In early June we had a 3-day weekend, so we took the train to the southeast corner of Germany to explore Berchtesgaden National Park. This was our first experience camping in a German campground and we discovered a few things. Camping here seems to be more about squeezing in as many people as you can, and not at all about having a nice little spot complete with a picnic table and grill all to yourself. We were packed in so closely with other tents that we had to strategically place our tent lines around one another's. Thankfully nobody snored too loudly and at the end of the day, we were grateful just to have a spot to put up our tent.
The 3-day weekend was due to yet another religious holiday, Whit Monday. This holiday falls the day after Pentecost and basically serves as the public observance of Pentecost. On Sunday morning we were suddenly awakened around 4 am by what sounded like either a rock slide or dynamite in the mountains. We later found out that it was local shooting clubs observing the holiday and honoring the Holy Ghost by shooting off muzzle loaders. Of all the explanations for that abrupt wake-up call, I never could have invented this one. Berchtesgaden National Park provided the loveliest and most impressive mountain scenes yet in Germany. You can take a beautiful boat ride across Konigsee (King's Lake), Germany's third deepest lake, and disembark at the other end to hike to Obsersee. Both lakes, nestled in the mountains, were absolute stunning. There are countless trails in the region and a few cable cars to whisk you up to the peaks for gorgeous panoramic views. It is a breathtaking part of Germany.
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