travelingidahogirl

Garmisch

We just returned from a four-day weekend trip to Germany. We stayed in Garmisch, situated right next to Zugspitz, Germany's tallest mountain. To say the place is beautiful understates the expansive feeling it gives. I'm afraid that my time here in Europe will tax my vocabulary. Venice is beautiful. Lake Garda is beautiful. Garmisch is beautiful. Well, duh.

Anyway, it was superb to be in the mountains, and we were really in the mountains. Fortunately, we had fall weather and the snow was limited to the highest peaks. Our days were sunny, around 65 degrees, and our mornings and evenings provided the chilled air that made wearing sweaters a treat. And the leaves were, I suspect, near peak color.

The drive was lovely, mostly through a valley filled with castles. We drove through Austria, right by Innsbruck, before leaving the Autostrada to climb a mountain highway into Germany. Right before Innsbruck is a McDonald's right off the Autostrada, which must have the most spectacular view of any golden arches around. The trip takes about 4 and half hours.

Friday evening we ate at a German restaurant. I should mention that we took this trip at the urging of our neighbors. Two of the five families in our courtyard will be heading back to the States soon, and this was a farewell celebration. Six different families made the trip to Garmisch, so it was a lot of fun. At this restaurant, there were eight adults and five kids (ranging in age from 20 months to 7 years). If this group had tried to have dinner at an Italian restaurant, it would have been a night of a 1000 dirty looks. Starting with this dinner, I could just feel the difference in German and Italian attitudes toward Americans. The Germans in the restaurant seemed to love us, especially when our kids danced to the accordian music.

Saturday was our favorite day of the trip. We rented bikes and took a 30 minute ride along the mountains to the start of the trail for Partnach Gorge. The hike was a mostly flat, skinny route along a fantastic gorge before opening up to more trails into the mountains. Some of the dropoffs along the way were pretty steep, and so T was a little nervous on the way up--I carried him. But on the way back, he was ready to go without me and we had his lighted sneakers to follow through the dark tunnels. By the time we reached our bikes, he was ready for a nap and fell asleep quickly in the seat. Hubby & I then took turns watching him while the other rode a super slide--it was like a bobsled half-pipe, with the flat seat that sat inside it. We had control of the brakes--I didn't have the guts to see how fast it went without them.

We spent Sunday wondering through town, but unfortunately, most places were closed. We got hubby's flannel green hat before driving back on Monday. We definitely want to go again.

posted by travelingidahogirl @ 8:25 PM