Walking the Line at the Top of the World

Welcome to Munchen, Mom & Dad! Now, let's leave! With my parents arriving after we had already explored Munich for a few days, our first adventure together actually took us on our first day trip into Bavaria.

Now, my Dad isn't the only person to rave about their love of Bavaria. Our good friends Mike & Amy also speak highly of the region, and Amy has stressed that she has never seen a prettier city than Garmisch in Bavaria. The train ride itself was breathtaking, and our excitement was building as we marveled at the landscape.

From the train station, we made our way to the Zugspitze, the highest peak of the German Alps. The cable car ride to the top was incredible and terrifying. Sandwiched in like sardines, the somewhat rickety door I standing beside was secured with 1-flimsy hook and featured a large open window. The breeze was nice, and the view was nothing short of stunning unless you looked down. There was a small dog on board that was shaking in terror as the cable car climbed to the top. I was only mildly calmer!

Surprisingly, my mom with her claustrophobia seemed issue free. I guess the window worked to her advantage!

As amazing as the view was from the cable car, it didn't hold a candle to the 360-degree sweeping panoramic views at the top. We were giddy with excitement!

Giddiness gave way to insanity when Kelly & I decided to climb to the true summit.

There is a path up the face of the mountain complete with metal stakes to help you ascend to the summit, but the real danger is actually from your fellow inexperienced climbers. Only once in the process of climbing would many realize that maybe they weren't dressed appropriately. Yeah, those cute heeled boots probably weren't the best choice for mountain climbing. Tourists!

The warning signs did little to convince people that they should reconsider.

Just a few steps into our ascent, Kelly & I decided to turn back. There was a massive bottle-neck of climbers that had stalled traffic. They had changed their minds mid-climb and couldn't figure out how to get down. Rather than have our time on the mountain wasted by their indecision, we decided to stay on the proper side of the safety railing. No real loss, the views were the same!

I challenge you to find a biergarten with a better view!

As I already mentioned, the Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany, but that doesn't mean the all the thrills are confined to it. You can actually cross over into Austria at the top! So cool! We were even able to stamp our passports although the weren't required for the crossing.

Standing in this spot with my family, I truly felt like we were on top of the world!

That much excitement helps you build up quite an appetite, and again, I challenge you to find a restaurant with a better view!

By late afternoon, it was time to begin our descent. There's a lower stop on the cable car where you can go sledding. We passed on the experience since they were a little light on the snow in early October. It's good to save some excitement for a return visit.

We decided not to wait for hours in a line to descend on the cable car. Instead, we boarded a trolley. There's no view because you're descending in tunnels burrowed through the mountain, but that doesn't mean it's not a cool experience. The track is so steep, you can stand at a 45 degree angle comfortably. Well, until the trolley jerks to a stop!

We weren't able to truly explore much of the town of Garmisch because it was a national holiday, and everything was closed. Again, just something to lure us back on a future trip.

On the train ride into Garmisch, I couldn't imagine a more beautiful setting.  Well, add the warm glow of an afternoon setting sun, and you've got complete perfection. This was a day that will be etched in my mind forever!

Life on the Inside

With the parents arriving in a few hours, we decided it would be best to revisit Oktoberfest! Might as well get all the mischief out while the parents are blissfully unaware. Ha!

Just kidding! The sun was shining, and we were engulfed in the massive tidal wave of people flowing to the festival grounds. We really had no choice except to ride the wave. We couldn't fight the flow!

By day 3, the jet lag had worn off, and we had been schooled by the locals on Oktoberfest. So, we approached the outing with a true game plan on which tents we'd like to explore. First, the Armbrustschutzen tent known for it's crossbow competition. Really? Drunken patrons with crossbows? I wasn't too disappointed to discover we weren't visiting during a scheduled competition.

Then, there's Hippodrom which is where all the beautiful people go! Kelly promptly declared this was were she was meant to be. Of course! Hippodrom has a club-like feel and is tent that most celebrities flock to.

Each tent has different look as well as vibe. With more time, you'd eventually find one that suited your personality. Every local has their favorite. Your favorite tent for dining might not necessarily be your favorite tent for drinking, and of course, there's lots of smack-talking about the competition. "Don't go there unless you're wearing lederhosen and looking to meet someone in lederhosen!" Gotcha!

Eventually, we followed the advice of multiple locals and made our way to the Hacker-Pschorr tent for lunch and our first liter of beer for the day. All I can say is trust the locals! They will not steer you wrong!

The Winzerer-Fahndl tent is known for it's authentic Bavarian decor and is another spot the celebrities frequent.

The Lowenbrau tent is especially popular with Munich soccer fans. Not surprising when you consider that they are The Lions!

Needing a break from the tents (beer), we decided to ride the ferris wheel for a bird's eye view of the insanity that is Oktoberfest. Wow! What an eye-opening experience! Sure, the view was incredible and from that vantage point you really could see the massive crowd that ebbed & flowed along the midway.  However, the actual process of waiting our turn to board the ferris wheel was what truly stands out in my memory. There were no barricades to shuffle through like you would find here at U.S. theme parks. No, it was an orderly flow of people. People were respectful of when everyone entered the holding area. We recognized who entered before us and after us, and everyone else did the same. There was no pushing or shoving or otherwise rude behavior. Can you imagine?! If rides were set up like that here, I can guarantee you that someone would end up shanked! I love the German mentality. They're all Type-A like me! I found my little utopia on the planet! Ha!

With the dinner hour & the parents' plane approaching, we concluded our Oktoberfest experience. Auf wiedersehen, Oktoberfest! We will be back!!!

Munchen

We arrived in Munich a few days ahead of my parents which gave us a head start on the sightseeing.  Our first stop was Marienplatz, the city's main square, to see the Glockenspiel, the town hall with an animated facade that comes to life several times throughout the day to entertain the crowds below. It's like a elaborate coo coo clock!

This historic district of Munich features beautiful architecture, and it's easy to waste away an entire day shopping. We did our best to stay focused on exploring the city rather than the stores.

We were able to get our shopping fix at the Viktualienmarkt. I love visiting street markets when we travel abroad. The produce is beautifully displayed like works of art in a museum, and the dining options are plentiful. In my opinion, edibles make the best souvenirs and gifts for loved ones back home. It's like bringing home a little piece of the culture.  Gourmet coffees, artisan breads & pastries, chocolates, condiments, and of course wine weigh down my luggage on the route home.

I'm not going to lie. It was hard to leave the market, but eventually, we did pry ourselves away. The grandeur of the Nymphenburg Palace was calling our name. The Nymphenburg Palace could by compared to the Palace of Versailles outside Paris. Both palaces were built as vacation homes for the ruling powers of the period. Life was good as a Royal!

The palace grounds are overwhelming in scale. Truly larger than life! They rent bicycles and golf carts to visitors which improves the likelihood of seeing everything. We weren't that ambitious. We were completely content strolling the meandering paths while admiring the Fall color.

Of course, after all that strolling, a little refreshment break was certainly in order. We toasted to another amazing day!