September 27, 2016. Excitement swirled within me as we embarked on our German adventure. As the plane soared through the sky, the majestic mountain peaks breaking through wavy clouds hinted at the enchantment awaiting us. While I had caught glimpses of mountains in Spain and Andorra before, viewing them from the airplane provided a fresh perspective. Against the gloomy backdrop of Saint Petersburg and Moscow, Bavaria’s vivid colors took me by surprise, painting a picture of unexpected splendor.