Konigsee

Another day trip we enjoyed during Robin's visit was to Konigsee, a lake we previously viewed during a hike to Eagle's Nest and a location we'd always wanted to explore. Enter Monday, a nationwide holiday where most things would be closed except for touristy attractions. Hey Robin, are you up for one last road trip?


Konigsee is a pristine lake because it only allows electric-powered boats in its waters.

On board and en route to the other side of the lake.

On the 30 minute ride out to the opposite side of the lake, William made friends and we all listened to our boat guide play his trumpet to demonstrate the echo from the shadowing mountains.

Our boat's destination

We all had fun wandering the walking paths through this lake forest and eating our home-packed lunch lakeside.

A lakeside pic

After disembarking the boat to return to our car, we came across what appeared to be small town's version of a souvenir machine. Many of you may not know, but I have a pressed penny collection. Yes, you can find me at any tourist attraction jumping up and down as I ask Jeff, "Can I? Please? Do you have a Euro?????" The European cities are host to many of these "penny" machines, so my collection is growing out here. However, this contraption above was something we had never seen before. Put in a Euro and a spring-loaded tree trunk gets moved under these handsome, straw-stuffed gentlemen's saw. They then saw, and saw, and saw until, Voila! You've paid 1 Euro for a tiny smidgen from a presumably free piece of tree.

The machine in action!

But, my friends, it gets better. There's a stamp pad and stamp that is just the right size to stamp your piece of wood with "Gruesse vom Konigsee" or "Regards from Konigsee". I really decided to push the limits and stamp BOTH sides of my expensive sliver of tree. Take that, pressed penny! Konigsee has nothing on you! Unfortunately, my piece of wood doesn't fit as neatly in my coin purse as my pennies . . . .

On our drive to Konigsee I spotted this small gourd stand, and upon our return trip we pulled over to purchase some festive fall fun. During the spring and summer as we traversed the countrysides of Germany, we would often pass 'Cut-Your-Own Blumen' fields where, you guessed it, you cut your own flowers and pay on your own accord. Unfortunately, I feared our destinations were always further-reaching than the life of our future cut flowers, and I have yet to imbibe in a blumen opportunity. I wasn't about to let my gourds get away! Plus, it's the time of year when everyone is taking adorable pictures of their kids at pumpkin patches that just don't exist out here. Poor Will, no pumpkin patch pics in your baby book. Bavarian children are so deprived.

This pic will be as close as we get this year. I just love the cute little town in the background. We, being the honest, Germany-loving expats that we are, honestly paid for our gourds and happily continued on our road home.