- Title: Sick of congested roads, German man swims to work
- Date: 10th August 2017
- Summary: VARIOUS OF DAVID PACKING CLOTHES AND LAPTOP INTO WATERPROOF BAG VARIOUS OF DAVID PUTTING ON WETSUITS VARIOUS OF DAVID LEAVING HOME AND HEADING TO ISAR RIVER VARIOUS OF DAVID GETTING INTO WATER VARIOUS OF DAVID SWIMMING ISAR RIVER VARIOUS OF DAVID SWIMMING (SOUNDBITE) (German) [Woman's voice asking how the water is today] "A bit chilly today, but totally refreshing." CHILDREN WAVING FROM SHORE / DAVID SWIMMING VARIOUS OF DAVID CLIMBING TO SHORE (SOUNDBITE) (German) MUNICH COMMUTER, BENJAMIN DAVID, SAYING: "This stretch of the Isar River was used for over 250 years for rafts. So the entire transportation of goods to Italy, Austria and Hungary took place here and at some point I thought of all traffic congestion parallel to the Isar above which annoys me and so I make like a raft and swim." TRAFFIC CROSSING ABOVE ISAR RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (German) MUNICH COMMUTER, BENJAMIN DAVID, SAYING: "I used to go by bike or bus or car or on foot and you need much longer. Today the current is quite strong and I only need about 12 minutes. It is beautifully refreshing and also the fastest way." TRAFFIC CROSSING ABOVE ISAR RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (German) MUNICH COMMUTER, BENJAMIN DAVID, SAYING: "I actually do this mostly in the summer. I'm a bit of a wimp, but you can also do it in winter, I also have a longer neoprene (wetsuit material). The Isar sometimes is only 4 degrees but it's okay then, too." STREET TRAFFIC VARIOUS OF DAVID ARRIVING AT BEER GARDEN WHERE HE WORKS
- Embargoed: 24th August 2017 14:55
- Keywords: commuter Munich swimming congested roads Isar River Benjamin David
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY
- City: MUNICH, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0026TKQNA1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fed-up with the grind of taking a bus or bike to work every day on congested streets in Munich, Benjamin David started swimming there instead.
The burly beer garden worker now packs his laptop and clothes into a waterproof bag which he puts on his back, dons his wetsuit and slides into the River Isar for his journey.
"It is beautifully refreshing and also the fastest way," he told Reuters Television.
"I used to go by bike or bus or car or on foot and you need much longer. Today the current is quite strong and I only need about 12 minutes," he said.
The beer garden where David works is located on the river, known to Munich locals for its sandy beach bar.
The Isar, which flows near the centre of the Bavarian capital, can be cold in winter, with temperatures sometimes dipping to around 4 degrees. But with the right wetsuit, David said it's perfectible doable. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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