June 11th, 2016
This move has given us a lot of time to think. We often have conversations about…
what we value
what we are learning about ourselves
how we are challenged living cross culturally
who we want to be
what we are learning about our boys
what we hope to get out of this experience
how we relax and what stresses us out
and sooo much more!
I don’t think you need to leave your home country to ponder these topics. However, I also don’t think you can move to a different country and culture without spurring some serious introspection. It seems to come with the territory. Some of our perspectives are changing while others are solidifying.
Our time in Bavaria confirmed for us what refuels our batteries…NATURE! We have always enjoyed nature but the combination of travel and the outdoors seems to be the sweet spot for us. We enjoy going on hikes, seeing natural wonders, taking family bike rides or lingering at a park with the boys. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we unexpectedly came across the Michael-Ende-Kurpark (spa-gardens.) It was behind the restaurant we were eating dinner at after going to the Zugspitze. Walking into this oasis in the middle of the downtown area was like slipping through the rabbit hole into another world. Though a flower clock kept the time, we lost sight of it as we wandered around the gardens. S loved the giant, earthen turtle that rose out of the ground for children to climb on.
The boys and I walked the bare-foot path and then soaked our feet in the nearby wading pool to improve our circulation the German way! I had seen some grandparents encouraging their grandson to walk the path. The grandfather had bare feet himself giving me the impression that he had already completed the course.
A gentlemen rode up on his bike as we were approaching the water. He took off his shoes and walked right in. We followed suit, trying not to squeal too loud at the shocking temperature of the Alpine water. Oh baby!
Our second full day, we took a hike through the Parnachklamm Gorge and up into the mountains. The scenery was breath-taking! Mein Mann (Hubby) said he felt like we had just walked into the movie Heidi. Along the way, the boys picked alpine flowers for their Mama (LOVE). We stopped after the Gorge for them to throw rocks in the river while dipping their feet in the shallow end. Then, S kicked a rock down a trail like a soccer ball for the longest time once we had ascended into the mountains. I am learning how these little things help them enjoy the experience too and gives them the opportunity to simply be themselves.
Cue the mountain goats with their bells ringing! Can you see them in the tall grass alongside the river in the photo below? When E saw them, he said, “I drink your milk!”
The Gorge was AMAZING!!!! We paid a minimal fee to walk through this designated, natural monument that is 702 meters (2,303 ft) long and, in places, over 80 meters (260 ft) deep. Foot traffic can move both ways on the narrow path but we were fortunate to go through when the crowds were very manageable.
The trail on the backside of the Gorge forked and we chose to ascend into the mountains with another family in front of us. S slipped at one point and bumped his shin on one of the wooden steps. A kind foreigner who was descending on the trail, knelt down beside him and spoke words of encouragement to him. She told him of the ice cream and lemonade that was awaiting him at the top and he quickly bounced back. Oh, the kindness of strangers!
Before we knew it, we had reached the top of the trail and found ourselves walking through a little village. We stopped for drinks and ice cream and did a little more exploring. Now I know what Maria meant when she sang out, “The hills are alive…” in the Sound of Music!
When we were ready to leave, we rode a cable car back down to the entrance area of the Gorge.
On our way back to our car, we walked through the Olympic Stadium that hosted the Winter Olympic Games back in 1936.
That evening, we walked around Garmisch-Partenkirchen in search of a traditional Bavarian restaurant I had read about. We arrived too early for the music but still enjoyed the food. The meat portions could have filled us for a WEEK!
While we waited for our food, I took the boys into a nearby church. It was the second one we walked through in the town. I enjoy taking the boys into churches; these lovely reminders of the sacred in our midst. As most churches we visit are Catholic, the boys are learning to sign themselves with holy water, genuflect in front of the altar, light candles, and look for the pipe organs they know their PoPo enjoys! Here are pictures from both of the churches we visited over the weekend.
On our way back home Monday morning, we visited King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle. The Disney castle is a replica of this castle dating back to 1869. We booked our tickets online which allowed us to bypass the long line and go directly to the Reserve Window to pick them up. I TOTALLY recommend this!! Our oldest did an amazing job listening to the guide, looking at everything and using his “quiet” voice during the 30 minute tour. I was proud of him. We walked up to the castle and took the horse drawn carriage ride back down…complete with the all necessary pooping session.
Castles and museums can be fun. However, we would rather coax our boys to explore the outdoors than hush them to be constantly quiet or wait in lines. There is value in the balance but the scales definitely lean further towards the outdoors for us. We still enjoy seeing the “sites” but have been surprised how much nature simultaneously thrills and calms our senses. The boys’ are impressing us with their stamina to put miles on their feet and rise to new heights in the most literal sense.
