I write with the honor of commencing our time in Germany. The past 3 weeks have been packed with tours, travel, and thousands of steps and it is difficult to stomach that this was our last day. While sad to be leaving Germany, we couldn’t have ended our time here in a better way!
Per the recommendation of our city tour guide, a group of us joined Jill and Ande on Philosophenweg, the Philosopher’s Walk. The name came from an old tale that everyone who gets to the top becomes a philosopher because of how beautiful the view is. This is a roughly 2-kilometer round trip that takes you up the hill and back down in (what we thought would be) about an hour and a half. The trek uphill began on a paved road, where the hill was steeper than we thought and our outer layers came off. Many of us underestimated the temperature and the hill gradient and ended up warmer than anticipated in below-freezing temperatures, resembling true Midwestern blood as we continued. We then reached gravel trails that were patched with ice. Fortunately, Katherine, Alex, and Jonah had the most durable shoes while the rest of us battled the ice and snow all the way to the top. It did not help that we ventured off course frequently, traveling on so-called ‘trails’ that ended up being less of a trail and more like scaling a hill. Nonetheless, we made it to the top! The panoramic view mentioned was slightly blocked by trees but a view of the castle from that high up was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As newly acclaimed philosophers, our walk back down was easier than our ascent. With only one fall, we walked and ran and slid our way down in about half the time. After a nearly 3 hour expedition, we caught a beautiful view of the sunset over the city and made our way back to the hotel.
Tired and hungry, we made a much easier walk to Sahara Restaurant in Heidelberg's main city center where we enjoyed delicious Lebanese food, as well as pizza and a cheeseburger. I opted for a plate of cooked veggies and potatoes with spinach dumplings. This was the perfect way to refuel after our hike and end our final night in Heidelberg.
With a full stomach and heavy eyes, it is safe to say my time in Germany has been simply ‘perfekt’! I am excited to start our final week in Sweden, but not to close my suitcase. As my Grandma said best, I can feel my German roots coming alive!
Comments