Great Weekend
We just had a great weekend spent with family. We are so happy Matt, Michele, and their three kids are here. Friday was a gorgeous sunny day, a perfect day to go to Wankbahn Talstation and ride the gondola up to the observation area. While not the highest area, this observation spot is ideal for those who are not trekkers because it is flat and provides spectacular vistas of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the valley below and the Alps towering above. It's a very peaceful tranquil spot where a person can feel one with the natural beauty that envelops you. We spent over three hours there just being. It was wonderful and should not be missed if you come to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. That night we had a light meal and joined the Conleys for a stroll to the gelato shop and a park. Since we are in the higher northern latitudes, it does not get dark until close to 10 pm. We are loving the long days of late Spring.
Saturday was another custom made day for being out and about with temperatures getting up to the high 70's. We kept the day open for ourselves until 4:00 when we planned to meet the Conleys in the Partenkirchen pedestrian zone where there was a festival of the fountains scheduled. I walked up to the pedestrian zone with my iPhone to take some pictures. This area is a photographer's delight with Bavarian style buildings that have paintings on them, many of them religious in nature. Bavaria is about 90% Catholic so there is a good chance any church you see is a Catholic church and that paintings on buildings may have a religious theme. It's at times like this I wish I were a photographer. The Partenkirchen pedestrian zone is cobblestone paved, has stores and restaurants, and exudes charm. It is a great people watching place. When I returned, Dianne and I strolled up Ludwigstrasse and had a very pleasant lunch outdoors. The pace of life being what it is here, once you are seated and have ordered your food you are the guest of the proprietor and can linger; and Saturday was the perfect day for lingering. By 4:00 we were back in the pedestrian zone for the fest and were joined by the Conleys. There was music, food, and people in abundance. The setting did not seem ideal for children aged 5, 4, and 2 so we thought we'd go to the next town over for their Saturday night traditional music and dancing. Dianne and I walked back to our apartment but received a text from Michele informing us the music and dancing had been cancelled, so we opted to call it a day and arranged to meet them for church on Sunday.
(It is now Tuesday morning in Bavaria)
Sunday dawned grey and overcast with a promise of rain in the forecast. We drove over to St. Martin church by the Garmisch pedestrian area for the 11:00 Mass. Parking is problematic at best around the Garmisch pedestrian zone, so I drove past the church, turned right, and saw that parking was available either left or right so I went right and down a quite narrow ramp to underground parking. It was pitch black and I was thinking I would need to use my cellphone flashlight to find our way out once we parked. Fortunately, the lights in the garage were motion activated so a potential calamity was avoided. Mass was in German of course. There was a choir that harmonized beautifully. Typical of European churches, there was a lot of gold leaf, marble, and ceiling frescos. I felt rather proud of myself for actually understanding a bit of the homily as follows: the prophet Ezekiel, the Babylonian exile, and Jesus Christ. Michelle's parents Jerry and Barb returned from a side trip to Austria and joined us. After Mass we strolled through the pedestrian zone to a restaurant where we feasted on pastries. Germany is not a good place to come if you want to lose weight as there are sweet delicacies wherever you go. The Garmisch pedestrian zone is different from the Partenkirchen zone in that there are high end stores here as well as a casino. Since it was Sunday, the stores were closed, reminding me of how downtown San Francisco was when I was a kid. Michael Ende, the author of "Never Ending Story" is from here and there is a park dedicated to his book nearby. We strolled there after our treats and then went back to our apartment. We joined up again for dinner and our timing could not have been better as the forecast rain made its appearance at about 7:45 just as we were finishing.
Monday was Caellum's 6th birthday and so we all celebrated with a grand party in his honor with presents, pizza, pasta, cake, and ice cream. Caellum was in his element and got some hot wheels, Star Wars, and other cool little boy toys. Michele and Matt put on a great party and we all had fun. Jerry and Barb fly home today so we bid them farewell as they were driving to a hotel by the Munich Airport to spend the night. Fulfilled after a day of celebration, we returned to our apartment and retired by 9:45. Another wonderful day.
Saturday was another custom made day for being out and about with temperatures getting up to the high 70's. We kept the day open for ourselves until 4:00 when we planned to meet the Conleys in the Partenkirchen pedestrian zone where there was a festival of the fountains scheduled. I walked up to the pedestrian zone with my iPhone to take some pictures. This area is a photographer's delight with Bavarian style buildings that have paintings on them, many of them religious in nature. Bavaria is about 90% Catholic so there is a good chance any church you see is a Catholic church and that paintings on buildings may have a religious theme. It's at times like this I wish I were a photographer. The Partenkirchen pedestrian zone is cobblestone paved, has stores and restaurants, and exudes charm. It is a great people watching place. When I returned, Dianne and I strolled up Ludwigstrasse and had a very pleasant lunch outdoors. The pace of life being what it is here, once you are seated and have ordered your food you are the guest of the proprietor and can linger; and Saturday was the perfect day for lingering. By 4:00 we were back in the pedestrian zone for the fest and were joined by the Conleys. There was music, food, and people in abundance. The setting did not seem ideal for children aged 5, 4, and 2 so we thought we'd go to the next town over for their Saturday night traditional music and dancing. Dianne and I walked back to our apartment but received a text from Michele informing us the music and dancing had been cancelled, so we opted to call it a day and arranged to meet them for church on Sunday.
(It is now Tuesday morning in Bavaria)
Sunday dawned grey and overcast with a promise of rain in the forecast. We drove over to St. Martin church by the Garmisch pedestrian area for the 11:00 Mass. Parking is problematic at best around the Garmisch pedestrian zone, so I drove past the church, turned right, and saw that parking was available either left or right so I went right and down a quite narrow ramp to underground parking. It was pitch black and I was thinking I would need to use my cellphone flashlight to find our way out once we parked. Fortunately, the lights in the garage were motion activated so a potential calamity was avoided. Mass was in German of course. There was a choir that harmonized beautifully. Typical of European churches, there was a lot of gold leaf, marble, and ceiling frescos. I felt rather proud of myself for actually understanding a bit of the homily as follows: the prophet Ezekiel, the Babylonian exile, and Jesus Christ. Michelle's parents Jerry and Barb returned from a side trip to Austria and joined us. After Mass we strolled through the pedestrian zone to a restaurant where we feasted on pastries. Germany is not a good place to come if you want to lose weight as there are sweet delicacies wherever you go. The Garmisch pedestrian zone is different from the Partenkirchen zone in that there are high end stores here as well as a casino. Since it was Sunday, the stores were closed, reminding me of how downtown San Francisco was when I was a kid. Michael Ende, the author of "Never Ending Story" is from here and there is a park dedicated to his book nearby. We strolled there after our treats and then went back to our apartment. We joined up again for dinner and our timing could not have been better as the forecast rain made its appearance at about 7:45 just as we were finishing.
Monday was Caellum's 6th birthday and so we all celebrated with a grand party in his honor with presents, pizza, pasta, cake, and ice cream. Caellum was in his element and got some hot wheels, Star Wars, and other cool little boy toys. Michele and Matt put on a great party and we all had fun. Jerry and Barb fly home today so we bid them farewell as they were driving to a hotel by the Munich Airport to spend the night. Fulfilled after a day of celebration, we returned to our apartment and retired by 9:45. Another wonderful day.
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