MonacoTrail

A hike starting in Neuschönau on the edge of the national park, a hike you can do any time of year, but one that's particularly appealing in winter. Especially with weather like today, where it's snowing non-stop and winter is giving it one last burst of fury.



The hike is appealing partly because of the

We had planned a winter tour from Neuschönau to the Lusen mountain. In spring, we had already climbed it twice from Mauth; the distance is similar, a three- to four-hour ascent to the summit. But the snow! We were told it was impossible without snowshoes. And there was a lot of snow. But the weather

As if ordered just for us, it snowed in the Bavarian Forest, and we trudged through the fresh snow. Out of the hotel and into the national park – it's only a few steps, perfect for switching off. We met up with friends who also happened to be in the area and took a walk together through the animal enclosure

The Alemannic Fasnet (carnival) is a distant memory for me, and today's first highlight of it only comes to mind because it finally rained heavily, leaving puddles everywhere and the paths slippery and grimy. "Greasy" in the context of Fasnet refers to the greasy doughnuts, the wonderful Fasnetsküechle

It's been over five years since we hiked from Dachau to Lohhof, time for a sequel. Up until now, we've gone clockwise, but today we're going the other way: that way we get more winter sun on our faces, and the public transport connection was a bit smoother. Although it's a strange feeling to be sitting

"It's difficult to get rid of people in Germany..." shouts a brisk-looking man in his mid-thirties, wearing a short coat, into his phone. What could he mean by that? That a terrorist attack was prevented over the weekend? That migration policy is complicated? That millions of administrative jobs are

It's supposed to be the last mild morning before the winter weather turns. Silken light hangs over everything, so I quickly take a stroll, just for the sake of it, along a familiar route. It leads through the cemetery. I'm almost alone there, a profound silence. The occasional distant gunshots I heard

In a beloved activity, such as fly fishing, the activity itself is the true goal, not its eventual outcome. It's about perfecting the method, and eventually, the method becomes a style. Style, in turn, is something for old men. With these thoughts in mind, I spent a brief hour walking, cultivating the

A chancellor from a provincial backwater in the Sauerland, who otherwise flies above the clouds in a private jet, is surely well-versed in cityscapes, otherwise he wouldn't be talking about them, would he? True, as a politician you don't necessarily have to be an expert in the subject matter, but rather

Small morning round between the celebrations and reprise after 30 years 😀