Day 202 – Frankfurt, Germany – 10:55 AM

After falling behind posting updates to Perpetual Footsteps while traveling through India, I have slowed again during my first eleven days in Europe.  I will attempt to summarize my first weeks in Europe in a concise fashion, unlike many previous posts. But, I make no promises.

On May 12, I departed Delhi, India with mixed emotions.  I was disappointed to leave India, a country I grew to love over the previous month.  However, I was excited to arrive in Germany, not only to explore the continent of Europe, but also to reunite with three family members.  My father, sister and brother-in-law decided to cross the Atlantic and join me for ten days in Germany and Austria.

My scheduled Emirates itinerary provided me a fourteen-hour layover in Dubai.  My quick stint in Dubai began on a sour note when I realized a clip on my small backpack became unsecured and my new running shoes were left on the plane.  I checked the lost and found several times before I departed Dubai the following morning and each time the call ended with sadness.  Needless to say, someone out there is sporting a brand new pair of Hoka running shoes.  I did not let my misplaced shoes damper my entire layover.  I secured my bags in an airport locker and hailed a cab to explore Dubai for a few hours.  My driver shuttled me around the major sights and dropped me off at the Dubai Mall. I immersed myself in the wealth and opulence that defines the city whose economy is driven by tourism, aviation and real estate, not oil, as I previously believed.  In addition, I walked to the famous Dubai fountains in the shadow of the Burj Kalifa, the tallest building in the world.

I returned to the airport after 11 PM and spent the remaining hours walking the corridors and willing myself to sleep as comfortably as possible. Which is to say not comfortably at all in a thinly cushioned airport seat.  I managed a few restless hours of slumber and felt mildly refreshed as dawn gave way to morning.  I grabbed a quick fast food breakfast and walked to my gate.  I retrieved my Emirates boarding pass and gained access to the seating area.  To my right, out the large glass window, sat an Airbus A380, the largest commercial passenger airliner in the world.

The seven-hour flight from Dubai to Frankfurt, Germany was smooth and relaxing.  The increased legroom and spacious seats were an added bonus. I deplaned in Frankfurt and ensured I did not leave anything behind; my missing sneakers still weighed heavily on my mind.

I boarded an inter-terminal shuttle and proceeded to the rental car agency in Terminal 1.  I walked inside and greeted my family members with a huge smile.  We briefly caught up as we walked to our rental car.  The following ten days proved to be a time filled with lots of laughter and a great way to begin my two months in Europe.

During our ten days, we experienced various weather conditions, landscapes and of course a wide variety of local beers.  We drove to Rudesheim, a short distance from our accommodations in Wiesbaden.  From there we boarded a small boat and started a two-hour, hop on/hop off cruise on the Rhine River.  We disembarked at Trechtingshausen and proceeded uphill to Reichenstein Castle. Built in the 12^th century, this UNESCO World Heritage site was destroyed King Rudolph I of Habsburg in 1282. While King Rudolph I refused to allow the castle to be rebuilt, future rulers of the area saw to it that the structure was restored.

We also spent one night in Rothenburg, Germany, a walled city that overlooks the Tauber River.  A weekend medieval festival was concluding when we arrived and it was something to behold.  Campsites were set up in a nearby field and each group used this area for staging.  Tents and small fires lined the space while cows, pigs and rabbits were led through the city.  Unfortunately, it rained during our brief stay in Rothenburg.  However, we were able to escape much of the elements and remain outside due to the covered walkway that is built into the perimeter wall.

Throughout our ten days together, we sampled a number of local beers at several beer houses or brauhauses, as they are known locally. Perhaps, the most well known and a recommendation of other travelers was the Hofbräuhaus, one of the oldest brewing companies in Germany and the world. Established in 1589 by Wilhelm V, the Duke of Bavaria, the Hofbräuhaus was almost entirely decimated by allied air assaults during World War II. Various drinks and foods are available but we stuck to the liter beers.  I was mildly intimidated when the waitress placed the giant glass of beer in front of me, but it went down smooth. The liter of beer, basket of pretzels and imaginative scenes of Oktoberfest made it a memorable stop during our stay in Munich.

Our last stop as a group was the small, lakeside village of Hallstatt, Austria. Hallstatt, now home to nearly 1000 citizens, made its name as a mining town centuries ago. Even still, it was only accessible by boat or narrow, wilderness trail until the late 19^th century when a road was paved. We arrived Friday afternoon under low hanging clouds. As the afternoon progressed, the clouds pulled away and revealed snow capped mountains in the distance. Now Hallstatt appeared the way I viewed it in pictures months ago. Unfortunately, we only scheduled one night in this picturesque village and needed to make the most of our time. A short afternoon hike, bookended by delicious meals, capped off Friday. It prepared us for the longer hike that we decided to attempt the following day.

Saturday morning arrived and a few lonely clouds floated in the sky. We gathered outside our hotel at 6:30 AM and began retracing our steps from the prior afternoon. We climbed the same set of stone stairs and continued past our turnaround from the day before. Steps gave way to gravel and dirt paths that switch backed up the slope. We progressed towards the overlook that we spotted during our arrival the day prior. Signs along the way provided historical background into Hallstatt and the mining industry that led to its proliferation. A layer of sweat built up under my jacket and I found myself out of breath as the morning progressed.

The sweat and heavy breathing quickly faded once we reached the top and stood aghast at the views before us. We proceeded onto the overlook and took in the expansive views of Hallstatt, various other villages that surround Hallstatt See (Lake Hallstatt) and the mountains in the fore and background. Rays of sun slowly peaked over the horizon as we photographed the scenery without another soul in sight. Waking up with the sun is not the easiest habit to maintain; but it’s the only way to experience crowd-less locations that are normally teeming with activity. Our hike was the perfect way to end our stay in Hallstatt and my relative’s ten-day European vacation.

 

* Pictures to follow