An American Back in Bavaria / Part # 4 / Kampenwand Hike

GAPP Exchange Journal 2014

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Part # 4 / Kampenwand Hike

 Rugged Kampenwand Trail

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We continued on our tour of the top of the world, walking the trail wrapping around the summit of Kampenwand Mountain in the Chiemgau Alps.  Lake Chiemsee had just come into view in the valley below.  It was a beautiful day full of sunshine but slightly hazy in the midday heat of summer.  We were making our way toward a small mountain top restaurant nestled in the middle of the mountains.  As we got closer to our destination, more Alpine cows were seen grazing on the lush green grass of the nearby hillsides.  The curving path began to straighten out at the base of a steep ridge of solid rock just above us on the right hand side of the mountain.  As before, a large erected cross marked the high spot of the ridge above us, where successful climbers were massed at its base.  Erwin, my Bavarian friend and guide on this trip, told me he once climbed to the summit as a younger man but now was content to sit in a cafe in the summit's shadow, enjoying a refreshing cool drink!  Sounded good to me!

Cross at Ridge Summit of Kampenwand

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We walked along the face of the 500 foot tall ridge, watching people perilously climb upward toward the location of the cross.  We came to the crowded small cafe style restaurant and Erwin went in search of seating for all of us.  The place was surrounded by wooden fencing with a wide swinging wooden fence gate that opened to allow patrons access to the tables.  What a strange doorway for a restaurant?  It puzzled me somewhat until I saw a cow walk by... Ok, now I get it.  I continued to forget, I was really walking through a massive cow pasture and the gate was to keep the cows from entering the cafe!  The cafe and accompanying cottage was called Steinling Alm and offered foods created from local Alpine farmers in the form of vegetables, meats, and cheeses.  The site also offered lodgings for overnight guests within the stone cottage, located a few short steps from the cafe.  The site is so remote, I could not figure out how the food and other supplies were delivered, especially during inclement weather. 

 Steinling Alm Mountainside Cafe

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The fare is traditional Bavarian and I once again put my trust in my German speaking companions to order me something from the foreign menu.  My food included rye bread, fresh vegetables, sliced sausages, luncheon meats, and several kinds of cheeses.  The contents of my lunch were most likely courtesy of my newly made friends, the Alpine cows I met earlier!   The food was great and my plate was bare within a few minutes.  I excused myself to go and explore the area in more detail as the others finished their meal.  There was a small chapel further up the path, which I assumed was a stop for the many pilgrims who journey this pathway.  As I proceeded a little further beyond the chapel, there were several more mountain top summits visible in the distance, each marked with a large cross.  There were also many more cows grazing on the steep grass covered foothills and others laying down to rest in a large group directly in front of me.  Which ones should I thank for the butter and cheeses in my lunch?  I played it safe and said "Danke" to them all!

 Traditional Alpine Fare

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I soon caught up with my party and we headed back up the mountainside trail, which gave us all a different perspective of the same previous views from above and below.  The kids were resilient, preferring to walk much of the way on their own, which helped make the stroller much easier to maneuver on the rocky trail.  Leo, Amalie, and Rosalie took it all in as a matter of course as little Alpine hikers in training.  I noticed rows of perpendicular wooden cribs suspended by thick wires nested within the rock crevasse at various intervals directly above our position and asked Erwin their purpose.  He replied they were strategically placed to protect people on the trail during winter from being swept away by potential avalanches.  Wow, once again I was reminded I was now in the Alps!  Soon we retraced our steps around the rim of the steep cliff drop off and I felt myself instinctively drift left toward the mountain side, a safer line of travel, despite the current season of the year!  

The Mountaintop Chapel

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The sun was hot and Erwin and I, as the older guys within our group and burdened with the convenient excuse of the stroller, fell further behind the youthful women and children who were now out of site.  We took several short breaks to catch our breath, as this was still the Alps after all.  However, I was all soon all alone as I continued to stop to take pictures, not wanting to later regret any missed opportunities to capture digital memories.  There were several other Alpine residences periodically dotting the landscape, that were either private homes or other lodges.  Either way, what a view to take in during morning coffee!  I eventually caught up to everyone who were all taking in the view from both sides of the ridge by the cable car station.  We got in line and waited our turn once again, divided into two groups to board the moving car.  The ride down was equally thrilling as you could see the ground level station far below.  Across the way a formidable stone castle came into view known as the Schloss Hohenaschau, a fortress first constructed during the 12th Century.

Descent View of Chiemgau

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The red terracotta rooftops of the town became larger and more distinct with the descent of our cable car.  Soon we were back on level ground with Kampenwand Mountain of the Chiemgau Alps towering boldly overhead.  We briefly stopped in the small gift shop where I was able to purchase a collector's pin to add to my collection of visited Bavarian sites.  We started our drive toward home through the colorful streets of Chiemgau and I hoped I may return one day to explore the town streets and hilltop castle of this amazing place.  It was a beautiful day and once again and I was completely blown away by the things I got to do and see.  A cable car ride, Alpine cows, hiking in the Alps, lunch at a mountaintop cafe, seeing para gliders, and mountain climbers...  I was wondering what other surprises were yet undiscovered on this three week adventure.  Tomorrow was another day, I can't wait! 

Leo, Amalie, Angela, Rosalie, Wendy, and Chef

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An American Back in Bavaria / Part # 3 / Kampenwand Climb

GAPP Exchange Journal 2014

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Part # 3 / Kampenwand Climb

Cable Car Ride to Summit

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On this day trip adventure, I was told we were going to go hiking in the Alps but it would be an easy climb.  Alps and easy climb didn't seem to go together in my mind but when in Bavaria... Wendy and I would be accompanied by my host Angela Shadhauser, her father Erwin, and the kids.  If little Leo, Amalie, and Rosalie could handle the climb, I think I can make it!  I rode with Erwin and exchanged great conversation, catching up with one another since my last visit.  Mr. Schadhauser, who was locally famous for his delicious backyard goulash, was one of my favorite people to spend time with during my last visit.  He had visited one of his sons in California the previous summer and was telling me all about his extensive trip to the western coast of the United States.  He drove his Mercedes with precision through the twisting and turning rural roads of the countryside, as I attempted to absorb every detail of the ever changing picturesque setting that is Bavaria.  Again, I can't believe I am here!  

View from the Summit

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We passed through a beautiful small town known as Chiemgau and soon turned into a parking lot where we met up with Wendy, Angela, and the kids.  I immediately noticed the colorful cable cars scaling the steep mountainside through a gap cut through the evergreen trees.  Now, this was my kind of mountain climbing!  Mr. Shadhauser secured us all tickets and we boarded into two separate cable cars to climb the 4,921 feet to the top.  The ride provided amazing views from all sides and one window was down a few inches, allowing me to get some unobstructed amazing shots of our ascent with my camera.  The mountain face was occasionally broken up by large formations of sharp bright rock that stood out in stark contrast to the deep lush green blanket of endless evergreens.  The ride went on for what seemed like several long minutes but was smooth and relaxing.  We stepped out of the moving cars with care and climbed a short staircase to exit the station where we encountered an amazing view.  On one side was the view of Chiemgau and the accompanying expansive valley far below and on the opposite side, the distant higher snow capped Alps.  It was very humbling!

Sonnenalm Summit Restaurant

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After taking in the views and a few pictures we decided to scale the mountain a little higher by way of a pathway of switchbacks that rose toward a large protruding  rock face.  On our way to the pathway, we passed by a mountain top restaurant known as the Sonnenalm, which serves the community year round with meals, weddings, and various special events.  It resembled a small ski resort with wide panoramic windows and a large outdoor deck full of available seating.  In winter, the topside area transforms itself slightly, to cater to winter sports enthusiasts.  I later learned, a favorite pastime of winter visitors was to take the cable car up to the summit, grab a bite to eat at the Sonnenalm, and then ski all the way down to the lower station.  We began the climb upward, which was a little challenging with a stroller, which Mr. Schadhauser and I took turns pushing and lifting up the pathway.  Soon I began to hear the sound of a distant bell that became louder as we climbed.  I could not figure out who would be ringing a bell all the way up here and why?

Real Genuine Alpine Cows

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As I rounded the final turn in the path, I was suddenly blown away by the sight before me!  Several large Alpine cows were resting on top of the mountain with large leather collars each supporting an equally large cow bell!  Where was the farmer?  In fact, nowhere in sight.  The cows roam free and were as tame as any household pet. Kids of all ages stopped to greet the four legged hikers, who seemed to be relaxing in the warm midday sun and enjoying the beautiful views like everyone else.  A nearby gathering spot supported a large wooden cross, a common site in Bavaria at mountain summits.  I would see several more today as each individual peak within sight housed its own religious themed cross.  Some people hike great distances on religious pilgrimages to a specific sacred end points by way of the mountains passes. Some pilgrims scale to each peak's cross along the way to challenge themselves as part of their quest and as a personal sacrifice of their faith.

  Amalie on Top of the World

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After taking some photos and hanging out with my new friends, the Alpine cows, we continued on our way on the path that curved around the side of the mountain.  The view continued to reveal more amazing perspectives of the valley below and the towering rock formations above.  My eye caught several small dots of bright colors that turned out to be tiny mountain climbers slowly scaling the rock face far above us.  Below, a para-glider with a bright orange sail chute glided over the surface of the sky, occasionally rising sharply upward on thermal updrafts.  It was a true adult playground of thrill seeking activity for mountain enthusiasts of all skill levels.  I had never been in such an environment before, with such extreme rock formations jutting outward around me.  The green tree covered sides of the mountains appeared soft, in contrast to the rock spires that were sharp and full of suggested danger.  

Can You See the Mountain Climbers?

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As we continued on our way around the mountain top, we began to descend slightly, around additional large rock spires and a sharp ledge that dropped several hundred feet straight down.  I could only imagine how much more treacherous this hike would be in winter, covered with snow.  Snow hiking is also a popular winter activity at Kampenwand, but I think I'll pass and stick to the summer months.  As we followed the curve of the path, the main attraction of the valley view below came into focus. Lake Chiemsee, which is also known as the Bavarian Sea, came into view far below. The massive lake, that Wendy and I had visited two years earlier with Angela and Mr. Schadhauser, was laid out below like a large flat unfolded map.  The sky was slightly hazy, which obscured the fine details of the outline of the lake but it was certainly there.  I had no idea we were that close to Lake Chiemsee, but needed no help in identifying it, since the two islands contained within it were easily seen.   In our next segment, we will continue to explore more of the hiking trails of Kampenwand  Mountain.  Stay tuned...     

Lake Chiemsee / The Bavarian Sea

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An American Back in Bavaria / Part # 2 / The Fuggerei

GAPP Exchange Journal 2014

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Part # 2 / Augsburg - The Fuggerei

Corner Fountain of the Fuggerei

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We continued on our tour through the historic city of Augsburg in Bavaria.  After having a great lunch and touring City Hall, we checked out the map of attractions and selected the Fuggerei as our next stop.  The Fuggerei is a housing project of interconnected town homes constructed for the poor citizens of the city long ago.  The picturesque enclosed living site is the most popular attraction in the city for tourists.  Annette, who was a previous native of the city, guided us through the old cobblestone streets toward the site.  Upon arrival, we passed through an arched gate to enter the interior of the housing project.  All the buildings were neatly painted in soft yellow and accented with light green shutters.  Some of the buildings were covered by vines that were lush with thick green foliage, which were squarely trimmed around the shape of any invaded windows.  The accompanying streets were clean, neatly swept, and void of any sign of debris from man or nature.  The Fuggerei was a perfect example of the traditional German preference for pristine neatness and structured uniformity.

Jakob Fugger and Sibylle Artzt 

(Painting Credit / Hans Burgkmair the Elder - 1498)

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The Fugger family had made a fortune in the Augsburg area by investing in the local mercantile, mining, forestry, and banking industries.  Legend says Jakob Fugger who was known as Jakob Fugger the Rich, was told by a Catholic priest that the wealthy could never get into heaven upon their death because they lived so well on earth and took more than their fair share of available assets earned from the hard labor of the poor.  As a result of that conversation, Jakob Fugger was inspired into action and decided to give something back to the community that had been so good to his financial bottom line.  In 1516, he founded the Fuggerei, which was designed to be a public housing project, built to shelter the poor and downtrodden citizens of Augsburg.  Within seven years, 52 apartment style units had been constructed and were ready for occupancy.  Eligible residents needed to be of the Roman Catholic faith, be poor but without outstanding debts, and were required to say three prayers a day for the Fugger family to help the founders of the community get into heaven.  The prayers were rumored to be continued long after the death of Jakob Fugger in 1525, just in case he didn't pass through the "pearly gates" right away.

Fuggerei Interior Space / Bedroom

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Over time, 67 total buildings were constructed that contained 147 identical apartments that each included a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and a small spare room, which totaled about 600 square feet of living space.  The annual rent of one Gulden (.88 Euros) for each apartment has not changed since the project's first year of operation.  I was surprised to find out during our tour that families still live in the apartments of the Fuggerei, making it the oldest continuously inhabited housing project in history.  Ironically, the fee for tourists to visit the Fuggerei is four Euros, which is more than four times the annual rent for the current residents.  The tourist fee helps support the upkeep of the interior streets, common outdoor areas, and the Fuggerei Museum.  The museum is housed in one of the apartments and allows visitors to see what the units look like on the inside.  The interior model appeared to be decorated with traditional furniture from long past but today's units were said to have all the modern conveniences found standard in any twenty-first-century home today.  However, I would imagine it would be tough, living in a tourist attraction full time, with strangers continuously checking out your home and neighborhood.  People who live within the second floor apartments probably have more privacy but don't have the nice rear patio space, garden shed, and small backyard of first floor residents.

Vine Covered Walls of the Fuggerei

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The Fuggerei was like a walled medieval city nested within the city of Augsburg.  In fact, the five outside entrances into the walled housing project close and lock at 10PM each night.  I imagine, the place comes alive at night, when the tourists are absent and people can fully relax and be a true community.  Like most places in Germany, Augsburg was a target during World War II due to its extensive industrial sites located throughout the city.  The Fuggerei was heavily damaged during allied bombing raids.  As a result, the Fuggerei had an underground bunker for residents to take refuge when the fearsome air raid warning sirens sounded.  The bunker is part of the Fuggerei Museum and open to the public.  Exploring the underground vaults was an uncomfortable experience as the spaces were filled with historical displays containing artifacts and photographs, which were accented by the muffled sound of air raid sirens.  I can only imagine what it would have been like to be crouched within the cramped concrete space in complete darkness as the sound of explosions were destroying your town and home a few feet above your head.  It was comforting to exit up the stairs outside and emerge in the fresh air and sunlight to find everything still intact.  The museum bunker was just one example of how Augsburg is confronting the negative aspects of its connection to Germany's Nazi past.

  Corner Fountain in Bomb Ravaged Fuggerei

(Photograph Credit / Fuggerei Bunker Museum)

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After visiting the Bunker we took a short break and sat on some benches in the shade of several trees to escape the heat of the summer sun.  After World War II the damaged sections of the Fuggerei were rebuilt to the original specifications to preserve the history of this special place.  The surrounding vegetation was beautiful with gardens, shrubs, and flowerbeds.  Despite financial hardship, the current residents of the Fuggerei were proud of their property and invested their labor to make it beautiful and full of color.  The frontal facade of the buildings were uniform in presentation but individual personality was tastefully expressed within each rear patio space and accompanying garden.  We continued to encircle the massive property, taking in all the sights, wondering who lived behind each identical doorway and what hardships may have brought each to this thankful place of refuge.  A bust statue of Jakob Fugger was found within a small common area, making me wonder if they still said the prayers for him.  I found myself hoping he made it to heaven for his three dimensional institution of charity.  The property is still supported financially from a trust fund first set up by the Fugger family almost 500 years ago, which has continuously benefited the site for centuries.  It's the gift that keeps on giving...

Rear Garden and Patio Spaces

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 It was time to leave the Fuggerei and go outside the walled housing project to see what else the beautiful old city had to offer before our time was up.  We ventured back out onto the cobblestone streets and made our way back up to the main street known as the Maximilianstrasse.  We were now ready for some light refreshment and stopped by one of the many street-side outdoor cafes for ice cream, apple strudel, and complimenting beverage.  It was a hot day and taking time out to rest periodically made our visit more like a tour and less like a marathon.  After our relaxing break, we went on to visit three churches including Saint Ulrich, Saint Anne, and the High Cathedral of Augsburg.  Each church was different in design, style, and decor, beautiful in their own individual elegance.  Despite their stark differences in ornamentation, all shared a graceful interior theme of peaceful sanctity.  The sun was just about to start its descent in the western sky and we were all running out of energy.  We said goodbye to the old city of Augsburg as we retraced our way back to the parking garage.  We once again walked along the picturesque canals of the working class guild district and passed by the ancient remaining exterior medieval wall and accompanying moat that still guarded the city.  Thanks to our good friend Annette Bock for a fantastic day and tour of her historically beautiful hometown!

Parting Shots of the Fuggerei

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