Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

It was another great weekend (July 22-24) for us and a chance for me to visit another part of Germany that I had not been to before. This time it was Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Kate had been there before on a work related matter but this time it was much more pleasant experience. We went down to Garmisch to attend a marriage enrichment seminar put on by the army’s chaplain office here in Ansbach. The seminar was held at the brand new military R&R hotel (Edelweiss Lodge & Resort) located in Garmisch. Beautiful mountains and meadows surround the Edelweiss Resort. The room, facilities and meals were outstanding. Buffet style breakfast and dinner with a desert bar to die for. This was not a weekend to even hint of thinking about dieting.

The seminar was conducted by the senior army chaplain in our area who did an outstanding job. I believe there were twelve couples and of course we happen to be the oldest and also the longest married. We even beat out the chaplain and his wife by two months. There was good interaction throughout the seminar by most of the couples. The only minor dilemma was that some of Kate’s clients were also among the couples but there was no noticeable problems or embarrassments. It was a good seminar and we both said we would love to attend again in the future.

What also was especially nice about the seminar was that there was a lot of free time, which allowed us plenty of time to sightsee not only Garmisch and Partenkirchen but also some of the surrounding areas. The villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen combined into one village many years ago. The villages are filled with many beautiful buildings; many built hundreds of years ago. Here are some street scenes of this beautiful village.

I have commented before how great I enjoy German food. While in Garmisch we stopped for lunch in this neat little combination restaurant and hotel. The interior was extremely interesting and ornate and the food was great. In the evening this restaurant has an accordion player and folk dancers which we later had a chance to enjoy. I’ve included a picture of the restaurant and the folk dancers and the people enjoying the entertainment.

We had a free afternoon during the seminar and decided to explore Linderhof Castle. This is one of three castles built by King Ludwig II. King Ludwig or “Mad King Ludwig” is better known for his building Neuschwanstein Castle. Neuschwanstein was the castle Walt Disney used as a model for his Disneyland castle. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit Neuschwanstein and so opted for Linderhof. Linderhof was the only castle finished during the reign of King Ludwig. It was also his favorite and smallest castle. Although relatively small, it was extremely well furnished as you can see from the crystal candelabra and ornate gold trim. Twelve pounds of gold leaf were used in the construction of this castle. The exterior grounds of 198 acres create an ideal blend of forest and mountain tranquility combined with the beautiful gardens and statutes.

A short note about King Ludwig, he was a shy recluse. So much so that in his dining room was a table that could be raised and lowered from the kitchen below, allowing the king to remain undisturbed during his meal times. Sort of a first for room service. Although shy, King Ludwig enjoyed looking at himself in the mirrors that filled the castle. He even had one directly across the dining room table so he could look at himself while he ate.

King Ludwig died mysteriously. Many people believe that he was murdered as he was bankrupting Bavaria in the construction of these three castles. From 1885 foreign banks threatened to seize his property. The king's refusal to react rationally led the government to declare him insane and depose him in 1886. Ludwig II was interned in Berg Palace. The next day he died in mysterious circumstances in Lake Starnberg, together with the psychiatrist who had certified him as insane.

After leaving Linderhof, Kate and I stopped at a Benedictine Abbey. Although the church and grounds were nice the liqueur made by the monks caught my attention and I wound up buying three bottles.

We had a wonderful weekend in Garmisch and look forward to returning again. There are so many beautiful places to see and this has just been another. I can’t wait for the next voyage of discovery.

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