orientation plan roster for JYM cohort since the class of 2006-07!
What JYMer in the last 15 classes doesn’t remember Michael Borio? The meeting point is always at the Feldherrnhalle on Odeonsplatz between the two lions at dusk. Behind the Feldherrnhalle is the famous duck-back alley (don’t forget to touch the lion’s nose for luck along the way). Michael Borio is a local expert, who knows Munich and Bavaria inside out.
The München bei Nacht tour begins in the Theatinerkirche, positioned opposite the entrance to the Residenz and the Hofgarten in the early evening. Michael is especially known for his interactive tours, where students are given the roles of famous historical figures belonging to Munich’s past. This brings history to life and commands the rapt attention of the student. The tour takes a jaunt past the five-star hotel Bayerischer Hof through the Fünf-Höfe passage, and circles back to Odeonsplatz, crosses to the back of the Hofgarten to the Bayerisches Staatskanzlei and Krieger Denkmal - the Staatsoper and heads over Platzl (in München steht ein Hofbräuhaus!) usually ends in some location in the Glockenbachviertel south of Marienplatz. Michael’s zany and quirky manner is well-loved. He also takes the students past some of the current hot spots or Nachtlokale in Munich’s center and finishes at one in particular.
One part of the tour often includes a stop in the café of Bellevue di Monaco. The café has a menu where the guests can decide what they will pay for a dish based on a given range. If you can pay more, you do – if funds are low, you can pay less. Bellevue has short-term housing and is also an information and assistance point for refugees seeking help and advice in Munich. This place is replete with assistance finding living quarters, language courses, job training, a repair shop for bikes and a cultural program. There is a network of professionals and expert volunteers contributing to the success of this non-profit organization. In addition, there is a café, a theater and an art exhibition hall.
Another popular stop is the Bürgerhaus at the Glockenbachwerkstatt one of Munich’s oldest culture centers run by sponsors and volunteers specifically for Munich’s youth. This is a place with many workshops for handcrafts, bike repair, sports, dance, music and art, with chances to take courses in everything from woodwork to weaving. There's also a kindergarten, a stage that hosts concerts and events and café with an affordable menu for students!
After a tour with Michael Borio, JYM students have a bit more cultural and historical knowledge of the city and know some happening places to go to enjoy Munich’s thriving and alternative nightlife.