Drink beer, drive fast, hike slow

We planned and booked this trip at the beginning of the year. We knew we’d want a getaway, an escape, but some difficult life things were brewing. I had to admit that I didn’t want to be away for too long, and – depending on how things played out – I might not be up for anything remotely social. So our original plans (more time away, multiple countries, and a yoga retreat) abruptly changed. The trip was simplified.

We wanted more of a break and less of an adventure, with options to do stuff or not do stuff depending on how we felt. So it became 5 nights in Munich, a car reservation so we could drive south, then 7 nights in Mittenwald (a tiny, adorable town on the border of Austria).

I still can’t really talk about the difficult stuff going on (yet) and I hate that (see a previous post), but I can confidently say that Today Erica is very happy with how March 2025 Erica planned this trip.

We were ready for another dose of mountains; something like our 2023 visit to the Dolomites, but not an exact repeat. We picked dates, booked flights, spent a little extra on comfortable accommodation and a fun rental car, and then forgot all about it for 5 months.

Every time someone asks how it was, I keep answering the same way: this was the most emotionally refreshing vacation I’ve ever been on. It was just the right length, the weather was perfect, and we mostly operated on vibes instead of a schedule.

Despite not being a bucket list city for us, Munich felt like a good dose of urban exploration without being overwhelming, and was the perfect location as a launching place for the Bavarian prealps.

It took us a few days to shift into that blissful “what day is it?” state, which stuck – and persisted, even after getting home.

Daily activities were mostly dictated by weather. Some mornings we woke early, driving to a lake or mountain to ride a cable car, hike, and/or swim. Other days we stayed in bed until after noon, reading and drinking coffee. We ate Austrian pancakes and apple strudel for lunch on a rainy day. I got naked in Munich’s English Garden to jump in the river, before sitting in the sun on a bandana to dry off (I didn’t have a towel).

We wandered, walked, cycled, explored, and relaxed. We took wrong turns while hiking, doubling back after multiple kilometers, marveling at my terrible sense of direction. We met well-behaved German dogs, witnessed wild goats navigating impossibly steep inclines, spotted a European magpie, encountered a bright orange frog on a trail, and watched eagles soar above the alps. We got tipsy on radlers and Aperol Spritzes before swimming in a pristine lake.

We whizzed along the autobahn at 180km/h. We ate fries and drank beer nearly every day. I dragged Jesse into a designer store to stick his nose in a candle and ended up leaving with a beautiful new handbag. We accidentally walked across the border to Austria on top of a mountain.

We quickly got comfortable with German directness and the Germanic stare. I felt relaxed instead of anxious when waiters or shop staff were abrupt (by Australian standards) with me. I realized how Americanized we are here; deeply conditioned to perform friendliness when it’s not genuine or necessary. Everyone was incredibly kind, in a way that felt real.

Anyway, the whole thing was really fucking delightful.

I obviously shot a lot of 35mm film. Being mostly unplugged (especially from Instagram) has changed me for the better, and made this trip even more bright, beautiful, and intimate. My brain finally feels free from the social media death grip, and I’m so relieved.

We drank beer, drove fast, hiked slowly, slept well, and marinated in each other’s company, writing yet another chapter in what feels like an endless honeymoon. I’m grateful, happy, and – over a week later – still riding the high.

More photos:

~ fin ~