Day 1-- July 25, 2009
The big day! We have been looking forward to this trip for so long. Two weeks "away." I hope we're not placing too much expectation on our vacation but I have to say that the prospect of leaving home for the sake of a "holiday" is absolutely intoxicating. Only happy days ahead- whoo hoo!
We managed to leave by 5:15. Klaus made some sandwiches, I got the last things stuffed into the trunk and we headed off into the sunrise listening to the Bullock Brothers... (Forget the Queen, God save ME!) There were a few light showers but by the time we reached Cologne the sun was breaking through- certainly a good sign. It doesn't take much to excite me so I was snapping away at the passing countryside... I've lived here for over eight years now but the sight of a castle still makes me giddy.
We made it to Baden Wuertenberg and decided to stretch our legs at one of the bigger rest stops. The state police were hosting a family fun day there with safety exhibits and activities for the kids. The boys got to sit on a police motorcycle and get their fingers printed and we got to talk to the police about the surest route... The navi was redirecting us due to a 27-km long traffic jam. (Unfortunately, a fact of life during all school breaks across Europe). An officer told us that the route the navi had planned was good, but for the same amount of time we could cut south and circle around Lake Constance. His exact words, "You are on vacation, now you have the time to enjoy the scenery." To protect and to serve indeed! I probably shot off 30 pictures as we neared the Lake; the majestic mountains, crystal blue water shimmering in the summer sun, lazy white sails, miles and miles of vineyards- beautiful! We stopped for a picnic lunch and walked around the shore. One of my favorite memories is of the Moewen begging for food- we would throw a morsel into the air and they'd catch it. The boys loved this and the birds probably got more to eat than we did. It was a lovely afternoon but the mountains were calling and we headed out dizzy with vacation anticipation. Twenty minutes later we were crossing into Austria grateful for the navi. Anyone driving past us would surely have laughed... German tourists with their mouths hanging open in awe for at least 60 miles. Through the mountain tunnels (some longer than 20 km) past crystal white rivers.. we found our village and then the Haus Brandenburg- a little Alpine house (1 of around 20) nestled into the side of a mountain. Hard to imagine that we'd left Nienborg only 11 hours ago. The charming Frau Kerber showed us to our apartment and reminded us more than once that this is our vacation- we should relax and recharge.
The first thing we did in Kappl was get our bearings. We headed to the market for rations (everything would be closed on Sunday) and walked around the quaint city center. Unpacking was a breeze and by 7 o'clock we were sitting at the ornate Gaeststatte Hirsch drinking Austrian beer and eating Wiener schnitzle. Happy. Exhausted. Ready to enjoy.
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