The Olympics.

Monday, January 18, 2010

After visiting the gorge, the Olympic ski jump was next on our list and just down the road.

Below is the view from the road of the ski jump originally built in the 1930s as Garmisch-Partenkirchen hosted the Winter Olympic Games. It was also originally sculpted from wood. They still host a jump on New Year's Day and it's the spot for the 2011 World Ski Championships.
We climbed the 467 steps to the mid-point. We tried to climb to the top of the jump but the gate was locked and it was a little high for jumping. We were the only ones (aside from the 2 people who took our pic) around so risking it that high up sounded fun just not feasible.

Looking down. What a view the skiers have while competing!

Evan after realizing we should not go over the gate to climb to the top.

And now we're on our way down. See how one else is around--we picked a great time to visit this area.

Another look up from the very bottom of the slope.

After grabbing some lunch at a Greek restaurant, we headed home. What a great weekend! And we can't wait to return either in the summer to enjoy some hiking or another winter trip to enjoy the skiing--maybe both.

Let's Go Sledding!

Monday, January 18, 2009

While in Garmisch we visited the small army base there and shopped at their AAFES (think a cross between Walmart and Target--sort of). We picked up two sleds and we were able to use them the next day. As we left the gorge, we could not pass up the opportunity for sledding on small, snow-covered hills in open territory.
** Warning: Imagine we had a video and put the pictures together for a quick slideshow. There were tons and I chose my favorites.

Evan on his way up the first small hill.
And off he goes.

The camera was on continuous shooting. Making his way off the top of the hill.

Turning backwards.

And the ending!

My favorite pic of the sledding. He loved it!

He went a little further up this time.

Here he comes!

Whoa! He's gained some speed and catches a little air.

He passes me up at top speed.

One more time, at the highest hill. I mean, besides the mountain behind him.

He hits the small hill and is on the move!

See how his pants are full of air--he is going fast.

And there he is--the dramatic yet oh-so-graceful STOP right before the fenceline.

Since he did so well, he had to try it just one more time.

At this point I'm having trouble keeping the camera stable from laughing!

My turn! Keep in mind these pictures are better because I'm traveling at a turtle's pace but loving it. The only sledding I've ever done is on a pizza pan, with my mom in our driveway.

Finding my balance.

Okay, got it going in the right direction again.

I think I'm going really fast. I am not.

I finally got a little spin going.

Turned backwards. Mad skills I know.

We had a great time and both were very cold and wet afterwards but it was SO worth it!

Partnach Gorge

Monday, January 18, 2009

After we checked out of the B&B, we drove to the other side of town to the Partnach Gorge. The Partnach River runs between the limestone walls that reach 262 feet high. Below is a frozen waterfall on the way to the gorge tunnel.
Look like a deer head? We thought so too.
In one of the tunnels making our way along the gorge.

A view of the walkway along the gorge, the rushing, clear water, and the ice clinging to the cliffs.

Evan near a large mass of ice. A hiking trail has been carved out to make the walls of the gorge passable for tourists. We're on the path.

Seriously. I cannot explain the quiet beauty of this place. The only sound was the rushing water, and we were two of the six other people we saw during the few hours we were there.

Check out those massive icicles.

The sun came out for a bit. Frozen waterfall.

I would not want to be in the frigid water or be underneath one of these icicles.

Can you tell we continued to see view after view we considered picture-worthy? We used our gorilla pod (tripod type) to snap this pic.

More of the gorge.

We're getting near the top now. Another frozen waterfall.

More of the gorge.

We found an American, visiting from Lakenheath, to snap this picture of us after we finished walking through the gorge.

So I mentioned an American. He passed us as we were taking our picture with our fancy camera balanced on our gorillapod--wrapped around two wires along the walkway. Evan moved it three times before finally feeling like it was stable enough to leave alone. He passed and said, "Oh be careful, I lost my camera yesterday like that...on a device just like that." Okay, well thanks bye.

We see him a few minutes later peering over the edge. "Any luck?, we ask. "Yep, there it is." You can see a hint of orange, right in the middle, in the clear water. His point-and-shoot camera is attached. He doesn't care about the camera just the disc inside with all their pictures from the weekend. He said he read online, that the card can get wet and still work. We wish him luck with this endeavor...

We would love to see the gorge in the middle of spring or summer and see the waterfalls in their full glory, but in the middle of winter--you have to agree it's beautiful. With all the dark issues in the world going on--you see this place, and are reminded that God is good and He sure knows what He's doing.

Bavarian Castles

Sunday, January 17, 2009

Today was another up and at 'em day. First of all, we woke up to a snow-covered winter wonderland in Garmisch. A fresh coat of snow makes for such a nice start to the day. Then an incredible drive through the mountains, up and around, to Bavaria to see a few castles. We passed ski slope after tiny town after ski lift on the way there--we surely want to return because it was so quaint and uncrowded.

Our first stop was Hohwenschwangau Castle. A little background...it is a 19th century castle built by King Maximilian II of Bavaria as a summer, hunting home for he and his wife, Marie, and their two sons Ludwig and Otto.
Across the way and up the a steep hill, is his son's Ludwig II castle, he later became King, which is only one-third the way finished.

Now back to Hohenschwangau. It stands for castle of the High Swan Country. The swan was one of his favorite symbols and you could find them all over the castle, in every room. No pictures were allowed inside the castle so you'll have to take my word for it. It. Was. Amazing. The difference in the castle and the places we have seen before is the age of the building itself. King Maximilian bought the castle in the 1830s and the inside still looks impeccable. The other places we usually see the paint starting to fade or already faded because it has been there since the 5th century.

Maximilian and Marie's son Otto was declared insane at an early age so their younger son Ludwig was declared King upon his father's death. He enjoyed living in his father's home but had to build a bigger and better one...the Neuschwanstein Castle. Look familiar? It is what Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle is modeled after. Ludwig had a lot of wild fantasies about what his castle should have and how modern it should be.

For example, he was a patron for electricity in Bavaria and in his castle, along with heated pipes, and a water system on all floors.

Here we are before our tour.

Just a small ski slope right behind me. So convenient.

The back area where our tour began. Again, no pictures were allowed inside the building. Ludwig II was later declared insane and was found dead one day later in a lake along with his doctor...suspicious? The castle was then opened up to the public as a way to repay the debt Ludwig II incurred.

We enjoyed our day, tiring because of the steep hill to climb and a lot of walking, but so informative and truly breathtaking views from each of the castles. It rained on us on the way to Austria and began snowing on us as we left--but while we were there--sunshine. We couldn't have asked for better.

Below are the two castles from the road back to Garmisch. Not great but you can see Hohenschwangau on the far right and Neuschwanstein mid-way up on the far left.

***These next few pics are from Monday morning. This was our view from our balcony at Gastheus Maria.

You can make out the Olympic ski jump a few miles away.

The sun is just starting to come up and make some light for the day.

Manuela, the proprietor, snapped our photo outside the B&B. We tried to explain to get the name in the picture but we'll settle for this.