To be around nature is a bliss

To be around nature is a bliss and, in some cases, even an entitlement. Having lived my life predominantly in major cities, I know first-hand how it feels to be so overwhelmed by the beauty of nature that you start to become a bit emotional (or maybe it’s just my emotional self).

Being in Munich is truly a blessing for people who love green spaces. There are so many in and around the city, that in my short three months here, I was able to go on quite a few trips with my checklist remain long and exciting still. What amazes me is, that each time my experience would differ, despite the places which I’ve visited being within very close proximity of each other. And although as varied as they come, they all have one thing in common: their raw beauty. This may come down to them being so scarcely occupied, but thanks to this, they look as natural as unexplored lands.

My most distinct memory of German nature is during my trip to Chiemsee. Thanks to the Bayern ticket, four of my friends and I managed to travel to and from Chiemsee for only €10/each. Due to this being an impromptu trip, I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into. However, what I saw on that day was truly a magical experience.

As I stepped off the train at Prien am Chiemsee, I thought it was just another typical small town as there was barely any traffic inside the station. Soon after we went out and started walking along the road leading into town, I could see the scenery slowly unfold. The sun was as bright as ever in this peaceful town and I felt as though time slowed down quite a bit. As we continued to walk towards the water, where the famous islands of Chiemsee were, we could eventually see why so many people choose this place to retire to. We could feel the sun on our cheeks as the wind gently blew through our hair.

The closer we got to the dock where the boats leave for the islands, the more sun there seems to be in our faces. We eventually got our boat tickets and headed to Herreninsel. This island was truly one of a kind as it is so beautifully green. We often forget how when things are a bit out of the way, they tend to be more protected from the destruction of the world. As we walked around the island, we discovered large meadows with cows slowly chewing on organic grass.

They would sometimes stop to stare at us as if we were bothering them at lunch with our curious eyes. Looking a bit further out, you could see the majestic mountains peeking through the mist and showing off their impressive size. I could barely digest the beauty of this island which seems to be straight from a fairy-tale. Breathing in the fresh air unique to a cut-off island, we continued walking around, enjoying a wonderful time with nature in an unexpected event.

Knowing Chiemsee is just the start of many sights which I’ll get to see this year really makes me excited for what’s to come. Next on my list will be Schwarzwald, although it will be a bit of a commute for me 🙂