Our Bavarian Summer

One thing about living in the Alps is that the weather here is never boring. Bright sunny days are interrupted by weeks of rain and then sudden generosity of warmth again. The nature is alive and everchanging, hence, it seems that it can never make its mind. But I cannot dare to complain about the weather when I am surrounded by such magnificent natural sights. Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany (2962 m or 9718 ft), can be seen out of our window. It's breathtaking in any season. It feels like we live in some sort of National Park, there is actually a campground in the back of our building. Coniferous trees give out woody and fresh scent, especially after the rain. I must admit though, I do miss Utah sunshine. Other than that, all feng shui elements fall into harmonious place, and it feels good to live here.

 Zugspitze in the background and American housing (note, no pretty flowers on American balkonies, German green thumb is WAY greener)

This summer, when scorching heat has devoured my homeland, I felt both sad and blessed to be rained on so often. Sad, because I miss the heat and sunshine, blessed, because I prefer rain to wild fires. That's selfish me speaking here. The unselfish me feels sad because so much damage had been caused by this abnormal Egyptian heat in Russia. And still sad that my Mom who hoped to get all cozy and warm in the southern Bavaria had to wear sweatshirt most of the time this summer. She came to visit us in July-Aug. It was so great to have her with me, since Scott was gone the whole months of June and July, plus 2 weeks of August. I desperately needed another pair of hands around the house for the longest time. Ever since the twins were born, to be exact. She cleaned the kitchen at nights and I actually had energy to watch Russian movies with her and not fall asleep halfway. She took the older kids swimming, like 10 times in 5 weeks. She let me go to the gym, yay! And grocery shopping on my own felt like such a treat. She even gave me massages when my back stopped working for a week. We used up most sunny days to make spontaneous day trips to Zugspitze, Salzburg, Neuschwanstein, Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There is no way all that traveling with kids would have happened on my own.

Mom with kids at the reststop in Austria

Bavaria is a very pretty place in summer time. Flowers are spilling from windows and balkonies all over town.

Summer is the time for burgerfests, when local folk dresses up in dirndls and lederhosen and comes into town to show off, eat bratwursts, and drink beer.

We love to go out and walk on Marienplatz (a pedestrian zone) eating Italian ice-cream and Always stopping at the one and only toystore in town. David is always in need of something new from there to the point that his life depends on it. Thanks to our German freind Alexej we learned about sour pops, that cost only 10 cents and are very entertaining to eat. They are so sour that I am sure the kids are killing their teeth with them. But they love to see the squirmy expressions on each other's faces caused by that wicked thing. So here is our new money-saving strategy: we discuss a new Lego set, promise to remember to put it on a Santa's list, buy a couple of those funky candies and are back out on Marienplatz. This is what we see on the way to downtown.

here live bavarian peasants

Garmisch Marienplatz

Even if the weather does not cooperate, or the babies are cranky, or I feel lazy to get the twins down from the third floor, or if we are low on money, sitting out on the balkony of our apartment enjoying the view, letting babies crawl around is also a not-so-bad of an option. Especially when Mom was here.

Out on a balkony

Another beautiful rainy day in Garmisch (view from our balkony)