Piggy time!

For this year's summer outing of the organisation I volunteer for, we went to a nearby farm. To admire the pigs and cows and bunnies and dogs as well as to play games.

I am a highly competitive person. But I am absolute crap when it comes to these sorts of games, or really anything physical. So, despite being the second youngest in a group of mainly pensioners, I sucked big time and managed to come last in most activities. Oh, the shame...

But the cuddly dogs that followed us around as well as the pigs made up for it. Somehow. And we were lucky enough not to get rained on. All in all it was a nice Friday afternoon!

some Friday facts

1) Sometimes I actually ENJOY driving these days 🚗 ✌
2) On my way to see a friend who lives in the sticks, I just had to stop and take some photos. The mountains, the clouds... it was all so pretty! 💖
3) I don't want to have a kitten. They bloody scratch 😸 😒 (the latter is the 'unamused face')

a classic

The photos never come anywhere close to the beauty of the actual place.
I cannot quite explain the happiness that I experience when cycling (or walking) along this path near my house. Cycling with my new bike has become even more pleasant by the way!

The view of the alps at the horizon gets me every time.
Unfortunately, hayfever season has also started. While I was out for more than an hour, everything was fine. But when I got back home, my eyes were so itchy... Annoying, but as I've had much stronger reactions when I was younger, I am trying to focus on the improvement in the situation.

picture perfect Sunday

Summer truly arrived over the weekend with up to 30°C.
Sunday afternoon trip to the Walchensee. The water was an awesome turqouise colour and sitting on the pedalo in the middle of the lake was just pure bliss. The beauty of the surrounding was simply breathtaking.
I feel that there is still so much more for me to explore here.

out and about

I'm feeling a little lazy with regard to blogging at the moment. Not because of lack of stuff to blog about but other sorts of busyness.
But that's ok.

After almost two years in Rosenheim, I am realizing just how many places there are that I haven't yet discovered. Always helps to have a "guide" to introduce me to new places! Such as the Hofstätter Lake on bank holiday Thursday.

I especially loved the chair placed in the lake. I am all for looking at things from a new perspective!

just do it

Sometimes the stars align, right?
Well, that might be a grand.... After my motivation to exercise had seriously dipped over the last couple of months, I made it a topic in my final NLP weekend, hoping (but not believing) that I would be able to access some 'inner wisdom' that would help me to get back on track.

Lo and behold - I did tap into something thanks to my lovely fellow coach Peter. The concrete plan emerged to get a proper bike. On Wednesday, I noticed that the bike shop in town had moved to the outskirts. What I didn't realize when standing in front of the now closed shop (and being pissed) was that their new store opened on Friday last week only! With lots of opening offers.

On my visit to the grocery store on Friday, I then noticed a bright pink bike lock. First step towards getting a bike, I thought and bought it. And then on Saturday I went and bought myself my new lovely silver bike.

I test rode three bikes and was pretty confused as to how to decide which one to get. Cause well, they were all bikes that seemed pretty similar when riding them around in little circles inside the bike store...

In the end, I went with the one that had the biggest discount 😎

Took it out for a spin along the Inn
Squeezed into the back of my Seat Ibiza and my fluorescent bike lock 💗

chillaxing

After the stressful 8 minute facebook live recording in the morning, I enjoyed the sunny day at the Happinger Au See. It's a 10 minute drive away. Unless, your SatNav tells you the wrong way...
I got there in the end and it was beautiful. And the lake was actually not too cold. Had I brought my swimsuit, I would have gone for a swim (others did) but this way, I only went in knee-high.

As always, the pictures don't do it justice. The Alps at the horizon make me smile every time. It doesn't get old!

and it continues...

There has been more snow. But also some sunshine. The way life goes.

yellowness

*brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*

It is so incredibly cold still. My face feels like it's about to fall off. On average it's about -10°C during the day. Way, way too cold. And of course it means that the massive amounts of snow don't melt away either...

On the flipside, even I admit that nature looks pretty. On my way to Bad Aibling, I was admiring the white landscape, with the frosted trees, dipped into fog.

Occasionally there is even a bit of blue sky to be seen!

check out the full moon trying to hide away behind the tree

snow, snow and a bit more snow

The freshly fallen snow is beautiful. No doubt about that!
But then it turns into icy and slippery, grey slush and it's not so pretty anymore. Let alone making driving even more tricky than it already is under normal circumstances...
Temperatures are at least back to 'bearable' after an incredibly cold Saturday. Just a short walk to the supermarket and I couldn't feel my toes anymore and thought my face was about to fall off. Supposedly temperatures went down to -18C here in Rosenheim.

7 days - the photographic evidence

Frasdorfer Hütte

Chiemsee

Salzburg

Kampenwand

Munich

Just a mini selection of food

7 days - the details

Day 1: T arrives
And - in addition to T arriving, of course - here comes THE highlight of the day: I went to pick her up at the airport by car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, this has been the longest drive I dared in a while. In the dark. And about half way there, I urgently needed the toilet... Except for a little hiccup with finding parking (which included me driving to the very end, and involuntarily having to exit the car park, as well as momentarily losing my ticket), I am very proud to say that we arrived safely back in Rosenheim. Admittedly, I did ask myself why on earth I was torturing myself in this way all the way there. With T in the car, and chatting away, it all seemed a lot easier. Which doesn't really make sense, cause I must have been much less focused...

Day 2: T's first hike
After a leisurely breakfast at Dinzler's, we went for a hike up to the Frasdorfer Hütte, also a first for me. It's an easy enough hike and on the way up, we warmed up quickly despite frosty temperatures. On the way down, it felt a lot colder though. I felt that the views aren't as spectacular as some of the others I've enjoyed on my many (5??) hikes in the area so far but with the blue and cloudless sky, it was still a good experience.
And we had enough time for coffee and cake at the Kaffä, and a tour of Rosenheim before getting sushi.

Day 3: MY BIRTHDAY!
Ok, I wasn't really excited about my birthday... I am not a birthday person, and getting closer to 40 isn't too exciting to me either...
In the morning we went to Wasserburg and had to realize that the train station is a 45 minute walk from the city centre. For once I under-researched a trip... Fortunately, the weather was ok, and it was a pleasant enough walk into town, where we had Vietnamese lunch before heading back to the station by bus. And what a lucky coincidence that was! The bus only runs every hour, and thanks to my shit phone, I wasn't able to call a taxi. But miraculously, we got the bus, and thus got to the airport on time to pick up A.
Back in Rosenheim, we had dinner at the Mail Keller. Who didn't have my reservation and also offered a reduced NYE menu, which they hadn't mentioned on the website... But the food was good, even if service was a bit slow.
We then proceeded to watch the fireworks in my street. And once again, my neighbours did not disappoint and T and A admired the spectacle that lasted 30 minutes. Back in the warmth, I introduced them to the typical German Bleigießen, where you melt a bit of lead over a candle and pour it into water. Whatever the result predicts what the new year will be like. Of course, all our futures look bright and rosy!

Day 4: the Bavarian sea
The Chiemsee is a beautiful photographic object, even on not so nice days, but that day was probably the most beautiful I've seen it so far. 💖

Day 5: the hills are alive in Salzburg
Daytrip to Salzburg and despite having been a few times, there is still more to discover, despite my earlier complaints about it being so disappointingly small... Anyhow, this time we took the funicular up the hill to visit the Fortress Hohensalzburg, including an audiotour and the museums, as well as surprisingly good and affordable Goulash and a funny looking sausage.
Back in town, we enjoyed some Austrian cakes before heading back to Rosenheim for lots of meat at my local Greek restaurant.
The day ended with lots of snow... I was very relieved that I managed the small drive from the station back to my place without much sliding across the roads at the average speed of ~20km/h...

Day 6: der Berg ruft
Another leisurely breakfast, this time at Café Innig. Interestingly, I always order the Munich breakfast despite their wide choice.... By midday the initial fog had at least lifted in Rosenheim, so we made our way to Aschau to take the cable car up the Kampenwand. And it was so worth it! Stunning views, snow, blue sky. The photos don't even do it justice!
Back in Rosenheim, we did a tour of the town centre (never takes long...), where I discovered that Alfons Schuhbeck sells (amongst many other spices) a 'sex spice'. Might be worth investing in...👯
After a drink at Arte & Vino, we had our final Bavarian dinner at Duschlbräu. Their schnitzel is so yummy. And so big. I feel I should go on a diet for the next month...

Day 7: Munich and goodbyes
The snow continued to fall, and we thus decided to skip the 3 hour walking tour and did our own small Munich tour instead. Including the Frauenkirche, the Glockenspiel at the Marienplatz, the Viktualienmarkt, a bit of shopping, watching the crazies surfing at the Eisbachwelle and enjoying some tea and cake at the Victorian House. A surprisingly nice and authentic place! I'll definitely be back to enjoy a scone or some fish 'n chips there!
And then it was time to get to the airport. The snowfall got heavier and heavier, but fortunately, the flights was only delayed by about half an hour in the end. And I also got back home safely.

A fun-packed week.
A reminder of friendship.
And a reminder how beautiful this place is!

Chiemsee the X-th

I don’t think there is anything else left to say. It’s a beautiful place no matter how many times I visit and despite already having a gazillion photos, I always take some more J

See also:
Here
Here
Here

the golden era

I am loving autumn this year. The red and golden leaves glistening in the sun and we even had some warm days, too.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Hechtsee near Kufstein/Austria with friends. And it was just beautiful. And B, my friend's 4 year old son is such a cutie!

Eine Seefahrt, die ist lustig...

perfect day off spent on a boat on the Chiemsee

Stunning or what?

sunset at the Erlensee

Summertime

What a gorgeous day! It literally smells of summer. 25 C and blue skies - perfect weather for me. And perfect for sitting at the Simssee. And lovely to catch up with a colleague. It's only a 20 minute drive from my place but nonetheless, I am proud of myself that I got there and back safely. Especially, as on the way back, my mobile refused to show me the way... Fortunately, Rosenheim was signposted.

Despite the glorious weather, hardly anyone was there. I have a feeling that I might be back frequently during my summer of freedom.

Play it!

When A came over, we (also) went to the Koenigssee. Various people had recommended it to me. And it is a very beautiful lake. Would have been even prettier had the weather been better... Well, I am sure I will be back with more visitors at some point!

You take a little boat across the lake and the highlight - in addition to the funny anecdotes by the guide (you go in the lake as a king and you get out again a queen... it's freezing!) - is the bit where the boat comes to a halt in the middle of the lake and someone plays a piece on the trumpet and you can hear it echoing across the lake.

And we got to witness an avalanche - not much to see in the photo but it was quite impressive and noisy.

petting zoo breakfast

C really is an outstanding tour guide. When A was over (weeks ago... my blog writing discipline has not been the best since moving countries...), he took us to a mini petting zoo. Not only did I get to pet the goats and donkey and admire the fluffy bunnies, we also had a lovely breakfast with - of course - mountain views.
Welcome to Bavaria!