After the night train from Prague took us most of the way back to Brussels before turning south, we were at least heading north on a train from Zurich up to Garmish-Partenkirchen. On the way we changed in Munich, where we met the eminent Professor Loren Stuckenbruck for lunch. Loren taught me and Hannah back in Durham, before we were even married - yes, long ago - and his memorable lectures included "people exploding in the ancient world" (it happened more regularly than you'd think). There was no exploding today, despite a large German lunch, and we reminisced about all the babysitting we used to do for his kids, who are now old themselves, making me feel even older.
I reflected on how babysitting has been a feature of my life as we went on to see Claire and JJ (and their parents, who still haven't paid me). Europe has been quite unsnowy this year, and the mountains around The USA's Most Picturesque Army Base™ were bare, apart from one run where they'd managed to rake a few inches together. My ambivalence to the ridiculous sport of "skiing" is known, but even I felt a spike of excitement when IT STARTED TO SNOW that night! And then got worried that it might mess up our trains.
After some light thrift store shopping because Christine knows us well, we hit the slopes for sledging and drinking, before sitting in a hot tub in the Eidelweiss resort on the base, as huge fluffy flakes drifted down around us. Vince is about to get promoted to Colonel, like Kentucky Fried Chicken, and as we can't get to the ceremony in Chicago we took him for a slap-up meal here to celebrate. And what's this? Claire's now old enough to babysit Pete and JJ while we're out!? Payback has begun.
Sadly our European rail riding was coming to an end, and the next day we boarded the Munich-Frankfurt-Brussels express. As I unlocked our apartment, having completed the urban journey home by metro and tram, I thought how amazing it is to basically walk from our door to the centre of major European capitals and then back. The newly-reinstated night trains are the key to that - travel while you sleep! - and we will definitely be doing this again. Only next time, maybe I can convince Claire to come as an au pair...
Once a student, forever a student.
Getting to Garmisch.
Hitting the slopes.
Skiing? Not so much. Watching others ski while I drink? Definitely.
I know the drinking age in Germany is lower, but I don't think so young lady!
JJ taking no prisoners on his way down.
Hannah, keeping up with the kids.
A far more refined experience at Dorfwirt and Friends (delicious!)
A final, wistful look out the window on our way back to Belgium.
