Our Fall here in Bavaria was often unpredictable, at times disappointing, and altogether too short. However, all things considered it was gorgeous. And I believe after my muenchner fall it's settled that fall is officially my favorite season of the year...along with spring and summer ;-). But of course my seasonal preference is also highly dependent on the setting and location, as what defines spring, summer, fall and winter is relative.
In this case, fall would be defined by a pleasurably, refreshing climate infused with a cool crispness, colors that were to die for - electrifying yellows and golds, rust oranges and firey reds lit up the trees against the deep azure backdrop of the sky everywhere you turned-, the smoke of daily fires burning in the wood ovens filling the air, the comfort of sipping a warm cappuccino or some hot tea while bundled up safe and warm inside, and the crunch of leaves under your feet, or bike tires for that matter, as you made your way home. And perhaps what I like best of all about fall is witnessing the whole process of change, for fall is really a period of transition, from summer to winter. One can't helped but be struck by the trees, as they go from bright green to tinged yellow, to gold or orange or red, sometimes with the green still lingering a bit until eventually the leaves stiffen and hover to the ground and the branches are left baren and stolid, paving the way for the stark and solemn grays of the impending winter. Then the sun starts to scamper away earlier and earlier, and you recognize the nights lengthen and the days shorten, until all of the sudden daylight is a distant stranger. And not only can you see the change around you, you can feel it. The temperature gradually and slowly becomes colder and more frigid. And as the physical world around you transitions, you can't help but feel that it is somehow mirroring your own experiences. You start to become aware of the change going on inside of you. As I have said before, the only constant in life is change, and fall more than any other season is a manifestation of exactly that. And soon it will come to its natural end.
In honor of the impending departure of my new love, my friend Birgit and I took the decent weather prediction for Saturday, as a calling to do the last hiking of the year. So a little later than planned, due to an alarm fiasco on my part, we caught the BOB - not sure what it stands for but it's a train that takes you south of Munich towards the Alps - to Bayerischzell. And there we climbed a mountain...to the top! And the views it afforded, in addition to the kick-ass Schnitzel and Weissbier, made it more than worth it. Not to mention the fact that we met what is now one of my favorite dogs of all time.
I don't know his name, but I believe his story is one to tell. He is a swiss mountain dog, so black with large amounts of white and brown on his face, chest and paw areas. His owner was man that we deduced works on the mountain, maintaining the ski lifts year-round. And this dog follows him up and down and around the mountain. He runs off in all different directions, sniffing, listening, tasting and discovering just about everything. He's also quite the speedy climber, as we witnessed firsthand. From what I can tell he is a free and wild spirit, and he lives in just the right setting to do that. He leads a great life, and I was lucky enough to convince him to leave one of his many explorations to come over and let me pet him. And that I did gladly, for as long as I could hold him, which was for a grand total of ten minutes. Then he was off again!!
After our encounter with "the dog", we soaked up the last bit of day's sun, took in the most of 360 degree view from the mountain's peak, then started our meander down the mountain, through the little village and back towards the train station. Then a short hour and a half ride on the BOB later we were back in the city, back in the hustle and bustle....for better or worse. Regardless, we will always have the memories of spending one of fall's last days in a gloriously peaceful escape atop a mountain...wandering, climbing, chatting, gorging ourselves on a schnitzel and beer, and absorbing the astounding view from above. Life cannot get much better :-)
In this case, fall would be defined by a pleasurably, refreshing climate infused with a cool crispness, colors that were to die for - electrifying yellows and golds, rust oranges and firey reds lit up the trees against the deep azure backdrop of the sky everywhere you turned-, the smoke of daily fires burning in the wood ovens filling the air, the comfort of sipping a warm cappuccino or some hot tea while bundled up safe and warm inside, and the crunch of leaves under your feet, or bike tires for that matter, as you made your way home. And perhaps what I like best of all about fall is witnessing the whole process of change, for fall is really a period of transition, from summer to winter. One can't helped but be struck by the trees, as they go from bright green to tinged yellow, to gold or orange or red, sometimes with the green still lingering a bit until eventually the leaves stiffen and hover to the ground and the branches are left baren and stolid, paving the way for the stark and solemn grays of the impending winter. Then the sun starts to scamper away earlier and earlier, and you recognize the nights lengthen and the days shorten, until all of the sudden daylight is a distant stranger. And not only can you see the change around you, you can feel it. The temperature gradually and slowly becomes colder and more frigid. And as the physical world around you transitions, you can't help but feel that it is somehow mirroring your own experiences. You start to become aware of the change going on inside of you. As I have said before, the only constant in life is change, and fall more than any other season is a manifestation of exactly that. And soon it will come to its natural end.
In honor of the impending departure of my new love, my friend Birgit and I took the decent weather prediction for Saturday, as a calling to do the last hiking of the year. So a little later than planned, due to an alarm fiasco on my part, we caught the BOB - not sure what it stands for but it's a train that takes you south of Munich towards the Alps - to Bayerischzell. And there we climbed a mountain...to the top! And the views it afforded, in addition to the kick-ass Schnitzel and Weissbier, made it more than worth it. Not to mention the fact that we met what is now one of my favorite dogs of all time.
I don't know his name, but I believe his story is one to tell. He is a swiss mountain dog, so black with large amounts of white and brown on his face, chest and paw areas. His owner was man that we deduced works on the mountain, maintaining the ski lifts year-round. And this dog follows him up and down and around the mountain. He runs off in all different directions, sniffing, listening, tasting and discovering just about everything. He's also quite the speedy climber, as we witnessed firsthand. From what I can tell he is a free and wild spirit, and he lives in just the right setting to do that. He leads a great life, and I was lucky enough to convince him to leave one of his many explorations to come over and let me pet him. And that I did gladly, for as long as I could hold him, which was for a grand total of ten minutes. Then he was off again!!
After our encounter with "the dog", we soaked up the last bit of day's sun, took in the most of 360 degree view from the mountain's peak, then started our meander down the mountain, through the little village and back towards the train station. Then a short hour and a half ride on the BOB later we were back in the city, back in the hustle and bustle....for better or worse. Regardless, we will always have the memories of spending one of fall's last days in a gloriously peaceful escape atop a mountain...wandering, climbing, chatting, gorging ourselves on a schnitzel and beer, and absorbing the astounding view from above. Life cannot get much better :-)
How do you get photos into your blog?! I need that! =)
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