12.04. 2025 Kickoff

Here we go!

Finally, on Saturday, 12.04.2025, the time had come. Emma was ready to go, and the auxiliary heater was successfully installed.

After a joint breakfast with my family, it was time to say goodbye. After everyone had left their handprints on Emma, my two nieces Lena and Annabell (names changed) didn't want to leave Emma at all. They were desperate to come along. It was an emotional farewell, as both really wanted to join the journey.

It touched me deeply to see that I had somehow become a part of their lives.

I still couldn't quite realize and grasp the whole situation.

So I set off towards Switzerland, where I would undertake a four-week volunteer position at a yoga retreat center, the Schweibenalp. I allocated five days for the journey to acclimatize a bit.

My first stop

After a pleasant drive without traffic jams, I arrived at Sunnawirt near Neuschwanstein Castle in the Allgäu. A guesthouse with a restaurant and some camper van pitches in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains. Within walking distance of Heiterwanger See and Plansee.

The first night

So this was where I spent my first night. I was amazed at how well I coped with the gadgets I had procured and that everything worked well. I also attracted curious neighbors right away.

I managed to sleep reasonably well. When I woke up at 6 AM in the bus at 8 degrees, it was quite frosty, so I quickly tried out the auxiliary heater. This allowed me to start the day in a comfortable way.

After my first yoga session behind the house, I got ready and set off. Since I was already nearby, I wanted to catch a glimpse of Neuschwanstein. With such crowds, it isn't possible to do much more than that.

I then made a stop at Lake Constance before heading to my next spot in Switzerland, near Nesslau.

Since I had entered the wrong address, I first drove to a mountain restaurant on a one-lane road up the mountainside until I realized that I was in the wrong place. So, I had to drive all the way back down again.

The second night was somewhat more pleasant than the first.

All in all, I still feel a lot of tension and unrest within me, traveling is still quite exhausting, and I feel rather tired and worn out. I've also noticed that my mind is not fully tuned to the situation; during quiet moments, doubts and existential questions arise. I will keep an eye on that. Let's see what the next days bring.