Winter Wonderland November 2, 2006
As I was coming out of the shower this morning Holly’s unexpected expletive had me standing beside her looking at the window at a world white with snow. The flakes were still coming down fast but a sense of urgency took over and we hurriedly got dressed and went down for breakfast. As we sat by the picture window at breakfast Holly kept bemoaning the fact that she couldn’t believe it had snowed and was still snowing. As much as she protested I believe the little girl inside was trying to get out.
After breakfast, with skies now clearing, we walked down the path and across the foot bridge over the RR tracks and caught the bus to Konigsee. Konigsee is a lake formed by glaciers during the ice ages and at approximately 2000’ in elevation it is Germany’s highest lake. Steep mountain walls rim the lake making it one of the most scenic we have seen. It is a misplaced fjord isolated by the Alps from the sea. The German government takes stringent steps to keep the lake as pure as possible. All sewerage from lakeside development is piped under the lake to a treatment plant and the only power boats allowed on the lake have electric motors. They have done an excellent job as the lake is pristine and with a layer of snow, blue skies and the now shining sun, it was breathtaking.
We boarded one of the electric tour boats along with 100 or so other wide eyed tourist. The boat is covered and both sides have tall widows designed to give the passenger a top to bottom view of the lake and surrounding mountains. Ten minutes or so away from the dock the boat stopped and our German speaking guide, we seemed to be the only English speaking people on the boat, began to elaborate humorously as all the other passengers began to laugh. He then pulled out a fugel horn and began to play a staccato tune, pausing long enough between phrases to allow the echo to return. At the conclusion we all cheered and contributed to the passed hat. The boat continued on past one stunning view after another until we reached the furthest most point which is the Pilgrimage Church of St Bartholoma. The church was originally built in 1134 and was renovated in the late 17th and early 18th century to its current Baroque style. It is the destination of a pilgrimage that starts in Maria Alm, Austria, and which crosses Steinernes Meer. Its setting on the lakeshore and among the snow clad trees and mountains was unforgettable. We left the boat and walked the area surrounding the church taking pictures and enjoying the fall / winter day. The trees still held a lot of colorful leaves made even more vivid by the white frosting.
We caught the next boat back to the dock, found the bus to Berchtesgaden and found a local café to have lunch. Holly had ordered a bowl of lentil soup which had slices of sausage and it came in a bowl that looked as it was designed to feed four people. I helped her with it and it was the best thing I have eaten in a while. My grilled sausage and sour kraut, while very good, paled in comparison. I’m beginning to believe that Holly has a sixth sense about what to order on a menu as she continues to come up with winners to my also-rans. We wandered around town looking for toothepaste, a post office, replacement sun glasses for me, (I had lost mine a couple of days before) and an internet café as the hotel does not offer a connection. This is why all of you hungrily waiting the next installments of the DEWE have been disappointed. We hope to be back on line at our next hotel.
Back at the hotel we are again packing and getting ready to leave in the morning. With the trains not running through Berchtesgaden until November 14 we will take a 6:55 AM bus to Saltzburg where we can catch a train to Zurich and our ultimate destination of Bern, Switzerland.
Note: Late in the evening as we were packing, Holly again let out an expletive as she looked out the window. It was snowing again, and this time it meant business. When I drifted off to sleep around 11 PM flakes the size of marbles were still falling. The walk down the hill to the train / bus station tomorrow morning should be fun.
After breakfast, with skies now clearing, we walked down the path and across the foot bridge over the RR tracks and caught the bus to Konigsee. Konigsee is a lake formed by glaciers during the ice ages and at approximately 2000’ in elevation it is Germany’s highest lake. Steep mountain walls rim the lake making it one of the most scenic we have seen. It is a misplaced fjord isolated by the Alps from the sea. The German government takes stringent steps to keep the lake as pure as possible. All sewerage from lakeside development is piped under the lake to a treatment plant and the only power boats allowed on the lake have electric motors. They have done an excellent job as the lake is pristine and with a layer of snow, blue skies and the now shining sun, it was breathtaking.
We boarded one of the electric tour boats along with 100 or so other wide eyed tourist. The boat is covered and both sides have tall widows designed to give the passenger a top to bottom view of the lake and surrounding mountains. Ten minutes or so away from the dock the boat stopped and our German speaking guide, we seemed to be the only English speaking people on the boat, began to elaborate humorously as all the other passengers began to laugh. He then pulled out a fugel horn and began to play a staccato tune, pausing long enough between phrases to allow the echo to return. At the conclusion we all cheered and contributed to the passed hat. The boat continued on past one stunning view after another until we reached the furthest most point which is the Pilgrimage Church of St Bartholoma. The church was originally built in 1134 and was renovated in the late 17th and early 18th century to its current Baroque style. It is the destination of a pilgrimage that starts in Maria Alm, Austria, and which crosses Steinernes Meer. Its setting on the lakeshore and among the snow clad trees and mountains was unforgettable. We left the boat and walked the area surrounding the church taking pictures and enjoying the fall / winter day. The trees still held a lot of colorful leaves made even more vivid by the white frosting.
We caught the next boat back to the dock, found the bus to Berchtesgaden and found a local café to have lunch. Holly had ordered a bowl of lentil soup which had slices of sausage and it came in a bowl that looked as it was designed to feed four people. I helped her with it and it was the best thing I have eaten in a while. My grilled sausage and sour kraut, while very good, paled in comparison. I’m beginning to believe that Holly has a sixth sense about what to order on a menu as she continues to come up with winners to my also-rans. We wandered around town looking for toothepaste, a post office, replacement sun glasses for me, (I had lost mine a couple of days before) and an internet café as the hotel does not offer a connection. This is why all of you hungrily waiting the next installments of the DEWE have been disappointed. We hope to be back on line at our next hotel.
Back at the hotel we are again packing and getting ready to leave in the morning. With the trains not running through Berchtesgaden until November 14 we will take a 6:55 AM bus to Saltzburg where we can catch a train to Zurich and our ultimate destination of Bern, Switzerland.
Note: Late in the evening as we were packing, Holly again let out an expletive as she looked out the window. It was snowing again, and this time it meant business. When I drifted off to sleep around 11 PM flakes the size of marbles were still falling. The walk down the hill to the train / bus station tomorrow morning should be fun.
posted by Gary and Holly Davis @ 12:29 PM
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