Ten months after I started my Up North trip and 9 months in the Netherlands, it was time to move Down South again and face the next adventure. (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 6)
You can also fallow the trip in Polarsteps.
Not to overload the post with pictures, most of the photos you can find at the end of it divided into galleries.
Down South – Fridolfing, Germany • 30 July- 03 August 2022
Because one of my hosts on the route has cancelled, I got a two days hole in the schedule. Ossama hosted me 2 days earlier, but that didn’t solve the problem, only postponed it.
I had another option, I thought, as one lady has said – if you need a place in Munich, just send me a message. Well, I did, but with no result… (She answered and welcomed me, but it was too late, I was already far from Munich, but I am thankful, anyway! 😊)
Wrote a bunch of new requests in the area and all the way to Salzburg with the same result. 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Then I had to ask my next host if he is able to take me earlier…
It was quite inconvenient to him, as he has another guest at the moment and bunch of planned things. It took him half a day to find a way to save my pretty ass from sleeping on the road (damn hostels were from 45€ up! Hostels!!).
Somewhere during the night he has texted me the options and I had to find a way to arrive before noon. So, I did!
Got a monthly train ticket for 9€. Although it was the last day of the month, it was still cheaper than the normal price or to pay a hostel… 🙈🙉🙊
I did try to buy it online, but three times it returned error, so before leaving I did ask Ossama to do it for me. I saw in his eyes and the whole reaction that he was afraid I am going to steal those 9 euro…
No comment… It is what it is… 🤷♀️
He has done me a favour actually, as I had to do that at the train station and fortunately the lady there was incredibly nice person.
Not only she sold me the ticket, but also found out and printed out for me the whole route with all the changes I had to make – even the locals were sure there is no buss for the last part of the route!
On top of it, when I asked for a plastic travel card for my collection (with almost no hope, because I’ve been told such a thing doesn’t exist (the same way as in Paris)), she just gave me one (completely existing) for free!! .🙏🙏
So, I managed to arrive around 13:30 at Chris’ place. He was waiting for me. Not only he saved my pretty ass, but welcomed me so warmly and with joy, so I immediately felt like being home! Thanks a million, Chris!!! 🙏🤗❤
So, he went out to his business (that’s why I had to arrive not late than noon) and left me alone to do whatever I want in his spacious and so beautiful apartment! One mistake he did though – left some beer in the fridge… 😂😂
Down South – Petting, Germany • 31 July 2022
The next day Chris took me with the car and we went to the swamp Moorweiher – a National reserve located near Petting.
My phone didn’t forget to welcome me in Austria, as we were just a couple of kilometers from the Austrian border. 😂🤦♀️
The place was unexpectedly (for a swamp) beautiful and peaceful! Although it was Sunday early afternoon, there were just a few people around. The swamp were dark brown, although on the pictures it reflects the sky and looks nicely blue. It did not harm the beauty of it, on the contrary.
The place is left to the rules of the nature. You can see little human touch around as it have been peat mine (or wherever the name of it is) – a place where back in the years hundreds of workers have been cutting peat.
Since then they have preserve the old tracks of the workers (absolutely straight lines trough the forest). There is also a spot they still keep cutting a bit of peat, maybe just for show.
And the whole place is literally covered with blueberries! Our tongueless got purple in just no time! 😁😜
But it didn’t kept us from talking! No, not at all! We spent hours there talking and sharing stories. Mostly sitting by the swamp, enjoying the astonishing view, the fresh breeze and the smell of forest!
On our way back we passed through a couple incredibly beautiful little villages. He deliberately took small tracks to be able to show me their hearts. I only regret we have no more time to walk around – it was sooooo beautiful!!!
And there was a special “tree”. Right in front of the pretty town hall covered with blooming flowers, you can see that “tree“, put there by hand on 1st of May. Every year in every village in Bavaria!
Thank you so much, Chris!!
It was a great day!
Finished with another beer, of course! 😜🍺😁
Down South – Marktschellenberg, Germany • 1 August 2022
In the morning I went around the beautiful little Fridolfing by myself, as Chris was working night shifts at the moment and had to have some sleep.
It was so nice experience! Everyone on the way was smiling and greeted me, although it was obvious I am not local. No one seemed to care – I was there, therefore I was their neighbour! It felt so nice and warm.
At noon I got back and when Chris woke up, we went to the Alps.
I was so excited! THE Alps!
Yeah, we didn’t have the whole day, so couldn’t get to the top of any peak there, but nevertheless it was so amazingly beautiful!
The last working marble mill we saw were such an interesting machinery – didn’t even know such a thing exists.
And the water is so crystal clear and transparent, that if it’s still, you can never guess there is any!
We enjoyed our walk, chatted a lot, even tested my GoPro how waterproof is it in the ice cold Alps water. 😁😈
Yeah, they have done really good job there! 👌
At the evening we got back so late, just a couple of minutes before Chris’ shift start… 🤦♀️
We had such a great time!!!
Thank you for that memorable experience, Chris!!! 🙏🤗🙏
Down South – Pietling, Germany • 3 August 2022
The last day I went to a short stroll around and emerged in a farm village. The smell of the cow farms and freshly cut grass turning into straw for the cows’ winter feed, the friendly smiling people around… All that brought me back to my childhood…
At the same time it was so different – the farm did not look like farms (only smell that way, LOL), they look like a big wealthy houses. Everything so clean, tidy and beautiful around!
And I as wondering why all the cows are kept inside at that good weather instead of being let to graze on the meadows. Then I realised there were just no meadows around! Every centimeter of the land was already in use…
It was really short stroll as I had to get back on the computer to find a place for the next step. There was an option an old friend of mine to pass nearby and take me with the truck, but he just called, that they changed the schedule and he is not sure of the next route.
My host Chris, that amazing person, who accepted me two days earlier than planned, already gave me one day in addition to wait for my friend, so it was just out of question to ask him for anything more.
Instead of two days, I have been staying already five!!! We did have a great time, indeed, still one should not overuse the hospitality of the people!
So, I accepted the situation and sat to write requests and plan the next stop. Then my friend did call and said – wait for me there, I should arrive at the early afternoon tomorrow… 😁🙏🤗
Just to remind you – I am always suffering of seasickness on a long trip with a car, buss, etc. And now I plan to travel with a truck for 4-5 days…
That would be fun! 😆😜😁
Супер си!