Saturday, May 8, 2010

When we got up the sun was shining something we haven't seen in several days so decided we needed to get going and see the sights. Our first line of business was to check out and when checking out they informed us the that there was a 41 euro cleaning fee. When Bob argued with them they said that is why the room was so cheap when we booked it. I dont think we are done disputing this because it was not presented at the time of booking.

The town of Partenkirchen is very unique in that it still has the charm of the ancient village. This is a picture of the building that line the town streets.

In 1938 Garmisch held the olympics and the village still remains as does the ski jump. Bob has watched the history channel for years and was alway fascinated by the train that goes to the top of the highest mountain in Germany.

As we headed up on the train it was sunny and clear and within an hour we were in a snow storm and wind again. After a light lunch at the top unbale to see anything we took the gondola back down, I can't imagine what it must be like when you can see it was kind of scary even in the fog. The gondola operater said they had 3 feet of snow in the last 2 days they had just closed the ski area last week.

Our last stop on the trip is back tp Teresa and Greg's where we will do side trips until leaving on Wednesday to head back to the states. We arrived at their house as predicted several hours after we left Garmisch. Greg was out of town so the 3 of us caught a bite to eat at the Maconda, a local establishment and headed to bed.

Friday May 7, 2010

Our stay in Pertisau, Austria has been a nice time. Of course the only thing that would make it better would be if the rain, cold and snow would disappear. Pictured is the place we stayed at Klar apt. and the Hotel we were booked into. Margaret the women who was in charge was so accommodating, letting me use her internet and making sure everything was just right including letting us check out later than 10:00.

When leaving this area we saw a white road on the map that looked like it would take us to our next destination Garmisch, Germany. The whie road took us through a beautiful national park and ended in a series of little towns. We arrived at Sport Hotel that we once again had booked online. The place was very nice and we should have had supicions when it was priced so cheap on the internet.

There is a huge mountain range in this part of Germany so we took one of the gondolas hoping to catch a great vista and perhaps walk back down. We chose to buy the round trip ticket just in case the terrain was not good enough for us to trek back down. The higher we went the foggier it became and soon there was snow on the ground, the weather had taken a big turn for the worse and it was cold, windy and snowing. We took the godola back down and were able to snap a few pictures of the valley below. This is the town of Partenkirchen that is located right next door to Garmisch.

This is a trick question, how do you tell American tourist in the spa? They are the only ones with bathing suits and towels wrapped around them covering every inch of their body. The hotel had a lovely spa so we went there and enjoyed the facility looking like American tourist.

Thursday May 6, 2010

When we went to bed last night the stars were out and it looked like there was a chance the weather would change. The clouds, flog and rain are still here but we decided to go hiking in spite of the weather. There is a gondola that takes you up to the top of one of the areas but it is not working yet. Bob asked alot of questions and figured out a way to navigate to a parking spot then hike up as far as we thought we could. The hike was really high and steep and above the tree line, it made some of the terrain we have been on these last few weeks look tame. The trail ascends with switch backs and several cliff overhangs. After walking about 1 1/2 hours we were passed by 2 men, one who was 92 who said we still had 50 minutes to get to the top. To say the least we decided to abort the climb to the top and start down. The weather changed in a minute and it was lighlty raining and getting really cold. A good decision was made by Bob who said we should head back down to the car. As we proceeded down to the car things did not get any better and it started to rain really hard and the wind picked up. Once down we ate at a fabulous restraunt and then headed back to the hotel. Remembering it is still raining and with nothing to do I signed up for a massage, I have had one in almost every country in the last 5 weeks. The massage was truly the best one of the trip. Once again we dined in a place close to our hotel to rest up for the trip to Garmisch our last city before heading back to Teresa & Greg's.

Wednesday May 5, 2010
After a nice breakfast at the hotel we headed off to visit the famous King Ludwig castle just outside of Fussen. We were there bright and early for once and missed all the crowds. For just 15 euro we got the senior discount after hiking up we were able to catch the Englis speaking tour of the castle. Even in the fog it was just great I really did feel like I was in disney land as that is a replica of this great castle. Jim neigbor sent a web site to show what the castle should look like and we saw many of pictures but even in the fog the place is fascinating. After a walk down the road we were on the road again in search of the other place Teresa had recommended.

The town is off the beat and track and the name of it is Pertisau, Austria were we booked a hotel 1 day earlier for 60 euro a night. We pulled into this area and it once again breathtaking, mountains and lakes who could ask for more. There are several ski areas, and hiking paths all within a short distance of the town. Upon arriving at the Hotel Rossenger we were greeted by a young woman who escorted us to an apartment where we would spend the next 2 nights. The place is unreal, big with a couple of decks, living room, kitchen and bathroom it is 3 stories and has just been redone there are about 50 apartments here and we are the only people booked into an apartment. The only bad thing is I can't get the internet to work so I have to go to the office and plug into there system. Hopefully I will find some other place so I can upload some pictures. Tomorrow we will be heading out to do some hiking and explore the beauty of this area. Dinner at a local restraunt was very good living in this big building is just alittle unsettleing. . It is once again raining.

Tuesday May 4, 2010
Teresa was so kind to set us up with a car to be picked up in her town. After loooking at some maps she suggested to Bob that we head south to Fussen then on to a town in Austria called Pertisau. After driving through fog and pouring rain we reached a town outside of Fussen called Weissensee, Germany to spend the night. The above pictures are of the lake and houses surrounding the hotel we stayed at. We stayed at a charming place called Stein Muhle for just 72 eruro great location and it would have been so nice to see the mountains but they were fogged in. We had a great German dinner and headed to bed so we could be rested to tour the castle on Wednesday. The castle we are going to tour is the Neuschwanstein and hohenschwangau one of which crazy king ludwig owned.

Monday May 3, 2010

We say goodbye to the beautiful country of Italy, pictured is Lake Como and the great little town of Lenno as the rain was ending and we were heading off to our next destination which is Germany then Austria. Believe it or not the last 2 destinations we haven't been lost and we succesfully made it to Milan's train station to get rid of the car and take a train to Germany where we will spend the last part of our trip. I had booked the tickets for the train in March so we were ready to get going by a new means of transportation. The trip was great from Milan, Italy then on to Basel , Switzerland then to our final destination Oberusel, Germany where we will visit with our friends Teresa and Greg then on to Austria. It is Moscow cold in Oberursel but did not hamper our fun communicating with friends other than Bob. After a few cocktails and a quick tour around the town we settled in to great beds that felt the closest to home I have expericenced in the last 4 1/2 weeks.

Sunday May 2, 2010

When we woke up this morning the weather was just as forecasted raining, foggy, and cool. Our hike today would take us to Villa Del Balbianello. This is a lovely villa that the wedding was held had a few days earlier. The villa was built in the 1700's and most recently donated to the Italian tourist organization. The gardens were very nice and we did not tour the villa as I had a spa appointment that would interfere with the time schedule. To the left is a picture of just one of the manicured trees that we saw at the villa.

The spa is located just 300 meters from the hotel the name is La Dolce Acqua the owner of the hotel is the brother to the spa owner. The spa turned out to be a nice place to spend a rainy sunday on Lake Como. Bob enjoyed the Spa area and I enjoyed my massage that was very relaxing. We had a quiet dinner down the stonewalk, we are now preparing for the next leg of this adventure a trip to Milan, drop off the car head on the train to Basil then on to Frankfurt to meet up with our friends Teresa and Greg. Our next travels will take us in Germany and not sure where else. The picture to the left is the lake with the weather.