Cities, like cats, will reveal themselves at night.

 – Rupert Brooke

Last night, I was at a Christmas party with the team at work – after excellent food (that’s another story) and more than a few beers with really great company, it was time to return home. It wasn’t really that cold – about 6°C, if the weather update on my phone’s to be trusted – and after all stuffing myself with some amazing Greek food, I thought I was ready for a bit of a walk. Given my proclivity for night time strolls through cities, it seemed rather tempting and, maybe because of all the alcohol inside me, I was feeling rather carefree… you know the “screw-the-sleep”, late night “I-got-so-much-time” kind of carefree… So, I started and, of course, the phone (with its camera) wasn’t left idle. Going by the comments, it seems I knew exactly what I was doing … but I admit that I looked up some of the things today – including which route I really took and what is it that I was taking pictures of.

Now this is not an exhibition of photography skills – the photo quality is questionable, at best, and taken with a phone with not the best camera. This is more about how coming back home can happen in a most unexpected manner…one of those stories I’d rather not lose to my bad memory…

Started walking from Briennerstr – close to the Odeonsplatz metro stop and Cafe Luitpold – after walking one of the colleagues to the metro stop. (Dec. 12, 2014/ 02:10)

In my state the decorated lamp-posts gave the illusion of a host of fireflies having a bit of a party themselves – I’m laughing about it now. (Dec. 12, 2014/ 02:11)

Passed along the Maximiliansplatz and then turned off in to the Prannerstrasse – passed by this bright angel seemingly hovering in the darkness (Dec. 12, 2014/02:41)

At this point, I think I was losing my way… I landed on the Promenadeplatz. I didn’t know this gentleman, but took a snap for the coolness factor – but then with more than a few beers inside me, I thought everything seemed cool enough to be pictured. I took a picture of the plaque at his feet to remember his name atleast – it is Maximilian Joseph, Count of Montgelas. Check the link out below if you want to know more. (Dec. 12, 2014/02:46)

Taking a break from taking pictures, I finally used my smartphone to check where I was, re-orient myself and soon found myself back on track – in this case, a bit literally – on the Maffeistrasse, methinks (Dec. 12, 2014/02:49)

Down the Maffeistrasse, then right on the Weinstrasse and lo! I was in familiar territory – Marienplatz with its Mariensaüle. The Christmas market only a shadow of all the partying that must have happened earlier in the evening. (Dec. 12, 2014/02:57)

At the four corners of the Mariensaüle, there are four “putti” (sing. “putto”) – each fighting a different beast – each symbolizing a different adversity this city has faced. This one is fighting a lion – symbolizing war. (Source: Wikipedia) (Dec. 12, 2014/02:59)

This putto is fighting a dragon symbolizing famine – though I don’t how a dragon symbolizes famine – unless you are Smaug burning everything around you. Its always fascinating how the same creature can symbolize two extremes in different cultures…I am sure the East Asians would disagree with this symbolism. (Dec. 12, 2014/03:00)

And this putto here is busy overcoming pestilence symbolized by a rooster. Though not included in the photo series, the fourth putto is determined to wipe out heresy symbolized by a serpent – again talking about symbolism in different cultures. (Dec. 12, 2014/03:01)

Never thought drawing a bicycle could be so easy and the sign is kinda hard to miss – I think München is more cyclist-friendly… (Dec. 12, 2014/03:02)

… with bicycles parked all over the town to prove it. If you’ve kept track of the timestamp on the photos – I was wandering for about 54 minutes till this photo was taken. (Dec. 12, 2014/03:04)

Suddenly aware of time, I consulted my phone again for directions and set off towards home… thought about taking a taxi, but it just seemed like such a pleasant walk through the silent city. I find cities at night irresistibly intriguing, mysterious – even tempting in a way. Como, Lisbon, Paris, Jerusalem, Frankfurt, Munich … a midnight (or post-midnight) saunter never felt like a waste of time. Reaching Isartor I was distracted enough to start taking pictures again. (Dec. 12, 2014/03:14)

Crossed the Isar over the Zweibrücken near Deutsches Museum. The picture came out so bad, but I thought I’d try to rescue it by turning it in to a B&W photo and adding some effects. I actually spent 5 minutes looking at the flickering reflections and the “water passing under the bridge”, in the manner of speaking. (Dec. 12, 2014/03:26)

Finally close to home – after 90 minutes of carefree wandering in this beautiful city. All that remains to be said – merry Christmas to y’all! (Dec. 12, 2014/03:32)