On Top of Germany
On Friday, we packed up the car and headed here: http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com
Thank heavens for the navigation system, although it tried to detour us into Austria and delivered us to the wrong Edelweiss hotel (strange that there would be more than one hotel named Edelweiss near the Alps, right?). We're thinking that through Austria was probably the quickest route, but we don't have our international licenses yet and so beat a hasty retreat from just over the border. And the Edelweiss Lodge that we actually wanted was just down the road from the small, German hotel that the navigation system initially took us to, so no real harm done. We enjoyed the scenic route--the Romantische Strasse, the "Romantic Road", which wound through lots of picturesque small towns. Caught a glimpse of Neuschwanstein Castle...we'll have to go back and tour it at some point.
The Lodge was great. It's on a small American base in the town of Garmisch, at the foot of the tallest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze. So, as you can imagine, the views were amazing. Even from our room on the "back side" of the Lodge. We didn't get in until around 4:00 p.m., so we just relaxed for awhile and then headed downstairs to have a very nice dinner. There are four different restaurants in this Lodge, plus all the usual amenties: health club, swimming pool, etc. After dinner, we warmed up in rocking chairs in front of the enormous lobby fireplace. Then it was off to bed.
The best part about being at Edelweiss is that it's like America in the middle of Germany. Not that we don't enjoy being "in" Germany. It's just kind of nice not to have to worry about communication and Euros and stuff. And German matrons giving us the evil eye when we take the kids out to eat. All the kids at the restaurants at the Lodge were just as noisy as Josiah and Annika. God bless America! (Actually, I should note that Josiah and Annika, though bored while waiting for us to finish our pork chops/steaks/wine/beer, were quiet and fairly well-behaved).
Yesterday we got up early, had an excellent breakfast buffet during which Annika ate her body weight in eggs. Then we checked out and headed to Eibsee to ride the cable car to the top of the Zugspitze (2,962 meters). Quite a ride, let me tell you. Josiah and Annika sat in the driver's seat so that they could see out the window, but they weren't overly appreciative of the view. We got to the top, where there is a good-sized building with observation decks, a restaurant, WC and everything. Took a bunch of pictures from the observation decks and then headed inside for coffee and baked pretzels. A big fog rolled in just after we got inside...we were very lucky to enjoy the view on the ride up and to take pictures while the sun was out.
Took the cable car part of the way down the other side of the Zugspitze, then a train the rest of the way down. Both of our rosy-cheeked children fell asleep in the train and actually slept most of the way home.
We definitely want to go back, probably for a longer weekend. We just wanted to try the Lodge out and see if there were things for us to do as a family, and now that we know how wonderful it is, we'll be going back. Soon.
Enjoy the pictures.
Thank heavens for the navigation system, although it tried to detour us into Austria and delivered us to the wrong Edelweiss hotel (strange that there would be more than one hotel named Edelweiss near the Alps, right?). We're thinking that through Austria was probably the quickest route, but we don't have our international licenses yet and so beat a hasty retreat from just over the border. And the Edelweiss Lodge that we actually wanted was just down the road from the small, German hotel that the navigation system initially took us to, so no real harm done. We enjoyed the scenic route--the Romantische Strasse, the "Romantic Road", which wound through lots of picturesque small towns. Caught a glimpse of Neuschwanstein Castle...we'll have to go back and tour it at some point.
The Lodge was great. It's on a small American base in the town of Garmisch, at the foot of the tallest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze. So, as you can imagine, the views were amazing. Even from our room on the "back side" of the Lodge. We didn't get in until around 4:00 p.m., so we just relaxed for awhile and then headed downstairs to have a very nice dinner. There are four different restaurants in this Lodge, plus all the usual amenties: health club, swimming pool, etc. After dinner, we warmed up in rocking chairs in front of the enormous lobby fireplace. Then it was off to bed.
The best part about being at Edelweiss is that it's like America in the middle of Germany. Not that we don't enjoy being "in" Germany. It's just kind of nice not to have to worry about communication and Euros and stuff. And German matrons giving us the evil eye when we take the kids out to eat. All the kids at the restaurants at the Lodge were just as noisy as Josiah and Annika. God bless America! (Actually, I should note that Josiah and Annika, though bored while waiting for us to finish our pork chops/steaks/wine/beer, were quiet and fairly well-behaved).
Yesterday we got up early, had an excellent breakfast buffet during which Annika ate her body weight in eggs. Then we checked out and headed to Eibsee to ride the cable car to the top of the Zugspitze (2,962 meters). Quite a ride, let me tell you. Josiah and Annika sat in the driver's seat so that they could see out the window, but they weren't overly appreciative of the view. We got to the top, where there is a good-sized building with observation decks, a restaurant, WC and everything. Took a bunch of pictures from the observation decks and then headed inside for coffee and baked pretzels. A big fog rolled in just after we got inside...we were very lucky to enjoy the view on the ride up and to take pictures while the sun was out.
Took the cable car part of the way down the other side of the Zugspitze, then a train the rest of the way down. Both of our rosy-cheeked children fell asleep in the train and actually slept most of the way home.
We definitely want to go back, probably for a longer weekend. We just wanted to try the Lodge out and see if there were things for us to do as a family, and now that we know how wonderful it is, we'll be going back. Soon.
Enjoy the pictures.
Comments