We arrived in Garmish, but really we arrived back in America. You might say how can this be we are still in a little town in southern Bavaria which is a state in Germany. We are in America because we are staying at the Armed Force Recreation Center (AFRC) in Garmish. The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort complex is on a secure military installation to enter we have to show our passports and I have to present my retired military identification. 
We are back in America for the next 3 days. During our stay here we will be paying in American dollars, tipping at the hotel restaurants like we were in America, and all the communication will be in english. It is a good change from the last 3 days, but something we should not get used to. Staying here does give people the feeling of what it is like for an American and Allied service member in Europe. It is really the only reason why the AFRC is here. It is a place where you can get out of Germany for a short time during your 3 year or longer tour.
It is a convenient place to stay we can arrange tours and there are 3 different restaurants on the complex grounds. So the next day after breakfast we decide to take the train to Munich. We catch the train at the Garmish train station and in a hour and a half were at the Munich Hauptbahnhof. The main train station is very close to the downtown and it is a short subway ride to Marienplatz which is in the center of Munich.
We have two objectives in Munich, to see the Glockenspiel, which is a tower that provides a mechanical show like a Cuckoo Clock in the Rathaus (Tax House) and the Hofbrauhaus the famous Oktoberfest beer makers restaurant. We accomplish both these objectives and get a little shopping done in between. The Glockenspiel is right on Marienplatz and the Hofbrauhaus is a short 2 block walk from there. The Glockenspiel was more animated than I remember it with a mechanical horse mount joustas the centerpiece at the end of the clock movement. The Hofbrauhaus is a big inside and outside beer garden that serves authentic German cuisine. We went there to get the T-shirt and we did. 
It was then back to Garmish on the train. It was a long day and we were all tired, our traveling was starting to catch up with us. The next day we purchased ticket to ride the gondola up to the top of Germany which is called the Zugspitze. It was a magnificent ride up the Mountain. The Mountain top views were fantastic. We have a long lunch at the lodge on top of the mountain enjoy the site. We then take the cog train down through the Mountain. An engineering marvel the Zugspitzbahn takes us to the base of the mount where we rejoin our van. We get back to the Hotel early for a long deserved rest.
During the trip to the Zugspitze I received a call from Terri. Her and Kim are done hiking in the German Alps and she is ready to join us in Garmish. It is a short 2 hour drive to pick her up. It was good to see her and make the group complete. After returning we all have dinner in the restaurant and catch up on both our adventures. Tomorrow we leave Garmish probably for my last time and we make our trip to Hinterstein and our 6 day stay in the German Alps.
Just love Garmisch and Grainau. We have hiked and walked a lot there. Up the Wank (once in the snow). Up to the Höllentalanger Hut. Through the Partnach Gorge and up the Eckbauer. Over the Höhenrainweg - and to the Italian Ice shop in Grainau. And dozens of other walks and hikes, many times over the years. We have stayed in the Edelweiss also, but prefer the Eibsee Hotel. Love to walk around the Eibsee and have fish on a stick at the Eibsee Pavilion. Have taken the cable cars up the Zugspitze and Alpenspitze. My hubby would go every year if we could.
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