Background
I have talked about the German Caribbean before. It was long before I had decided what this blog was going to be about. Back then I was still trying to find my voice — trying to figure it out. Eventually, I decided that this blog would be about authenticity: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly. About my personal journey to joy.
So I find it most fitting to repost this story. Not like the typical 1–10 list primarily consisting of recommendations about food or sleeping accommodations. More about the why, the how, and the feeling. I find that most fulfilling.
So, here is the repost.
In 2021, I was kind of tired of waiting. I was constantly waiting around for something to happen — waiting for people to join me in travels, for nights out in the city. Just waiting for life.
So, after my dear friend told me about Eibsee, I was speechless. The pictures were amazing, and since my sister had already visited and loved it, I decided to go as well.
The Journey
I had booked the Garni Hotel zum Franziskaner. If you want to know more. It is a cozy B&B in Grainau, which is pretty close to the lake.
To get to Grainau from where I lived, I took a high-speed train from Heidelberg main station directly toward Munich, getting off a couple of stations before the main station. Like always, I missed my intended connecting train, so I stayed on the platform waiting for the next one — at least 30–45 minutes. As mentioned, it was unfortunately quite cold. I was trying to keep myself warm, and while I was in the middle of losing weight at that point, I still gave myself the comfort of Burger King. I walked over to the nearest one and got a meal — don’t remember what exactly, just that it was worth it.
Fortunately, the train eventually arrived. We rode past the Starnberger See. Bavaria has a lot of beautiful lakes, by the way — definitely worth checking out.
I was in awe: the mountains, the lake, the idyllic ambiance. I was floating on a cloud, full of excitement for what was to come.
We finally made it! I reached Garmisch-Partenkirchen — a quaint little city that actually felt more like a village. I walked over to the cab stand and talked to the first driver. He asked me in his very Bavarian dialect where I wanted to go. I seemed to have lost all ability to speak German, because I kept nodding along even though he was asking whether my hotel was in Garmisch — apparently the name the locals use for the city.
I corrected him eventually, and he said in a no-nonsense way that I should have spoken up immediately.
Well, too bad, so sad. We still made it. He gave me his card, and then I checked in.
First things first… radiator up, Burger King devoured. Happy to be there! More to come in Part II.
