Gabi, the person that rented us the apartments, was a treasure of information. A retired school teacher from Munich knew that we Americans needed a lot of help; she was a pleasure to talk to and provide plenty of tips for visiting the area. We discussed her life in the German Post-War years. Meeting her and discussing different issues in German and American Society was an experience like no other. To me, this is what traveling is about. Seeing how people live their lives in all parts of the world. In the house where the 2 apartments were, she and her husband lived on the ground floor. Like most German houses, they are big enough to accommodate 3 or 4 families, all with separate living spaces.
After traveling and sightseeing for almost a week, the weather turned on us, but just in time, we all need a break. So the first day in Hinterstein was a rest day and a day to settle into the apartments. Terri and I went to Sonthofen shopping for Groceries, and she needed some shoes. Mission accomplished. That evening and made my famous Chicken Cacciatore and easy dinner to make for 7 people.
The next day we take a trip to drop Terri's Sisters Family off at the Neuschwanstein Castles. We had been to Neuschwanstein Castle a couple of times and found no reason to go again. While they toured King Ludwig's construction accomplishments, we toured the last German city on the Romantic Road. Fussen a pre-medieval city established by the Romans to guard the road from Roman to Augsburg, which is named after the Roman Emperor Augustus. We toured the old city and the Roman Fort on top of the hill. Like most western European countries, you can't talk about their history without the Roman influence. Western Europe is a product of the Roman empire in so many ways.
Again it was a long day, and we head back and for a German meal on the way home. It was another long great day. The next day was another rainy day, time for cards, and reading. Terri and I did take a hike to the Carriage Museum across the river from Hinterstein. It is an eclectic place, which is very interesting in an abstract sort of way.
The next day, it was a trip to Lindau, a city on the Bodensee, or as the Swiss call it, Lake Constance. Where the ladies got to shop with my highlight climbing the lighthouse tower. The drive from Hinterstein was on the Alpen Strasse, a road through the Alps descending into the Bodensee, which is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. The Bodensee creates a border with 3 countries; Switzerland, Austria, and German. Lindau, an Island, was a unique place with a harbor and lots of boat traffic and outstanding views of the Alps and different countries.
On our final day in Hinterstein, my brother in law took the tram up the mountain near Hinterstein. We had lunch at the top of the mountain and then hiked back down to Hinterstein, taking in the view along the way. It was the perfect ending to our glorious stay in the German Alps.
Tomorrow it is off to Frankfurt, where the Denver Crew will stay the night and fly out the next day. Terri and I will then be off to Berlin for our final 4 days in Germany. It's about time to wrap this adventure up, but first Berlin while Germany is in the world cup. It will be wild, to say the least.
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