An unforgettable Allgäuer experience

From the moment I arrived in the Allgäu mountains to ski on a Tuesday, I knew it would be a special day. Untouched snow covered the peaks and slopes, and the cold, pure air filled my lungs. Having woken up early and taken an unusually long train from Munich to Obertsdorf, I felt full of energy. I had a typical Speckfladn for breakfast, similar to a pizza. On a base of bread dough, the Speckfladn was topped with onions, bacon and cheese. Once on the slopes, I put on my skis and, without wasting any time, I set off to explore the slopes. I didn’t have any gloves or specialized equipment, but that didn’t scare me, I was going to make the most out of the sunny day!

The sensation of sliding down the slopes, with the Alps in the background, was pure adrenaline. Between descents, I eventually wandered to the German-Austrian border, something I had always wanted to do. Skiing from one country to another, noticing no difference other than the landscape, made me feel free, as if I were exploring a territory without limits.

However, what made this day unique was the people. I tried to talk to the locals several times but faced an unexpected language barrier. They didn’t speak standard German, but an Alemannic dialect that sounded completely different. I barely understood a word they were saying, but their friendly gestures more or less made up for the communication gap between us.

In the calm midtst of such a tiring day, I entered a wooden restaurant to try the local food at almost 2000m of altitude. I ordered a plate of the typical Kässpatzen, a kind of very caloric pasta with melted cheese and fried onions that tasted heavenly. Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better, a group of Germans heard me talking and, realizing I was a foreigner, invited me for a beer. They said something to me in Bavarian dialect that I barely understood, but their smiles and the free beer spoke for themselves.

In the end, I left Allgäu with a full stomach, tired muscles and the certainty that I had experienced a day I would never forget.