Hello Guys,
and welcome to the second part of my blog post about my vacation at home in Kempten, Bavaria. As we spent the first week visiting cities, playing games, and bouldering, we decided to hike some more in the second part of our vacation.
On Monday (09.07.) we visited Isny and Wangen, to see some small cities in the region of Kempten. Isny is a very small place with nice stores. After visiting the shops, we ate Asian food from a small Vietnamese shop called Hung & Khang. They prepare their food fresh and it is very tasty. At the moment, because of Corona, they only offer take-away. If it is not too cold, you can get it and eat it next to the pound, 3 minutes from the store. The parking is free in Isny, while you have to pay for it in Wangen. Wangen is a little bit bigger, but also very nice. I think the houses are even more beautiful than in Isny. We drank Cappuccino at the Fideslisbäck while sitting in the sun. The coffee is very good and you can get small things to eat, like salads or sandwiches, if you are hungry. As we were in the mood to walk in nature, we decided to walk along a river near Wangen. The hike actually ended more in an adventure than planned, as we once took the wrong path. We started climbing a small mountain which made us lose time. The path was steep at some points, with ropes to help you mount it. As we started our hike near 4 o’clock, and the sun went down at 8, while the hike takes more than three hours, we had no time for detours. Being in the dark in the forest is not very funny. One more wrong path and we would have been lost in the woods in the dark, with no battery left on the phone. Happily, we were lucky and took the right paths to go back to the car. We arrived right before it was dark.
As we decided to use the rest of our time to hike and see nature, we went to Baad (Austria) on Tuesday (09.08.). Actually, we only realized that Baad is in Austria when we passed the border. The hike we chose takes around three hours and offers incredible views on the Kleinwalsertal. We mounted a mountain until we arrived at the Stierhofalpe, where we ate regional food and drank fresh milk. They offer fresh cheese and sausages from their cows and homemade cake. Do not expect real meals, as there are none. But, you have a beautiful view from there, plus horses and cows walking free. The whole trip was not too tiring, while I recommend the Kleinwalsertal, which is truly beautiful and a must-see.
As we enjoyed the market so much (see part one of the blog post), we went back to eat Weißwurst and Brezel again on Wednesday (09.09.). After the unexpected hike on Monday, we wanted to experience some more adventure by trying a via Ferrata (Klettersteig). We found a Klettersteig near Garmisch Partenkirchen, which was described as easy and adequate for beginners. Furthermore, you do not need special equipment and there is another way down. Sounds perfect! We just bought some walking boots for Julia, as they are necessary for hikes. As the hike starts in Ettal, you can start by visiting the monastery of Ettal, which is astounding and for free. After the visit, we started our hike to experience our first Klettersteig. How exciting! Well, the hike was exhausting, even if it lasted only for two hours. Then the surprise: the via Ferrata was not what we imagined. We thought that it is a very small path next to the edge with a rope to secure yourself. Like the trail, we used on Monday. In reality, it was a steep stone, you had to climb up. As we knew there will be another path down, we still decided to mount. I mean, we went through two hours of exhausting hiking just to experience a Klettersteig. While mounting we met a couple which was secured by climbing equipment and had problems to decent, as the girl was scared. I said: well we will definitively take the other way down. The girl answered: what another way? Julia and me panicking. The couple then said that they did not take a good look, so maybe they did not see the other path. Also, they mentioned that the view is worth it. As we were already near to the top, Julia and I decided to continue and to hope that there really is another path. When I arrived at the top, Julia (which was behind me) asked if we are gonna die. I answered yes, duck, and sat down on the ground. I have to admit that the view was the best one I have ever had. The problem was, that both Julia and I are a little bit scared of heights. Ok, maybe a little is an understatement. As the surface of the top of the mountain was not very large, we both just sat there and tried not to panic. It was difficult to enjoy the view. Also, we realized that we really have to go back all the way down, with only a rope to secure us. Right above the edge with a height of 1633 m. Not very reassuring. We spent some time on top, trying to calm down and prepare for the descent. At least I took some pictures, trying to make the trip worth it. Happily, we made it safe and sound back to the ground. What an experience! And maybe not only our first but also our last Klettersteig.
After the adrenaline of feeling as if we were gonna die on Wednesday, we decided on an easier hike on Thursday (09.10.). Therefore, we went to the castle Neuschwanstein to walk around the lake. The hike was very beautiful and less tiring than the hike of the Ettaler Mandl, even if our legs still burned from the day before. There are some small paths next to the edge, but nothing dangerous. You should still wear hiking boots to have a good grip. While hiking, you pass several nice spots and have most of the time a great view of the castles and the lake. As the castles are next to Füssen, we went there afterwards to visit the city. While the parking at the castles was very expensive (8 euros), you can park for free in Füssen in the evening. The streets are very beautiful, especially at night. As we ate nothing since the morning, we went to an Italian restaurant called La Perla for dinner. The food was incredibly good and the servant was funny and polite. We shared two meals and had a Tiramisu for dessert. The Tiramisu is the only thing I can not recommend, as it was not as good as the main courses. If you are not a fan of Italian food, there are many well-rated restaurants in Füssen. Therefore, if you are in the region you should really visit the castles and Füssen.
After all the hiking we were tired on Friday (09.11.). We just went to the Hopfensee near Füssen. It is a very clean and small lake, where you can go for a swim. As we were so tired, we just played Carcassonne and relaxed on the grass next to the water.
Well, we became big fans of the Weißwurst breakfast on the market, so we went back there on Saturday (09.12.). Right next to the coffee stand is a bakery stand, where you can buy fresh cake and bread. We bought two pieces of cake, which were very tasty. After the market, we left for a quick hike around Oberstdorf, which is only 30 minutes away. The city is bigger than, for example, Kempten and offers many shops and restaurants. The mountains around Oberstdorf are high and beautiful, with many hikes to discover. It is a great choice if you do not want to drive until Austria to hike. In the evening a streetfood festival started in Kempten. We tried multiple dishes such as buffalo burger, potatoes chips, and pulled beef. The burger was with meat and mozzarella from buffalo and was different than other burgers. Normally I am not a big fan of burgers, but this one was just incredible. Maybe you try it one day, it is worth it.
At first, we wanted to go to a lake for a swim on Sunday (09.13.), as it was a hot and sunny day. As we were not in the mood, we first went bouldering in the morning and then went back to the street food market in Kempten. We again ate a buffalo burger and potato chips, as they have been so good. Then our trip was at the end and we went back to Stuttgart.
So, now you know how we spent our two week holiday at Kempten. The time was amazing, also as I have not spent as much time with my best friend since 2014. When you are older, you just do not have as much time as when you are still at school. We enjoyed the time and the region of the Allgäu. There is a lot to do, so it never gets tiring. There are endless mountains to mount, cities to visit, restaurants to try, and cows to stroke. Even when it is rainy, you can go for a walk, visit a city and go shopping, go bouldering or at a therme to relax. Maybe I will see you one day here. I am already sad that I will leave in February (suspense), but I am definitively coming back!
Love, Eileen
