Garmisch-Partenkirchen I & Füßen II

Originally, the plan was to go to Interlaken with Kristen (also from MIT) and her friend Lara who she knew through friends in her sorority the weekend of the 20th and 21st, but those plans didn't work out because lodging was going to be a zillion dollars and the car ride was going to be 5 hours each way. Instead, we threw together a quick trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Füßen via Telfs, Austria in a few days.

We set out early on Saturday with Kristen at the wheel of the spiffy BMW 3-Series Limosine. The trip to Garmisch was about an hour and a half-- not bad. Kristen is a pretty good driver and I was given the task of navigator (not too hard since we had the head-up display with GPS). Between the 2 of us there were no incidents.

This is downtown Garmisch-Partenkirchen. I'm striking a very flattering pose with Lara.

We decided we'd just relax all day in Ga-Pa at the Pflegersee-- a cute little lake in the shadow of the Alps about an hour hike from the town. It was a much needed relaxing day. 

Seemed to be a pretty popular spot. As we were leaving we saw a huge group of Bavarians in Lederhosen and Durndels walk by (this is where I have to give up on the Lederhosen count, sadly. Suffice it to say, there are plenty of Bavarians who rock the leather trousers.)

We lazed around for a few hours and then went back to the trail. We saw a sign that said 'Werdenfels Ruine' and decided we'd see what it was all about, so we went down the trail a little further and came upon some ruins from around 1200. 

Just climbing around in the old fortress

After taking some cool pictures around the ruins we headed back to Ga-Pa to check out the Eibsee-- a beautifully clear mountain lake at the foot of the Zugspitze. We went for a brief row on the lake and got some pretty nice views in every single direction. I failed pretty miserably at rowing, but luckily Kristen (who has much more rowing experience-- MIT  crew) got us back to the dock in time. 

Zugspitze on the right side. 

After a dinner by the lake we headed to Telfs, Austria for the night at the nicest Bed and Breakfast ever. It was a lovely drive through the Alps I was glad I wasn't driving because I got to admire the sunset as we drove to our accommodation. The next morning we went to Füßen, which I went to earlier this summer, but I didn't mind going back because I think the town is cute and Kristen and Lara wanted to see the castles. So we got the standard pictures at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau before an afternoon walk around the Alpsee. 

 I think this picture appropriately sums up the crowds at the Marienbrücke. 

We grabbed a really good meal in the town before heading back to Munich. It always makes me a little sad to see the Alps disappearing behind me as I head back to the city, but not to worry, I got to go back this weekend as well!

No change to beer or Lederhosen totals!