Föhn

We are currently enjoying a weather phenomenon in Steinebach called Föhn. Föhn is a warm wind on the leeward side of a mountain. It results from moist air passing over the mountain and dropping most of its moisture on the windward side. In southern Bavaria, Föhn is when air coming northward from Italy dumps rain (or snow) on the southern side of the Alps; as the air continues northward, its tempature rises due to adiabatic changes in pressure.

As a consequence of today's Föhn, we had an amazing view of the Alps from the front yard. The highest peak in the photo to the left is the Zugspitze. We are very proud of the Zugspitze in Bavaria, because it is not only the highest mountain in Bavaria, it is also the highest mountain in all of Germany. A little to the left of the middle of the photograph, on the hill in front of the Zugspitze, is the Kloster and brewery Andechs, another source of Bavarian pride.

Today, Föhn also meant that after 20 years of visiting Munich, I finally saw the Alps from the top of the Alter Peter church tower. The Alps didn't look any closer from there than from Steinebach, so I'm willing to bet that a little technological enhancement is behind many of the postcards of Munich that show glorious Alps rising immediately behind assorted landmarks.

Speaking of technological enhancement, this afternoon we ate lunch at a fashionable Munich pizza place frequented by the Schicki-micki crowd. Of particular interest were the Botox-and-altered-lips subset. It was really, really difficult not to gawk.