Happy New Year's Eve from Munich.
There are only two things you need to know about this city. Everyone drives a BMW and everyone speaks German. I thought the last one wouldn't be a problem for me since I had taken 168 classes with Professor Hans Georg Schultz at the Robert E. Hogan University in Hammelburg. But as it turned out, pronouncing English words with a German accent doesn't cut it.
Anyway, at BMWland, which is 30 minutes by free train there are four worlds: BMW Welt (entry is free), which is a huge new car showroom without the balloons, BBQs and in-your-face sales; the BMW Museum; the BMW factory; and the BMW head office.
In fact, apart from the BMW shop and Bobby Brauer's two Michelin starred French restaurant on the first floor it's hard to find anyone in the Welt to talk to you about any of the Beemers, Minis, Rollers or motorbikes on display.
Look, in the whole of BMWland there's not much hands-on excitement except for BMW On Demand in BMW Welt. Just show your licence, pay $300 and drive any machine you like.
If you are a real car person or own a Beemer and wondered what all the fuss is about, then this is floors and floors of bliss. Up till tomorrow, it's BMW's 100th birthday, so group boss Harry Kruger and his team picked 100 engineering masterpieces for you not to miss.