Miene Lieblingsfreundin Viktoria

Two weeks ago my best friend Viktoria came for a short visit. It's so good to have her over, because she is the best ever. She is practically a sister to me. We first met  in 2000 during Scott's first assignment to Germany. And I tell you, it was love at first sight. We met on the street and walked right up to each other pushing our babies in strollers. It must've been that our faces read something like: "I am Russian, talk to me!" What started like a German 'halo' (just in case) and a polite smile grew into the friendship of all friendships. I have no clue how such different personalities, backgraounds, experiences, and beliefs could be united into a supportive, understanding, easygoing, and fun relationship. No matter time or distance between us we just pick up right where we stopped last time. And nothing is missing or changing between us. Not when we have new babies, not when Viktoria looses her husband to cancer, and not when we have lived on different continents for a number of years. Life has transformed us in many ways, yet, we still know each other in and out and love to be together.

The weather was gorgeous that weekend. It was hard to believe that we are in the middle of January. We hiked up the Wank Mountain. The lifts did not work that day, so we just had our feet and a walking stick to help keep balance. Especially with that baby on my back.  

Alexej, Nadia (they were the babies in the strollers when Vika and I first met), I, Jan and Viktoria are about to be amazed with the view behind our backs.

My baby was very cooperative snoozing most of the time on my shoulder. Scott with his baby and all kids' coats was our awesome navigator. We would be lost without him. 

David is taking care of the planet by fishing out an empty juice box out of the puddle. 

A short rest before our final effort to make it half way to the half way point (or 1/4 of the whole way to the top). Sitting and resting on tree stumps the kids saw a bunch of deer.

Nadia and the valley of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. On the left are the east mountains with numerous ski slopes and ski jumps; snow seems to stay there for a long time. The west mountains have lots of hiking trails and some sledding hills.

Scott and Levi are taking a break from a climb.

Enjoying the view, soaking up the sun.. . ,

feeling the wind

We are ready to descend now and head for home, where Viktoria would watch our kids for the night letting Scott and I to go out (which had not happened for a long while.) And then she and I would have some tea with yummies and watch a Russian movie. It does not get better than that.