I hate to travel.  I know that sounds strange from someone who is “on the road” as much as I am.  But I find the prep, packing, getting to the airport and the flight very anxiety producing.  What I LOVE is my arrival.

I arrived in Munich and got my bags.  German airports are, as you would expect, a model of efficiency.  The baggage claim is right outside the gates, rather than in a crowded baggage hall for all arriving flights.

.

.

The workshop location manager was there to meet me, we grabbed his rental car, picked up a dear friend, the head of eQuinoxe Germany, and drove up into the alps.  The scenery is spectacular on the road.  Several small villages along the way have the most glorious paintings of religious scenes or local scenes of brewing, baking, flowers or dancing painted on the exterior walls.

.

.

…

Schloss Elmau was our destination, a fabulous resort and cultural hideaway tucked away on it’s own in the foothills of the alps.  Tired after a long trip I headed for the Hammam, a marble turkish bath and took a long steam treatment. I could feel all my tense muscles unwinding.

.

.

.

.

Then I headed out to the outdoor pool.  The water is heated to about 98 degrees and was surrounded by patches of snow.  There were two naked German men in the pool as well. In  fact, there are always naked Germans in the pool.  This is my fourth trip to Elmau for eQuinoxe and it’s a startling fact of life that there is very little body self-consciousness at these kind of spa resorts.  I am sticking to my modest flowered one-piece thank-you very much.

.

.

Next I hit the sauna for the heat to dry my hair and bathing suit.  Large windows again looked out over the snow.  Heavenly.  A quick shower and I dressed for dinner with some of the other advisors.  Then off to bed for a long restful sleep.  Arrival bliss!