{"id":4714,"date":"2013-04-10T18:53:21","date_gmt":"2013-04-10T18:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=4714"},"modified":"2017-05-10T12:16:49","modified_gmt":"2017-05-10T12:16:49","slug":"eskimo-dreaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/eskimo-dreaming\/","title":{"rendered":"Eskimo Dreaming… (Iglu Dorf – Zugspitze)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IMG_9168\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Warning<\/strong>. \u00a0This post is very long and contains far too many pictures….<\/p>\n

Back in December, I was browsing through a UK newspaper’s site (one of my strange expat\u00a0addictions)\u00a0when I found an article about this place<\/a> in a travel section. \u00a0I immediately thought of Mr R and his obsession with snow, and wondered whether he loved it enough to sleep in it? \u00a0 As it’s practically on our doorstep anyway, I booked it for his birthday. \u00a0 \u00a0 Booking confirmed (and with months to think about it), it was stored away in the back of my mind \u00a0until last weekend when it was time for our expedition to commence!<\/p>\n

Friends of ours who had beaten us to this experience had told us to layer up, so we packed our bags full of snow gear and extra thermals (the Singaporean students sharing our adventure didn’t get this memo however – I didn’t half feel sorry for them shivering away in their jeans)…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9061\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We parked in a grey and misty Eibsee and boarded the Zugspitze train to the top. \u00a0Re-emerging from the mountain tunnel, we were so lucky to find the most gorgeous conditions waiting for us, so we quickly headed for lunch in the sunshine. \u00a0 \u00a0On a clear day you can actually see four different countries from this point, but the cloud below wasn’t shifting so we had a view of something resembling a giant swirling witches\u00a0cauldron instead – still not something you see every day obviously…<\/p>\n

\"20130406_143030\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_9065\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At 16.30 we met the Iglu-Dorf Team<\/a> at The SonnAlpin<\/a>\u00a0where we collected our arctic sleeping bags, listened to a safety talk, and met our fellow intrepid explorers before making our way to the village itself. \u00a0 The Small people were the only Small People on this particular day by the way. \u00a0This did not detract from their experience (or ours) and they enjoyed both the attention (and the audience!) provided by their fellow guests.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9184\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Taking around 2700 hours to build, the village is made up of around 12\u00a0separate\u00a0sleeping iglus all in various decorative states, and connected by a series of corridors leading to the bar and eating areas. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We found our room, grandly named “The Rose”, which had The Eight Year Old imagining \u00a0 Sleeping Beauty scenarios, and had me hoping for similar soporific instances from both her and her little brother later on that evening…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9162\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_9121\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Once we had dumped our kit (and depleted the free chocolates) we then had half an hour to admire all of the other hand-carved iglus, before they became private domain, with the guides (who wake you up the next morning with welcome cups of hot steaming morning tea) the only “intruders” allowed…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9129\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_9158\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Having inspected our Ice Palace sufficiently, we were then encouraged outside to make the most of the last of the sunshine, and to enjoy the\u00a0spectacle that is Germany’s tallest Mountain in this deserted state (the last train down is at 16.30)… \u00a0We were forced to enjoy the view from deck chairs while stuffing our faces with ham and cheese and making ourselves drink gluhwein…<\/p>\n

\"20130406_184217\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_9172\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Then it was time for a walk just as the sun was setting, to take in a bit more of the stunning scenery, and to learn more about the Zugspitze itself). \u00a0This gave the Iglu Dorf chefs time to prepare an almighty fondue feast for our return… \u00a0 It had to be fondue, nothing else would have felt right in these surroundings.<\/p>\n

Sufficiently stuffed, it was time for some extreme night sledging <\/a>(without any light pollution!) before the schnapps came out and the\u00a0Jacuzzi\u00a0testing began. \u00a0 At this point, our two jet-lagged and exhausted Small People demanded that it was bedtime, and soon drifted off like\u00a0Eskimos\u00a0in their Norwegian sleeping bags. \u00a0 Our slightly early night compared to the rest of the group really was the only drawback to taking children on this adventure (incidentally, \u00a0I would say 6 is a good minimum age. \u00a0 Any younger, and everything might become a little more difficult!), but it did mean that we didn’t suffer from any schnapps induced hangovers the following morning…<\/p>\n

People who have already been forced into looking at my pictures have commented on how cold it looks, but it honestly isn’t. \u00a0 The Iglu Dorf Team have been doing this for a long time now and know all the tips in keeping warm. \u00a0They make sure you have the right gear on, keep you moving, and ensure that your iglus are kitted out with plenty of sheepskins, and the correct polar sleeping gear. \u00a0 \u00a0The only time you feel the cold is on a midnight trip to the loo really…<\/p>\n

And before we knew it, it\u00a0was morning and time to pack up and head for a hearty breakfast back at the SonnAlpin. \u00a0 I had hoped to wake up slightly earlier to catch the sunrise (armed with my camera), but the weather had had enough of playing nicely, and the cloud had come up to meet us. \u00a0To be honest, I didn’t really mind. \u00a0 I felt like we had had enough\u00a0privileges what with the weather the day before, and the fact that this was the very last night that anyone would sleep in this particular iglu village… \u00a0It was destroyed that afternoon before the Spring temperatures begin to rise, only to be built all over again next winter!<\/p>\n

Would I recommend it? \u00a0 Completely. \u00a0 \u00a0Do I have any tips? \u00a0 Hurry up and book it for a start! \u00a0 Do make sure you are wearing the correct gear including hats and gloves and snow boots. \u00a0 Do join in, and give all of the activities a go. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It’s all extremely well organised, and is one of those experiences that none of us will ever ever forget…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9231\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Going home..<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Share me:<\/h3>