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Snow vacation. There is nothing like hiking through the snow, watching the fascinating snowscape, and to warm up with a hot chocolate.
For our 4th vacation trip in 2009 we went to Oberstdorf once again. Our friend Rainer took us to the railway station where we entered the Glitterland-Express. [We believe the actual name of this train is somehow different, something like IC 2010 or similar ...]
The train journey was quite relaxing and we arrived on schedule. After putting the cases to Hotel Alpjuwel where we had rented a small and very nice appartement we had our diner and a look around in the city.
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| the living room | "smoker's loggia" |
On the second day it started snowing. At first it only rained but later more and more snowflakes were mixed in the rain. Even later only snow fell down. Even later very much snow came down. Winter had come at the same time as we had come to Oberstdorf! Some hours later the world looked like that:
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A depth of snow more than 2 inches is a great event for people coming from the Lower Rhine plain! We undertook (moderate) hiking tours through the region, for example to Heini Klopfer jump arena: |     |
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We trudged through the snow which was not really very deep but left a deep impression. Throughout this holiday our tours never lasted more then three hours because both of us had caught a cold. Most annoying sight during those hikes was this small, red sign on the signposts saying "Location closed" ...  |
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As everybody is preparing for the main season (which starts around mid of december) app. 80% of restaurants, pubs and mountain pastures are closed. Moreover, 100% of all cableways are closed for the annual inspection - no chance to get to the real attractions. So nothing else remains to be done than enjoying the white environment - very well then: |
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We made a detour to the christmas market in Oberstdorf of course. On each saturday - instead of sundays - a further candle is lighted on the advent wreath. The city of Oberstdorf takes this occasion to celebrate the event. Local representatives like spa director or pastor are as well present as local musicians as well as the so-called "Klausen": young people in traditional costumes who conquer the city on each 6th of december. This old habit is most up-to-date under the youth as this is the big chance for hoaxing and thumbing drinks for free, or even bashing tourists (local people prefer to stay home after 7 pm on that day). By the way - the candles are app. 3 yards tall - they would not fit on any table... On the christmas market we examined the boothes with their different goods. We especially examined the booth with burnt punch - a typical german antifreeze fluid sold on the markets throughout christmas time. Here, in the heart of Bavaria, it was laced with rum - HALLELUJAH! |
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| After some glasses of burnt punch Birgit came on to another bozo - a local guy since 1977: I-R-O-N C-H-R-I-S uuh Saint Christopherus, created by the native Oberstdorf artist Maximilian Ruess. |
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Eleven days of vacation were consumed quickly. In a few years we will surely spend another vacation in this nice corner of Germany. But not around begin of december when it is a dead loss. |
