We had an abnormally relaxed day as our only event didn’t start until 1:30. So we used our free time to go to the Schaezlerpalais. Interestingly enough there were two different weddings surrounding the museum outside. The energy outside as we walked into the museum was so jolly as everyone was celebrating together. The palace was jaw-dropping from inside out. The outside was a courtyard and inside had a great selection of art pieces along with the  Rococo ballroom. The art in this ballroom reminded me of the art we saw in the Pilgrimage Church of Wies yesterday due its elegant and detailed interior.

I took special note of this goat painting from the German Baroque Gallery. Throughout the museum, I noticed that livestock and farm animals appeared frequently in paintings and were often used to symbolize different values, I took a moment to appreciate nature, especially goats. Given the fact that 2027 will be the Chinese Lunar Year of the Goat, I’m gearing up to center goats in my daily life. In the painting, the central goat stands confidently in the light surrounded by darkness, creating a striking contrast. Whether or not the artist intended it, I interpreted the painting as representing resilience, strength, and perseverance. As a horse-enthusiast, I think livestock animals are severely underappreciated in most places, except for this art gallery. I appreciated seeing them depicted as meaningful subjects rather than simply background elements.

Once I finished appreciating farm animals, we left the museum and headed to the University of Augsburg campus for a presentation from Will of Bloomberg. His presentation focused on current trends in the global automotive market and provided valuable context for the company visits we had experienced throughout the week. One of the most interesting topics was the ongoing challenge many traditional automakers face as they transition toward electric vehicles. While demand for EVs has not grown as quickly as some companies expected, he explained that many manufacturers continue investing heavily in electrification because they view it as a long-term industry shift rather than a short-term trend. The presentation helped connect many of the concepts we had observed at BMW, Audi, and KUKA, giving me a better understanding of the economic forces influencing strategic decisions across the automotive industry.

We ended the day we getting dinner at Picnic where I got a salmon poke bowl. As I write this blog, I’m still thinking about how good the food was. This was one of my favorite meals I’ve had during our week here so far and I look forward to coming back again. I’m also excited to continue trying new restaurants and exploring Augsburg in general.