Garmische-Partenkirchen
Today, in reaction to the three-hour downhill trek of yesterday, we decided to plan at trip which would make both of us happy. We would hike in a direct line from one of the side streets next to the hotel to Riersee Lake (actually “see” is lake) on Rierseestrasse, walk up a short, steep portion of the ascent to the lake, and walk around the lake (small by Eibsee standards) which was about an hour-long hike. Then Mark would begin his more difficult hike while I walked back to the hotel. The lake is beautiful, sitting in the middle of surrounding mountains, and one can enjoy the scene from a café with outside tables and shade umbrellas facing the lake. After Mark ordered a piece of chocolate cake and coffee (his early lunch) and me a cup of peppermint tea, he headed up the mountain. I sat a bit longer and read for awhile before I headed home to relax. After his hike, Mark will swim in Riersee at a 5 euro beach; we saw many swimmers in the lake before we left. Mark is only hoping that it won’t be too cold!
After writing this blog which will probably be my last one until we are home, I will search for boxes for mailing things home, and at 4, I am taking Mark to the best bakery in town (see the street fair blog) for a mid-afternoon snack and shopping on the Ludwigstrasse. Tonight we will return to Husar, our favorite dinner place so far, for our last dinner in Garmische.
Last night we had moussaka, lamb shank, and the biggest piece of baklava we have ever seen (of course we split it and didn’t even finish it) at the Acropolis Restaurant in Garmische. Because we were both so tired, we drove, though we could easily have walked. We sat outside on their back porch, looking up at the Alpspitze Peaks as the sun reflected against their solid rock, changing them from yellow to pink to grey as it set and the quarter moon began to rise in the night sky.
Tomorrow, July 16, we fly to Berlin for our last two days in Germany, and leave behind the Bavarian Alps and the town of Gramische-Partenkirchen. Mark chose this town based on its size and the Hotel Staudacher based on what we saw on the Internet of its rooms and facilities and for its located in the center of Garmische. The hotel staff has made us feel at home during our twelve days here, translating for us, letting us use the Internet, and selling lift tickets among many other kindnesses.
As we leave this town, we reflect on the irony of Mark’s choice of Gramische-Partenkirchen, since he had no idea when he first made the arrangements that it was the birthplace of his great-grandmother on his mother’s side, and that a picture of her house in Garmische hangs in Fred and Frances’ house in Oregon. If we spoke or understood more written German, we might be able to use the library or talk to the historical society to find out more about the family and time period. Now we feel an even closer attachment to the town and would easily return here when we got the chance.
After writing this blog which will probably be my last one until we are home, I will search for boxes for mailing things home, and at 4, I am taking Mark to the best bakery in town (see the street fair blog) for a mid-afternoon snack and shopping on the Ludwigstrasse. Tonight we will return to Husar, our favorite dinner place so far, for our last dinner in Garmische.
Last night we had moussaka, lamb shank, and the biggest piece of baklava we have ever seen (of course we split it and didn’t even finish it) at the Acropolis Restaurant in Garmische. Because we were both so tired, we drove, though we could easily have walked. We sat outside on their back porch, looking up at the Alpspitze Peaks as the sun reflected against their solid rock, changing them from yellow to pink to grey as it set and the quarter moon began to rise in the night sky.
Tomorrow, July 16, we fly to Berlin for our last two days in Germany, and leave behind the Bavarian Alps and the town of Gramische-Partenkirchen. Mark chose this town based on its size and the Hotel Staudacher based on what we saw on the Internet of its rooms and facilities and for its located in the center of Garmische. The hotel staff has made us feel at home during our twelve days here, translating for us, letting us use the Internet, and selling lift tickets among many other kindnesses.
As we leave this town, we reflect on the irony of Mark’s choice of Gramische-Partenkirchen, since he had no idea when he first made the arrangements that it was the birthplace of his great-grandmother on his mother’s side, and that a picture of her house in Garmische hangs in Fred and Frances’ house in Oregon. If we spoke or understood more written German, we might be able to use the library or talk to the historical society to find out more about the family and time period. Now we feel an even closer attachment to the town and would easily return here when we got the chance.
posted by Kathy Sohn | 9:32 AM
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