Carrying It Quietly

OK, so my time in Germany had been cut short. The Army decided to send me back early. My two-year tour turned into  approximately 10 months since the 1^st half I had been deployed. So I got lived in Germany and have Europe as my playground. I took my last seven months and traveled as much as I can. I stayed in so many places. I have told most of my stories and the times I’ve spent with most of you. I can’t leave with out sharing some short but EPIC stories. Some that was life changing.

Hiking to begin with! Hiking could possibly be a new thing for me. I have enjoyed it so much. Whether it be through some trails or up a mountain, I found so much life and tranquil in it. Not to mention, a great work out. Garmisch Germany and your Zugspitze also based at Eibsee. A beautiful majestic lake! I’ve decided to give you a try. And, you were another amazing winter hike. Because, you have been snowing for quite sometime, I thought it was a good idea to get some snowshoes. THANK GOD I did!! I started following your steep trail up your highest mountain; the steeper it got the harder it got for my boots to grip. The snowshoes are an amazing thing and one hell of a work out. I got to the point where it just got to too steep and to full of deep snow; so I turned around, came down and followed the Eibsee ridgeline and the Eibsee itself. What an amazing lake. As I stood by your frozen lake looking at your ridgeline, I would take in a deep, deep breathe of your cool crisp air. It seemed as if the flurries were crystalizing as they touched your trees. A light greyish mist covering your treetops and a crystal glass layered on top of your lake. Garmish Germany, your Zugspitze and your lake Eibsee are something only Gods hands could paint on a canvas. What he did, is make this real so everyone and I could experience you. Disney Pictures couldn’t animate this. A fantasy made real.

Bavaria! There was a reason I asked to come back to your state. I remember you being beautiful and so full of life. The farmlands, the hills, the city villages, and the people. Most of all, your Frankonians, know how to embrace and enjoy their own back yard. Hosting a MittleFrankonianCup Bike series. Eight different series of races through out the year. Within each race, 3-4 different stages for all types of riders. Races that take you through hills, and mountains. Speeding through some of your generous pastures and farmlands. Valleys full of life and history. But riding through some of your oldest villages made this something to hard to explain. SPEECHLESS!! Your races were my way of getting ready for my IRONMAN 70.3. Thank you so much for the training and the experience. Nurnberg, by far my favorite large city. You have more to offer than you know. I would take some of my training flights directly over your city because you were just that amazing to me. Googling aerial before and after pictures, post WWII had me at awe. The history that surrounds your centrum is astonishing. The people, restaurants, coffee shops, and little wine shops to stop in and have a glass, made it possible to spend the entire day there. Of course I can’t forget to mention your famous CHRISTMAS MARKET, holiday pastries and hot spice wine (GLÜWEIN). Aisles and aisles of Christmas everything. If you can think it, it’s there. The best part is, the woodwork is all hand made. It just adds that extra touch of special to it. People not just from all over Germany are there but from all over the world. At times so crowed, it made it nearly impossible to walk. Which can be frustrating but overlooked every time you stop at a boutique selling gorgeous ornaments or nativity sets. GLÜWEIN shops perfectly placed at each corner and in the middle of the aisle so you cold never go cold. Might get a little tipsy but cold…. NOPE!! I did visit other Christmas Markets around Europe; Nürnberg’s is by far my favorite.

Europe, the ALPS have always been my favorite parts of your region. You had it perfectly placed boarding some of the best countries. I wanted to use them the best way I could. I rode my bike through them. I ran through them. I snowboarded down them. I swam your lakes too. They taught me winter trekking and to snowshoe. But I have been wanting and trying to hike up one of the highest mountain in Innsbruck Austria. Weather had to be perfect though. Austria and Mother Nature, you finally came through after so many weekends of canceling, you gave the perfect weather conditions for the perfect experience. Hiking up the famous Hafelekarspitz has been truly another amazing time you blessed me with. Taking a photo op at every firebreak. It was just an excuse to take a break really!!! HAAAH! You did make me work for it though. There were times you really kicked my ass. LOL!!! But, where else can you hike up and have cows you have to cut across to get to the other side. Mountain bikers going down so fast, it sounds like thunder. Here is something crazy, I saw Unicyclist going down your mountain bike trail. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND? Did look fun though! The restaurant perfectly placed just 500 feet prior to the top, with amazing food and great beer, it was a good way to stop, energize and head to the top. HOW REWARDING!!! People would have to personally see it for themselves. People would have to personally experience the climb themselves. I have no words to explain. I could leave the rest of the page blank to show how speechless it left me. But that’s dumb! LOL!!! The Air Tram and cable cart is an option for those who prefer to just get a view from the top. NOT RECOMMENDED!! Only for the mere reason that hiking was just so much more fun. I did take the tram and cart when Heather came. It’s what planted the hiking seed in my head. I also took your cart down to the ALPINE ZOO. Austria, only you would cut out a huge chunk out of your mountain and turn it into a zoo; so the animals could still live in their natural habitat. Or at least it seemed like it. What an amazing idea. Though the animals are confined and separated from each other, they are native to you and still in their natural habitat. I would have to say, of all the animals, the wolves would have to be my favorite. To take it easy before the drive back home and say bye for the last time, I had to walk the old town and sit. Sit, watch and embrace the beauty you a have offered me. The beauty and experience you gave me. Austria, you might have been the one who gave me the push to live when Heather came.

I have time for just one more on my BUCKET LIST to do. PARAGLIDE THE ALPS!!! I have tried, in so many occasions. Being a pilot, I completely understand the weather conditions it requires to fly. So when I would call and they say, “Not this time Mr. Garcia”, all I can do is hope for better weather next time. MOTHER NATURE!!! You really know how to keep me in suspense. It seems as if you had this planned the entire time. First Innsbruck and now Garmisch. You waited for my last weekend in Germany to bless us with good weather. Garmisch, the closer I got to you, the weather seemed as if it were getting better. The more I got a better view of your mountains; more paragliders I saw in the air. That’s when I knew; I am going to get to fly today. I look back and reflect. Of all the thrilling things I have done in my life. I have even landed on you with my helicopter. Nothing I mean NOTHING!! Prepared me for this. To be able to just sit in mid air, glide through the breeze like a bird. To be able to look at your captivating beauty from any direction. All I have got to say about that is WOW!!!! LETS DO IT AGAIN!!

OK Europe! So I took advantage of you. Almost everything you had to offer, I took. You help me complete pretty much my entire plan for the 1^st half of 2015. If I didn’t, it was just because it was something happening at the same time. You showed me a world beyond worlds. There is life behind stagnant walls. Despite busy lifestyles, there is always time to live your life. So saying bye to you just seems like it will never happen. Feels more like, “See you later”. I have full intentions of seeing you again. Some may even argue, your single, you can do what ever you want. My answer would be, take your family and see for yourself. Not only did I get to know you so well, you introduced me to some of the most amazing people. Some of them joined me for a simple cup of cappuccino or just a walk through some of your streets. Some inspired me, some I did. Some helped me capture some of my most precious memories; some of them will always be a memory. Some I truly hope with all my heart, cross paths again. I can gratefully look back, see and say, MAN, WHAT A YEAR!! I still have 5 more months. You have helped and taught me so much. As I move back to the states, I am taking everything with me. I will continue to travel. I will explore new adventures. I will live my life to the fullest. You will not be in my rear views. You will always be in my sights. I plan on coming back, exploring and finding more adventures. Everything you showed me I want to show my son. I want to show him; you’re never to young and never to old. Life is not just, wake up, go to work, pay bills and repeat. Life is yours to live, to explore. So live it how you choose, not how the world thinks you should. Show my son exactly what I did and why. Now it’s time to travel my country and other parts of the world. So as part of me reinventing myself, Europe, you also gave me reasons on WHY I CHOOSE TO LIVE!! Arrivederci, Ciao, Obrigado, Tchau, Adios, Bye Bye, auf Wiedersehen and my favorite… TSCHÜSS!!!