Wonderful spring weather, beautiful mountains and the view of the beautiful river Inn, that’s how I spent Easter Monday. For the first time since fleeing the Russian war of aggression to Munich, I took a trip to the Bavarian Alps. The route led through Flintsbach over the Hohe Asten to the Rehleitenkopf.
I was traveling with a small group of Ukrainians who had either lived in Bavaria for a long time or had to leave our homeland a year ago because of the war. I was very pleased that some of my compatriots, who now know the mountains well, took the time to show us newcomers Bavaria from above.
Emiliia Dieniezhna took the Ukrainian flag with her to the mountains.
(Photo: Nadia Fedorova/oh)
The trip was so nice that in retrospect I think it’s a shame that I didn’t go to the mountains long ago. I’ve been invited to this a number of times, but I’ve always had other plans for the weekend, not to mention my work. It often takes someone who, like me, speaks Ukrainian and German to help the refugees with leisure activities, to help them find accommodation, to translate or to explain the bureaucracy. And last but not least, of course, I can’t leave my little daughter alone for a whole day, because I couldn’t have taken her with me on such a mountain hike. That would have been too tiring. On Easter Monday Ewa found good care and I was finally able to do the tour.
The Bavarian mountains clearly exceeded my expectations, they are of indescribable beauty. I liked everything: waterfalls, snow caps, mountain air. The encounters with other hikers were pleasant, a snack at the summit and a small beer in the alpine hut had charm. I now understand why so many Munich residents go to the mountains at weekends and on public holidays.
When I was on my way to the summit, I felt that this tour was another phase of integration into German culture for me. First I learned to ride a bike and got used to using the bike every day. After that I created folders, one for each family member, to keep records there. Now I’m spending the weekend in the mountains, even if I’ve been panting like a horse, because of course I’m not (yet) used to it.
The next phase of integration will probably be a trip to the sporting goods store to buy me hiking boots. Without such shoes, I don’t dare the next mountain tour anymore. On Easter Monday I was still poorly equipped and it was quite slippery in the snow. Oh yes, I also need waterproof pants. After all, it’s not very pleasant to fall down and then be soaked wet.
But being so high, I also remembered that I often went to the mountains of Crimea with my family. Now I can say that only these Crimean mountains are better than the Bavarian mountains. I wish I could go hiking there again – preferably in my German sports shoes.
Emiliia Dieniezhna, 34, fled from Kiev to Pullach near Munich with her then four-year-old daughter Ewa. She works voluntarily for the non-governmental organization NAKO, which aims to fight corruption in Ukraine. She also teaches German to Ukrainian refugee children. Once a week she writes a column for the SZ about her view from Munich on the events in her home country.