Whatchawearing
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Europeanvaction1979/21
My father was in the USAF. We spent nearly nine years in Europe. We lived in Greece, Italy and England. Every few years my Grandparents would come to visit. When they did, we were off for a five week journey across Europe. My grandmother kept a journal of our travels. Recently while cleaning out a closet, my Mother came across the journals. The memories came flying back! I decided to share these journels with you. Each day I will post a chapter as she has written them. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did.
The first Journal was in 1979. We lived in Hellenikon Greece.
Lowenbrau Brewery
Berchtesgaden
Lake Chiemsee
page 48
Day 21-Friday, June 15
The temperature was dropping fast. We could feel the change coming with each passing minute. Hurrying to eat breakfast, buy groceries at the commissary, cash checks and get on the road to Berchtesgaden, we could see the weather deteriorating rapidly with dark, ominous clouds moving in over the mountain peaks. Now the thermometer read 46 degrees. It was hard to believe that a few hours earlier, when camp was broken, we basked in glorious sunshine and a warm breeze.
Before we got on the way, we made a quick stop at the Lowenbrau Brewery where we purchased numerous glass beer mugs and steins destined to find their way into homes of friends and relatives in the U.S.
Leaving Garmish, we quickly crossed into Austria. The road twisted and turned through the Alps, past lush meadows, dark green forest, and the "Cousin It" hay racks. In Vomp, a small Austrian town, we searched for and found a small neighborhood grocery where we bought the most delicious salami, along with Austrian bread. The sausage, sliced paper thin, and the bread provided us with an eat-in-the-van picnic lunch.
Rain fell sporadically as we made our way back into Germany and found the Billeting Office in Berchtesgaden. Here we were directed to the camping area located on Lake Chiemsee.
Al and Craig set up the tent in a pounding, cold rain while the rest of us watched through the rain streaked windows of the VW. Looking like costumed bandits, the boys slushed in rivers of water and mud. Al wore a rain coat and ski cap pulled down over his eyebrows. Craig donned his dark vinyl rain coat, then to protect his head, put Sean's bright yellow slicker over his shoulders, pulling the hood over his head. While he worked, the second coat blew in the wind making him look as if he could fly at any moment.
That night we felt like misplaced persons. We found that exploring the camp store, rest rooms and snack bar offered no excitement. After a supper of grilled cheese and cups of hot soup, we crawled into our cold sleeping bags. As I zippered myself in, I silently prayed for warmer weather on the morrow.
