End of Summer in Bavarian Alps

We tagged along with Ric when he had to be in Garmisch for a conference. We stayed here, at the Army lodge, a very nice upscale resort, popular during ski season.
A beautiful place, set in the mountains, but a little weird to be overrun with Americans all in one place.

Can't argue with the indoor pool though. Nightly swimming of course.

One day the kids and I hit the nearby town of Ettal, home of the largest monastery in Germany. Here the monks run a brewery and sell beer out of their little gift shop next to the church. Eh, it's a living.
The beer deliver trucks parked outside.


And after touring the church, we headed next door to a cheese factory for a snack of... (wait for it)... cheese! And fresh yogurt and fresh bread and butter. The kids tried out the age-old task of milking a cow from these udders placed under a table. Turns out it's pretty darn hard to squeeze those stinkin' udders just right.

At night we went out for German food. This involves my typical ritual of being hopeful that THIS time I'll like my meal, but mostly just being dashed when it's some bland meat served with potatoes on the side. I'm am COMPLETELY NOT a picky eater. I like everything as long as it tastes good. German food does not taste good. I've actually yet to order something at a German restaurant that I really, actually like. I swear. These people have no taste for good cuisine.

But those Bavarian boys can dance in their Lederhosen! We enjoyed some local dancing this night.

The second day, the kids and I hiked to a nearby lake, the Riesersee (see means lake). A very small, but very picturesque lake just a short walk up the mountain from our lodge. There's another hotel here, you can rent boats, and just hang out swimming and sunning for a day. Food fare= pizza with Salami and hot dogs with sliced bread. Do you see what I'm saying about the food here??!


The boys were brave enough to swim out to this very far dock and hang out. They met a local German boy and we wound up staying for hours while they stared down at the fish, jumped off the dock, and basically just lazed around.

I was hoping that the kids didn't notice the ladies sunning, in complete view of everyone, thonged and topless. I was descrete enough not to snap photos.


It was a great end of summer week. The last time we came down here (see 4th of July) it rained for 4 days straight. Seeing Garmisch-Partinkirchen in the sunshine was a real treat.

Next stop, Back to School.