When we were making plans to visit Munich last October, we had the idea to go to Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the last day of our stay and climb above it to at least have a look at the Alps. As the departure time approached, the weather forecast was bad, so we immediately regretted the Alps and began to consider alternative excursions. But on Friday evening there was a sudden change in the forecast. Whether you believe in the phenomenon of global warming or not - the fact is that various unusual phenomena are happening in the world that are difficult to predict. So not only our meteorologists are wrong (as we often think) but also the German ones. It's rare that a mistake like that goes in our favor, but this time it did.
We just got organized, packed and headed early to the famous ski center whose name, I confess, I have never pronounced correctly until now, and it's no wonder: Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Even if you speed up a bit, you have to get tangled up. I was once again amazed at the organization of public transport and the way of paying tickets for the local population. One and the same ticket is valid for all types of transport in the city, train and bus from the train to the jump itself. We didn't wait anywhere, everything was connected. The trains are new, neat... We couldn't help but make comparisons with the situation here. We would have fallen into severe depression because of that, but we didn't have time because we were passing by the lake, numerous holiday houses, and the hour that it took us to reach the goal had already passed.
When I was younger, I was a passionate spectator of all sports, including winter sports. I also followed the Tour of four ski jumps. One of those four is the one in front of us. I never thought that I would be able to reach this famous winter sports center. Admittedly, not in the winter, but still. Now jumpers train even when there is no snow. Artificial grass is used. The rehearsal was in progress. It was a real experience. Even our hosts, Ana and Robin, who have been here several times, have never come across a time when jumping from the ski jump. They are really brave people. A physical education teacher once told us that during their studies they had the opportunity to take a look from the top of the ski jump. Like all young people, full of themselves, they started boldly, and then they just fell back like Duško Duško in cartoons. He says that the view was "scary". I took him at his word and always admired the courage of the jumper.
We got carried away watching the rehearsal momentarily forgetting about our first goal: the Partnachklam canyon. When we managed to separate ourselves from the ski jump, we headed towards the entrance to the canyon. We were not alone. Although we were in the second half of October, it would not be possible to conclude from the number of tourists. We were in no rush. We wanted to see everything, to have everything explained to us. Ana and Robin were good and patient guides. When we entered the canyon, there was no point in asking anything. The river was noisy, the path narrow. Moments alternated when we were in the tunnel and when we saw a river in a narrow canyon on the right. I watched videos when the river, in periods when there was much more water than there was then, washed over the track, foaming, twice as noisy. Although, the way we found her that day was incredible. Above the river were high gray rocks. I was trying to make a parallel with something similar in our country. Only Mrtvica came to mind, although the difference is still big. We promised Robin that we would take him to the Mrtvice canyon at the first opportunity, so that he could see that we also have a "race horse".
The light was weak because it was cloudy and the surrounding rocks were high. Even if it was better, it is difficult to convey the beauty of the canyon with a photo because there is always a lack of sound on such occasions, without which one cannot create a sufficiently good impression of such natural phenomena.
At the entrance and exit of the canyon there is a small exhibition of minerals that can be found in this terrain. Interesting idea and realization, and the best are the samples themselves.
When we left the canyon, we were sorry that the walk didn't last longer, that there wasn't more water... But what's there is. We decided to take a break for breakfast by the river, and then we headed up the groomed trail to the nearest peak. The track was really groomed. There was no need to mark it because it couldn't be missed. Everything was fenced off, improvised stairs and bridges were installed. Duško and I marveled at everything individually and asked if any of us were coming here to take on some ideas. When we saw the Alps for the first time, the feeling was unique. Soon we reached the first cafe. The surrounding houses looked like they were from some old time. "Heidi" immediately came to mind. The movies and series based on that novel must have had these backdrops.
We could not admire the beauty of the surroundings. Fortunately, the meteorologists changed their minds. The day was invented for such an excursion. We turned left, then right, following the path and markings, and climbed over 500 meters in height without feeling it. I've never had a climb come down easier. There were also more serious peaks that were the reason for making plans for spring. I was, as usual, a pessimist, but they consoled me with the existence of the cable car. And so we arrived at 1236 meters above sea level, to the peak of Ekbauer, where there is an extraordinary cafe that could not be ignored. Although we were neither tired nor hungry, at the insistence of the host we had to stop by to try some local specialties. We have not repented.
There is a cable car not far from here, which means that we could also get here by it. We would, of course, lose a lot by doing so, first of all passing through the canyon. But it was good to know that we didn't have to go down on foot. So we could give ourselves as much time as we wanted to walk on this plateau. It was quite flat and grassy. Around it were large areas covered with forest. A castle could be seen in the distance. A little further, behind the woods, all around, the magnificent ridges of the Alps could be seen. We admired them from afar with no ambition to reach any of them. Although, cable cars lead to many of them, so it would be "invested" to pass the route in one direction. The hosts modestly said that the Alps are the least attractive in Germany of all the countries that are lucky enough to be on their territory. They were unlucky in distribution. Looking around, we thought, what are they like in Italy, Austria, Switzerland or France when they are the least beautiful here. We really liked them from this side as well.
We also had to take care of the train schedule. Everything was planned down to the last detail. We went back to the cable car, bought a ticket and got into a cabin that, I think, was just right for four passengers. We admired the view from the cabin. The photography was a little more difficult because I had to perform exhibitions, trying to be stable, and to push the camera as far as possible outside the cabin to get a wider shot. Longer arms would be welcome. Garmisch-Partenkirchen began to reveal itself below us, and soon we saw the ski jump from a bird's eye view. The end (or beginning) of the cable car is in the immediate vicinity of the ski jump. It seems to me that the return ticket from Munich cost 20 euros, and the cable car one way cost 15 euros. I would recommend this trip to anyone who has a day to spare on a trip to Munich. Especially for those who love nature.
When we arrived, a bus took us from the train station to the ski jump. On the way back, we calculated that if we were quick, we could walk through the city and catch the train on time. It was a 40-minute walk, and we weren't too tired because we took the cable car. Even if we were, we would suffer. The world-famous ski center cannot be ignored, even if there is no snow. Garmisch and Partenkirchen were two separate villages for more than a millennium until they merged on the eve of the Winter Olympics in 1936. In the part that belongs to Partenkirchen, there are houses on the facades of which you can see various drawings that are usually associated with the past of this area. I sprained my neck turning around and looking up so I wouldn't miss a drawing. I don't know if something similar exists anywhere else. It probably has, but not to this extent. They say that rich Germans, when they retire, buy a house here and spend their retirement days in this expensive, fashionable place. There are so many details on each house that just one would make a photo gallery. Everything is under wraps. We were especially amazed at one green fence: it was as if it had been cut with a laser beam.
We reached the train station on time and the train left on time. For us: an unprecedented miracle. On the way back, we reviewed our impressions, making plans for the ascent to the highest peak on this side of the Alps – Cukšpiz. It seemed too ambitious to me, but it was nice to at least fantasize about it. Maybe, after all, sometime...
Bonus video:
