Whilst sitting upstairs watching snowfall was absolutely enthralling, it was also a great time waster and it was noon before we were all rugged up and setting off for town which is about five minutes drive away.
The snow ploughs had been out early and the road was fine. Fortunately we found an easy park for Gunther and set out for the laundromat, still in the same spot that we remembered from 2008.
Washing in, we called into the Tourist Office and then set out for a wander around town. Unfortunately, at this point rain became the dominant weather pattern but not really heavy enough to penetrate the good old Kathmandu jacket so didn't deter us too much.
The town is dressed in its Christmas best with beautiful Christmas trees sprinkled with snow ( the real kind, not what comes with the tree out if the box in Oz!), giant wooden toys and little stalls selling the ubiquitous Glühwein everywhere. Locals were gathered in small groups at the stalls catching up over a hot Glühwein and a sausage, unperturbed by the light rain.
Unfortunately Zoe was still feeling unwell so we packed her and Tannika into a taxi for home whilst the rest of us tended the washing machines.
We did manage to fit in a delicious venison goulash for lunch though and were still in town at 3 pm when shots rang out from the hillside above signalling the traditional Berchtesgaden Christmas shooters.
“A week before Christmas Eve, starting on December 17th, the Christkind 'Christ-child' is 'rung in' by church bells and also 'shot in' to the sound of large saluting guns. In Germany, it is often Christkind who brings children gifts at Christmas and he is welcomed by a gun salute on Christmas Eve at the same time as the ringing of the church bells.”
Russell managed to secure duck breasts and pomegranate for his signature dish and as darkness descended rapidly we returned home. We are still finding it quite difficult to get used to such an early nightfall and find ourselves preparing dinner and then realising its only 5 o' clock 🙂
Dinner was sensational ( and I'm sure our landlady didn't hear the smoke alarms once!) Sam did have to run next door at the last minute armed with a google translation for corn flour but the substitute worked perfectly.
Zoe unfortunately is still on toast rations but accompanied by a 'vintage vegemite' it looked passable.
More rain is forecast tomorrow unfortunately but it doesn't spoil this winter wonderland for us.