4 June 2016
Gargamel-PatentKitchen
Taking the train from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Now I am in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, this will be the last time I spell that correctly, and I still cant pronounce it properly because the train announcer and various others I have heard say it today all say it differently.
It is two towns that were merged by Hitler to make a region big enough to host the 1936 Winter Olympics. This is actually true, look it up.
This is also true -
'The valley floor was swampy and difficult to farm. Bears, wolves and lynxes were a constant threat to livestock. The population suffered from periodic epidemics, including several serious outbreaks of bubonic plague. Adverse fortunes from disease and crop failure occasionally led to a witch hunt. Most notable of these were the trials and executions of 1589 - 1596, in which 63 people - more than 10 percent of the population at the time - were burned at the stake or garroted.'
I am here to climb the highest mountain in Germany tomorrow, possibly, weather permitting and depending on if the route to the top is actually open, opinions differ in the tourist information office.
Before leaving Munich (I will be back for another 1.5 days at the end of next week) I did a lap of the town area. It was very busy on Saturday morning setting up for the days fairs, despite the threat of rain.
Here is one last clocktower.
This is a hidden street full of currently closed cafes with a lot of flowers, for people who like flowers.
White asparagus is the thing at this time of year. I am yet to try, but would like to. My understanding is it is grown in the dark?
Also popular, many kinds of olives, but I doubt these are grown in Germany.
More likely grown in Germany are all these mushrooms. I would be afraid to eat them though. Who knows if the person selling them knows which are good and which are deadly. It does happen, Woolworths in Australia killed someone a few years ago!
Beer is delivered by horses here, it adds to its delicious smooth horsey flavour.
This large advertising sign of a half naked Italian girl was erected yesterday, so to celebrate all the Germans have dressed in their finest knickerbockers with embellishments of ribbons and bells to pay tribute.
I decided that to survive the 1.5 hour train ride I needed to build up my strength with a cinnnamon scroll covered in icing and nuts.
My train. This kind of bullet train only goes to Gardenia-Parentkinder on the weekend. It is totally pointless though as most of the way I could jog faster.
Also apart from 2 people dying of tuberculosis I had a whole carriage to myself. Glad I didnt pay extra to reserve a seat.
The inside of the train is quite luxurious, comparable to China or Taiwan, better than England and Japan, presumably because its a newer system.
I stood at the bar most of the way, observing the staff who were all gay men with funny little moustaches sharing a bag of gummy bears. There were more staff than passengers.
This is my hotel. It looks like I expected in this town where everything is a hotel. The resident population is 20,000 but generally there are more than 50,000 people staying here on weekends.
I was a bit early to check in so set off on a walk, in the rain. This is a tiny hill, it is not Zugspitze.... not by a long shot.
I believe this is the cog railway. All going well tomorrow afternoon it will be part of my journey down, although I plan to take the cable car most of the way as the cog railway stays inside the mountain!!! where there is no view just a cave. Also it takes 2 hours instead of 10 minutes.
I now realise this is the same hill as 2 pictures previously, please ignore and move on.
The main area of the two towns is like 200 Hahndorfs combined (Adelaide people will know what this is), it is also a closed off pedestrian area.
One of many town squares...thats still not the mountain.
If I cant climb tomorrow, I can play a sad round of abandoned mini golf.
German supermarkets are terrible. This is not Aldi although it looks exactly the same, this is Lidl. The other brand is Mueller, which is also like this. There is no 'nice' supermarket.
The real mountain is back there in the cloud somewhere, if I get to climb I will loop around the back which is apparently not technical in any way, just very far (22km). There are huts along the way and a few cable cars at different points, options for me if the snow is too deep.
This is my tiny room. I had luxury in Munich for a week that cost an absolute fortune due to the conference / exhibition I was attending, this room is 1/8 the price, but for me, I am just as happy, the internet is very fast, the shower works.
I also get a view, again, not THE mountain.