Faithful readers, as many of you who peruse these pages already know, the closest town to Owl Farm -- our recreational property in the North Cascades of Washington State -- is Leavenworth, a Bavarian-themed tourist attraction. As a result, I have been intrigued by the prospect of exploring the real Bavarian Alps for some time.
Well, now I get my chance: I've booked passage on June 13 to Munich (above), where I will meet my daughter Gina, who will be completing a one-year stint teaching English in Poland. In addition to visiting the many "biergartens" of Munich, the plan is to explore the Bavarian Alps and catch many of the spectacular sights, including the Berchtesgaden and Gamisch-Partenkirchen, where the views of the Zugspitze -- Germany's highest peak -- are breathtaking.
Wedged into Austria, the Berchtesgaden is a compellingly gorgeous corner of Bavaria. Local legend has it that angels -- given the task of distributing the Earth's wonders -- were startled by God's order to get a move on and dropped them all here. The area features he Eagle's Nest, a lodge built for Adolf Hitler, the notorious German dictator (who was actually Austrian), for his 50th birthday.
Garmish-Partenkirchen is a beloved hangout for outdoor enthusiasts and the weathy bourgeoisie. Forming a stunningly beautiful natural divide alone the Austrian border, these mountains rise from the foothills so abruptly that the impact is all the more dramatic.
The rest of the time will likely be spent exploring Munich, the capital of Bavaria and -- who knows -- maybe we take a quick trip to Italy while we're in the neighborhood (it's only 289 miles, or about the distance from Eugene to Seattle). Benedictine monks, drawn by fertile farmlands and proximity to Catholic Italy, settled in Munich (below). The city derives its name from the medieval "Munichen," or monks.
Perhaps we will be obliged to visit my newfound friends in the land of my forebears: Genoa, the heart of the Italian Riviera.
No comments:
Post a Comment