Out of convenience, we roll our enormous and heavy suitcases (which now feels like an entourage) to the train station and put them in a locker for the day. We were to meet our organized/guided tour across the street from the Munich central train station, which is just down the street. Upon our return from the tour, we were scheduled to leave immediately for Salzburg.
We arrive at the tour's assembly area and wait. We're a bit early. Mutter never meets a stranger and this day is no different. As we wait, we chat with several other Americans from various states. Several differrent tours start at this location, so some of our new "friends" are on different tours and a few on ours. She befriended a very nice fellow that I called Kentucky Ken. He was traveling alone, sightseeing around Europe a bit before returning to the U.S. after a two year stint in the Peace Corps. We chatted with him throughout the day.
We departed shortly after 8 and it was a long ride to our destination. It was a large double-decker bus/coach with air conditioning! The ride was beautiful and somewhat comfortable. The countryside amazing. Perhaps I'm a nerd or just a typical tourist, but every little thing amazed me. I just love to look at EVERYTHING!
At one point, we passed through a small quaint village and our tour guide (a frauline), pointed out a small unassuming church. She said that was the first church to sing "Silent Night."
Well, I'll be doggone!
After crossing a valley floor, we ascend a mountain.....on a narrow winding road. It wouldn't have been frightening if we weren't in this enormous bus. But we were and it was. I held my breath.
I was turning blue and about to pass out from holding my breath (I'm kidding), when we arrived. Our petite frauline bolts off the bus and takes off. We tourists (about a 100 in all?) slowly pile off and take off running after her. We catch the quick little lassie to find out what to do and where to go next.
We are then informed we have to take ANOTHER bus the rest of the way up the mountain. OMG! So, off we go. A crowded bus. Another narrow winding road. Another traumatic experience looking out the window. Same mountain.
After a while of this, we reach a plateau area....near the top. The air is crisp and clean. The air felt a bit cooler but not cold (for this altitude). The view is beautiful. Once again, we had to chase the little frauline to find out where to go....what to do.
She leads us into a very dark, omnious, cold, wet tunnel. We walk the inclined tunnel to an old elevator. We wait in a long line and finally get squashed into the elevator, like sardines! After a short ride, we arrive at the VERY top of the mountain inside the Eagle's Nest, Hilter's private getaway.
*Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" was designed and built for Adolf Hilter's 50th Birthday by his personal secretary and Head of the Nazi Party Chancellery Martin Bormann. The monument is called "Kehlsteinhaus" in German because of it was originally intended to be a "Teahouse" for the head of the Third Reich. This mountain-top hideaway played a prominent role as the main unit objective in HBO's critically acclaimed mini-series "Band of Brothers."*
*The allied bombing and battles of World War II left the building intact and today the Eagle's Nest remains in its original state. In the years after the war, the Eagle's Nest and the surrounding area of Berchtesgaden remained a part of US Armed Forces property in southeastern Germany. The US military set up a recreation center where servicemembers could hike in the summer and ski in the winter. The US military returned the area to Germany in the 1990s.*
*At that time, the German government demolished the American General Walker Hotel at Obersalzberg, to make way for the existing bus depot that serves the Eagle's Nest.*
*Taken from: http://www.letsgo-europe.com/Germany/eagles_nest/
The view from here was even MORE amazing. The house/structure is now a restaurant. Mutter has had enough. She sits down to eat and relax while enjoying the gorgeous view. I'm on top of the world, I can't think about eating.
Kentucky Ken and I head out on the hiking trail behind the restaurant where the majority of people are hiking and taking pictures. It ends up being quite the hike but he and I go out on the crest as far as the trail would allow.
I took all the following photographs on the hike along with a couple of short videos.
As you can see..........the views were spectacular!
I can hear the Ricola commercial playing in my head as I gaze out. I want to shout "RRIIIIICCCOOOLLLLLAAA." But I refrain.
I took pictures on both sides of the crest (facing opposite directions). I have no idea which is which.
The U.S. has its own charm and spectacular views, but I have never experienced anything like this.
This is the view looking back to the Eagle's Nest building structure.
I think about the classic "Heidi."
I can hear Julie Andrews' young voice echoing in song.
I am grateful I have no thoughts of Hilter as I take in the splendor of it all.
A very large cross sits at a high point on the trail. A large likeness of Edelweiss sits in the center of the cross.
I was told:
Edelweiss only grows naturally at very high altitudes. It can and will grow anywhere from seeds. You can plant the seeds in a sandy soil mix and water it frequently for two years. After two years, it will bloom and continue to flourish from then on. However, the Edelweiss seeds resemble the seeds of an illegal substance. Therefore it was suggested not to transport them.
Well, I'll be doggone!
I made it back and looked around quickly at Hilter's little hide-away resort/tea house. It wasn't impressive (other than sitting at a mountain peak).
There were several photographs of Hilter taken there along with placards with explanations. I can't read Deustch.
This is the view he had from the Livingroom focal point.
I found it rather odd that this historic structure is now a restaurant. I guess it's ok. It's not like a "good" piece of history....but it is still historic.
Me and Mutter.....on top of the world!
Eagle's Nest Website: http://www.kehlsteinhaus.de/en/index.php
Of course, we went back the same way we went. We made it back to Munich around 5ish. Got our luggage from the lockers and hopped aboard a train bound for Salzburg, Austria.
Once in Salzburg, we grabbed a McDonald's hamburger, a cab, and went to our bed & breakfast villa. It was dark....we couldn't see well.....we were tired.
We arrived around 9ish. The large house was dark. With very few lights, the owner quietly checked us in and took us to our room. Every move we made seemed to be loud but it was just that the peaceful old house/estate was quiet.
We collapsed with exhaustion.
