July - hiking and more!

After an action packed couple of months working our way through Eastern Europe to Greece and Turkey, July has felt quiet in comparison. But we've actually done a lot this month, celebrating multiple birthdays (including mine), attending a wedding and heading on a multi-day hike in the Alps - okay, an overnight hike, but still...impressive, no?

Quiet July
We spent most of this month in Munich. I thought European summers (at least north of Italy) were lukewarm affairs, but July has been hot - like over 30 and up to 35 degrees day after day.

Don't hate me Melbourne ppl - I know it's cold over there. If it helps, Phil hates the heat and GOMPs all over the place. Case in point from the GOMP files, he says on the first non-nuclear day in Munich "ah this is pleasant - I almost feel a tiny bit cold". Agreeing, I say while shivering slightly, "yeah, after the last hot week, it's nice". He snorts derisively, "you mean after the last f&@$ing boiling hot month and a half". Ouch - I'm on your side....

We spent a few of the hottest days at the lake and swimming in the local river, which took the edge off. We also chilled out with long walks through the forest and bike rides, lots of cooking, rollerblading practice (all limbs still intact at time of writing...), a few biergarten visits and a couple of days' window shopping in Munich's beautiful city centre.



Swimming at Lake Worthsee on super hot days


Atmospheric forest walks


Our street in Munich on a summer eve - perfect for blading practice!

Hiking the Alps
We also had a couple of bigger events in July - the first being an overnight hike in the Alps!!

I had really wanted to make July an active month - we had done lots of walking on our Eastern Euopean adventures, but I did get a bit lazy by the end of Istanbul - in a good coffee drinking, mezze eating, shopping kind of way. Plus our hiking days in Bratislava and Sofia were some of my favourites.

So when Klaus and Cornelia suggested that we could take the train to the bottom of one mountain and walk up to a hut, stay overnight and then walk across the ridge of the mountain to another spot and then take a gondola back down the mountain, I was keen. And when they said we might see wild rare mountain goats, I was very excited!!

The best part is that you can do the whole trip by train! We set off in late July and were blessed with the coolest weather in weeks - it certainly wasn't cold, but 22 degrees was a welcome break and perfect walking weather...

The first day's hiking was all on well made tracks or roads and very popular with mountain bikers.



We started walking along shady paths


The first glimpse of the mountain


This adorable house looked like something out of Heidi... There were Alpine cows wearing traditional bells wandering around this meadow!!


Teeny wild strawberries - I ate this one!!

Cornelia and I were treated to Klaus and Phil hauling our stuff up the mountain for us, which is a very luxe way to hike... Also luxurious was our overnight hut. I had imagined a sort of log cabin with a couple of beds and maybe a bathroom. It was a nice surprise to find what was in effect a rustic hotel. We had delicious meals, beer on tap, showers and comfy beds - if I'd known how awesome Euro hiking could be, I would've done this earlier!!

When we arrived on the first afternoon, we found a big group sitting at a table, already pretty tanked and playing an epic party mix of early 90s Rock, ABBA and Austrian classics. These guys were troopers who kept the party going for about SIX HOURS... So not quite the meditative arrival I'd envisaged, but once my brain starting blocking out the tunes, I was just impressed by their stamina!!

Actually, there was a great communal atmosphere at the hut, with serious looking hikers relaxing with awesome old school board games (we played Yahtzee) and a seriously cosy bed. I may have passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

The following morning was fresh and cool thanks to an evening thunderstorm and we set off early for a day of walking along the mountain ridge. The scenery was just stunning - especially the Alpine meadows studded with wildflowers. A mere 30 minutes or so into our walk we spotted... fresh goat poo on the track.

And then moments later, Phil spotted a female mountain goat perching on the edge of a rock following by a majestic male with full horns making his way towards her. It was a serious "wow" moment. We must have stood there transfixed for 20 minutes.




Stunning Alpine meadows


Can you spot the goat on the green ledge?? He was a magnificent steinbeck.

And we saw a few more before the day was out... Cornelia told us this is pretty unusual, so we were very lucky to have spotted so many.

The walk was beautiful and also challenging in a few spots (I'm not super confident on the rocks and so was super slow, especially on the downhill parts) which made it all the sweeter to reach the end and tuck into a well earned schnitzel!! Ahhh... schnitzel



The view of the mountains at the end of the hike


My collection of slightly wilted alpine wild flowers!!

Our hiking experience finished with a gondola ride down the mountain (to avoid ending the walk with wrecked knees...) which was both awesome and terrifying. Did I ever mention that I'm quite frightened of heights?? Probably not, as I keep forgetting it myself... I think, "a gondola - oh, cool, sooo James Bond. It's gonna be awesome".

Then I jump on the gondola, it starts to move, I remember to be terrified and squeeze my eyes shut for most of the descent. When I did peek, the views were spectacular, but I was way too petrified to take any photos...

Quick shout out
Meanwhile, Klaus and Cornelia are bloody impressive hikers. Hats off. And huge thanks for organising an incredible experience - I'll never forget it!!

Didn't you say something about a wedding?
I did. And a couple of birthdays!!

The second July instalment to come...


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Summertime

Back in Munich

It's hard to believe it was all the way back in early April that we left Munich with little more than our Eurail passes and the airbnb app - okay, I might have also had a crapload of luggage...poor Phil, he always gets to be the porter!

Now, almost three months later, we've checked out Budapest, Prague, Berlin, Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest (again), Sofia, a couple of spots in Greece and Istanbul!

It's been fantastic, especially the parts where we've had great company - Jo and Louise are the best travel companions and celebrating my mum's 70th in Istanbul was a particular highlight!


The super slow train through Romania and Bulgaria passing through dozens of villages




Also loved, loved, loved our time in Greece and hanging out with my sis

We flew into Munich almost 2 weeks ago (I have been a tad slack with blog updates) to the VIP pickup service of Phil's dad Klaus!! It's so nice to be back in Munich (more accurately the village of Planegg) and spending some time with Phil's family.

And we've arrived back in Munich to a full on heatwave - it's mid-30s - weather not seen since 2005!!


This was the Munich weather forecast when we left on our Euro adventure



This is the Munich forecast this week

Who would have thought it would be hot in summer??

It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes...

We've been making the most of it, local style, swimming in Lake Worthsee (one of Bavaria's great 5 lakes). I even gave standup paddle boarding a go and despite insisting that I'd end up in the water, I managed a (smallish) lap without getting wet at all!



Here's Phil on a stand up paddle board... I was not on the board long enough for any photographic evidence...

Although some Germans are taking Nelly's timeless lyrics a bit too literally... It was actually not easy to get a safe for work pic at this spot. Some bathers are very into topless sunbaking at all ages... My prudish anglo upbringing just cannot deal!



Picturesque Lake Worthsee

Last Friday, we rode the bikes to the lake (50km roundtrip - not bad) and even spotted a baby deer in a field on the way!! We've been sitting on the jetty feeding ducklings and watching some crazy tame fish swim right under our feet in knee deep water!!

In addition to the lake swimming, there's also been some river swimming. The river that runs past our little town of Planegg is called the Wurm and in summer a small part of the stream is roped off and open for swimming. Even though it's a small section, the current is so strong it's almost like being in a swim spa!! A perfect way to cool down after a steaming hot day.



River swimming

We booked our flight to Munich from Istanbul with no itinerary at all, figuring we'd have a few days to settle in before thinking about what to do next.

However, in our absence, Klaus' twin brother organised a wedding to his lovely partner for 24 July in Bremerhaven near Hamburg. Another family wedding!! So we will be hanging out in Bavaria until the wedding and have planned some overnight hiking before we go.

Sadly, there has been a death in the family here in Munich, and one in Australia which is giving us a chance to reflect and appreciate the opportunity to spend some time with family.

Being a kid again
So... I've been threatening to grab a pair of rollerblades and (drumroll)... I am now the proud owner of a pair - an early bday pressie from Phil!!

I should emphasise, I am a proud and very uncoordinated owner... I've spent a little time every day skating up and down the street very very slowly. I am not only uncoordinated but also soooo sore - using muscles I apparently never usually use.

When I was a kid, I spent HEAPS of time rollerskating, so I thought the rollerblades would be super easy. But, I failed to factor in a couple of things (1) rollerskates are not the same as rollerblades (2) I never really skated outside of a rink where the surface is smooth and there are walls to hang onto everywhere so I never really learned how to stop and, probably most crucially (3) I was a crap rollerskater!! Oh dad, you spent so many hours at the rink with us and you never told me how much I sucked... bless....

To keep me company - and show me how it's done - Phil has also acquired a pair and we have been practising after dinner... Guess who needs the practice?? Hint: it's me...

When I describe this last week, it occurs to me that we may be regressing a little - this week has looked (and felt) a lot like being an 8 year old again. Last night after our skate, we went out for ice cream! Even though I've never been a person keen to relive my childhood (I definitely prefer adult stuff like choice and control and access to money etc), it's been really fun!

Although, I suspect when I have a big stack it will hurt a lot more than if I really was an 8 year old. Ah well, time will tell...

This week, I have also discovered adult colouring books. As the least artistic person ever, it is surprisingly meditative!! And kind of not dispelling the regression theory... Still, look how pretty...



In slightly more grown up news, we have been cooking up a storm, making messy, fiddly food I often rule out making due to lack of time (ricotta gnocchi, I'm talking to you).

And we got ourselves along to a fundraiser organised by the African community which was lots of fun.


We've also been doing tons of neighbourhood wandering with the local wildlife... So many geese!!



And also dropping into a beer garden for Sunday dinner

Next weekend, we go on an overnight hike with Klaus and Cornelia (apparently there are rare mountain goats at the top - hopefully enough to keep me motivated!!) and then we are heading to Hamburg to attend Phil's uncle's wedding. Should be a great way to round out July...


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