23 Oct 1999
Bertchesgaden, Germany

Wow, What a week we just had. We left our Apartment a week ago Saturday and headed for the Bavarian Alps. We had a nice ride down and drove some magnificent roads with great views and the most picturesque towns you have ever seen. I mean these towns look and feel just like you would expect, right from the window boxes brimming with flowers to the snow covered peaks in the distance.

When we arrived at our hotel we were disappointed to find that they did not have the room they promised but they did have a room with no view. We took it for the first two nights but then decided to find a better place. More on that later.

On Sunday we drove to Berchtesgadener National park. This area is remarkable. In the center of the park is a lake that you can take boat rides on. This is more than just an ordinary boat ride. The mountains come right out of the lake and there is nothing on the lake other than your tour boat because the area is restricted. At one point the tour guy goes on deck and plays his trumpet and the echo is so clear and crisp it actually sounds like two people playing the horn. You can get off the boat about half way down the lake and hike up to the ice chapel (it only takes about 45 minutes) a place where the snow never melts.

The next day we decided to find a new hotel before we took off on our first major hike. We found a hotel in a small town that is going to hold a world cup ski event this year and next. So we walked in and in our best German booked the room. When we left we were slapping high fives because not only did we book a room in German we impressed the hell out of the guy when we told him we knew who Hilda Gerg was. (the star skier for the Germans) He informed us she would be staying at his hotel during the world cup event. this impressed us. Now if you are thinking of an American type hotel let me explain. this is a little house with 18 rooms all with balconies facing some of the greatest views on earth. It is also a working farm and the sheep came under our balcony every afternoon and the cows and horses where out every morning. We of course were celebrities being the only Americans and English speaking people in the place.

So with this task out of the way off to discover and hike the Alps with our entire guide book in German. We spent most of the evening before translating and picking a hike and it was a good one. Now as I have explained before no matter how high or remote you get in this country they have found a way to build a hut/ beer garden and this was no different. So although we brought along lunch there was a place to sit and have food and beer served. Now if this sounds like your type of hiking let me remind you that these are not lazy walks but strenuous uphill hikes that get to altitudes where the snow has already fallen.

This is how our week continued with finding hikes to take from our German guide book and then going out and climbing. Coming home finding places to eat and starting over.

Yes, our legs and bodies did get really tired and we took Thursday off to be tourist. We just wandered down the Alpen Road marveled at the views and shopped in the small towns. we ended up in the afternoon, in Salzburg Austria. The border is only about 20 kilometers from our hotel. Here we found a hotel for Saturday night. This was easy lots of English and more the type of hotel that we Americans are use to. We ate dinner in Salzburg and then headed back to our country.

Another great hike on Friday and then checked out on Saturday morning and went back to Salzburg.

Salzburg, Österreich

This is the town the Von Trapps from the Sound of Music were from and much of the film was done here. It is also the birth place of Mozart and everything here has something to do with Mozart. We walked beautiful gardens with literally thousands of rose bushes and toured the castle. In the evening we went to see a string Quartet play the Music of Mozart and Hayden. This was done in a small room and gave you the feeling that it was being presented just for you and about 100 of your friends. It was great and a great mellow way to end a week of mountain climbing.

Sunday we took all backroads home so it took over 5 hours while the trip down only took three hours. This was a nice way to see more of Germany. We passed up the chance to see another of King Ludwig's castles on an Island. (the other one we saw with Brad and Steph is what is refereed to as the Disney castle) just because we were tired out and it is close enough that we can easily go back. Now were back at home and looking forward to our next major trip to Berlin over what you Americans refer to as Thanksgiving. No turkey for us but we expect a good time.

So that is all for now. We will continue to live and learn in this foreign but beautiful land. We appreciate all the updates we get from the states so please keep them coming. Oh and for all of you who have asked they do not show the baseball games here but the Internet has keep me up to date. So I am well aware that the Cubs have won the World Series. Ignorance is bliss!