Up. Way up.

 
I had a great 39th birthday.  From now on, I want to take trips for my birthday instead of getting presents.  It was more fun sharing 4 days with the family than having a gift from them just for me.

Poor DH got sent up to Germany again at the beginning of the week and got back Wednesday just to turn around and drive back up there on Thurday.  Fortunately, getting to the Edelweiss Hotel in Garmisch was only a 3 1/2 hour drive and the scenery along the way was amazing.  The leaves were changing and there was snow on the mountain peaks.

When we made the hotel reservations, I thought it was kind of expensive for a military resort hotel.  (Not that it was that pricey, just that I am cheap.)  It was definitely worth the cost, though.  The rooms were nice, there was a nice big pool and and even nicer outdoor hot tub.  It was a shock to hear everyone there speak English after hearing Italian everywhere for months.

On Friday, we had planned to take a tour of a cheese making place and a monastery brewing thing.  I don't really know, I just picked the tour that didn't start too early.  But that tour was cancelled because not enough people signed up.  I was fine with that, I figured we would sleep in,then bum around Garmisch for a bit, and later take a swim and relax.

But when I was wandering around the lobby after breakfast, I found information sheets for lots of different things to do nearby.  When I saw the one for the Zugspitz, the highest peak in Germany, I thought, "We can't come here and not see that!"  Tickets were sold there at the hotel and thank goodness I didn't know how much it would cost.  When the cashier said, "$150, please." I nearly choked.  DH just shrugged and handed over the credit card.

I'm glad I didn't know about the cost because I doubt I would have spent that just to go up a mountain and look at the view.  Little did I know:

SO worth it.

 
We took a cogwheel train up the mountain.  Cogwheel sounded kind of old and rickety to me, but it was really just like any other train.  We spent a long, long time in a tunnel, most of the 30 minute ride was tunnel, I think.  We got off the train at the ski area, which is where I'm standing in the above photo.  The slopes had just opened that week.  Then there was a short ride up to the summit on a cable car.  I am generally not fond of vehicles that are suspended from wires, but the car was big enough that I didn't notice any swaying or other fear inducing movements.

It was a perfect day to visit the Zugspitz.  Sunny and clear, but not too bitterly cold.  Having lived in Georgia and Texas for the last 5 years, we really do not own proper winter clothing.  My hand knits finally were useful!

Here are the Anatolian Mittens admiring the peaks.  Somewhere in that direction is France. The older I get, the less I like heights, but the Zugspitz did not bother me at all.  The viewing platforms are very large and there is a beer garden and a restaurant up there.  I avoided leaning over the rails, of course.  I did get a bit woozy just watching this guy:

 

We had noticed the thin strap that was set up from the platform to the peak when we arrived, but didn't realize what it was for.  Later, we went to see what the small crowd was looking at and here's this guy walking across barefoot.  He is tethered to the strap, but good grief.

Here's Alex at the top:

 
 
 And Grace:

Next post - the castle.  I'm kind of tired tonight since yesterday we drove 5 hours up to Germany and 5 hours back again.  All in one day and just for yarn.  Oh, but it was Wollmeise yarn.
 

Comments

[hokgardner]

Those views are spectacular!

Happy belated birthday.

[suburbancorrespondent]

I cannot bear to see tightrope walkers - live or in pictures. I can't breathe.

[km]

My whole family had to come look at those photo. What a great birthday! Maybe in the next few years I will overcome my fear of high places and try some place like that for my 39th.

[chris]

OMG!! You are walking in my footsteps. I tried to ski the Zugspitz when I was in Europe in 1986, but having just had a serious car accident 2 months before, I was unsuccessful. Castle? I bet you went to Neuschwanstein! I loved the castle! Now, if you also went to Oberammergau, it will be complete.

[Melissa]

And you know the WM store post is what I am dying to read. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!