December. Time for mulled wine, Christmas stollen, baking cookies, Christmas markets and Christmas exhibitions, feasting and Christmas parties. And reviews of the year. Not everything is possible due to the current situation. But taking a look back at this year is allowed.
And so here we go. My first written, public review of the year on my blog.
January
All was still right with the world. I slipped into the new year in comfort with my wife, my best friend and my girlfriend. The four of us (my "little one" was fast asleep) slipped into 2020 at home. The new "Chinese virus" only existed in side comments in the press.
A hike up the Cottaer Spitzberg on the first weekend of the new year at least burned off a few festive calories, even if they were immediately put back on our hips in the form of burgers and Pirna beer at the Platzhirsch Pirna.
And even at the end of January, when I celebrated my birthday with my friends on a farm in the middle of nowhere in Bavaria, corona still didn't play a role. We socialized, played board games and shared memories. Quality time par excellence, which ended with a visit to Bamberg's old town.
february
But then the impacts came closer. Suddenly Corona was in Italy, in the Rhineland and somehow everywhere. We paid a visit to the Dresden Ice Worlds under the iciest conditions and were amazed at the sculptors' skills.
During a visit back home, we visited the Pfaffenmühle with its model train exhibition. My daughter's shining eyes brought back childhood memories for me too. I used to be just as amazed when looking at the model landscapes. It's nice when traditions are preserved and a restaurant is able to run the model train and present the doll's houses every year.
All was still right with the world at the end of February when we celebrated a cousin's birthday with campfire romance and hut fun in the middle of the Erzgebirge forest. In dry, icy cold and somewhat windy weather, the campfire blazed outside, spare ribs and grilled sausages were grilled and music was played on the guitar by the fireplace in the hut. Socializing to the power of 3!
March
But suddenly nothing worked any more.
Shutdown. Travel restrictions. Avoiding contact. Suddenly the garden, terrace, Lockwitzgrund, Gebergrund and co. were the only destinations. Discovering home on our doorstep was suddenly high on the agenda. And so there was a lot of walking, digging, planting and working in the garden.
April
The shutdown continues. Full of uncertainty about the danger and spread of the pandemic, strict curfews are still in place. The city centers are deserted, museums are closed, restaurants tentatively offer a pick-up service, if at all. We enjoy the first really warm rays of sunshine on the Maltengraben, in the Lockwitzgrund, of course, in our garden and also on the banks of the Elbe between Pillnitz and Laubegast. Rare moments to take a deep breath between home office and childcare.
And then, towards the end of April, there is some normality again. In May, we undertook a wonderful spring tour through freshly greened forests, along yellow blossoming rapeseed fields with fantastic views in Meusegast near Dohna.
May
The number of infections is stabilizing or falling. The shutdown is being eased. Small steps towards a new normality with coronavirus. Face masks, social distancing, disinfection, uncertainty everywhere.
We continue to use the lockdown period in the garden. The sandpit is finished, the patio rebuilt and new climbing aids installed. We have a barbecue in a small group for now. The four of us.
Relaxations now also allow you to travel further than 15 km from your place of residence. It may sound crazy, but I sat in front of my computer in April and really looked at my route planner to see how far I was allowed to venture at 15 km. I was quite surprised at how much that actually is and what I could have explored. Freital, the Rabenauer Grund, the Müglitz valley, Struppen, Pirna, Radeberg, the Dresdner Heide - all destinations within the permitted area.
Nevertheless, after the lockdown was lifted, we continued on our way. To Lohsdorf and Ulbersdorf. Together with sandstone blogger Hartmut Landgraf, we went on a wonderful tour in one of the quieter corners of Saxon Switzerland. We roamed the Sebnitztal valley, a former narrow-gauge railway line, and climbed one or two underrated views. A worthwhile hike that I have to tell you about again.
A little later, at the end of May on Ascension Day, my annual multi-day hike was actually on the agenda. This time it would have been to the Fichtelgebirge. Unfortunately, all the Bavarian accommodation was closed. As a substitute, we went on a short hike at home. Pfaffenmühle - Jößnitz - Elstertalbrücke - Elstertal - Mosenturm - Lochbauer were on the program. A day with friends, almost like before and yet somehow different.
I went to Saarbrücken on business. A major system changeover for an online retailer was on the agenda. In the evening, I had time to walk around the city, enjoy a small Bruch-Pils in the beer garden, which closes at 10 p.m., and spend the night in a hotel. Things that hadn't necessarily been possible in the last two months. Even if it was strange at first to walk through the hotel wearing a mask and being served breakfast at the table. The new sterility is unfamiliar.
June
And then we actually went on vacation. We went on a one-week vacation with "mother-in-law" on Usedom as a replacement. The accommodation was paid for and we were able to spend a wonderful vacation in a vacation apartment in Ahlbeck. Our main goals were long walks and short hikes in the less crowded corners of Usedom in the south of the island and on the lagoon. The beach promenade was just too crowded for us. And the beaches were also well frequented. We enjoyed our vacation and visited a good friend in Berlin on the way back. We had a delicious dinner at Al Hamra and then drove back to Dresden.
July
On my third visit to my home country, a trip on the Pöhler Flotte was on the agenda. Due to illness, I traveled alone by train to the Vogtland without my wife and daughter. I had to get used to riding with a mask on. I went on a tour of the Pöhl dam with my brother, aunt and parents. Here, too, it was a bit unusual not to get any drinks and to only ride with half the crew. But at least it was a first step towards something like normality.
At the end of the month, we went away for another week. We spent three days in Freising and five days at Lake Chiemsee (without having seen it) visiting friends and going on some lovely hikes in the immediate vicinity and a little further afield. Even a trip to Austria was possible. Corona was over "over there" and the mask requirement was suspended. It was a strange feeling to visit a restaurant or beer garden without a mask.
The week's vacation was over far too quickly in perfect weather. On the way back (in the worst traffic jams and chaos), we visited Abensberg at lunchtime and made it to Vogtland within 7 hours.
august
In August, I was even allowed to take part in a blogger collaboration. Corona-compliant as it should be, of course, with sufficient distance. Alone, to be precise. As a pilgrim on the Via Sacra, I undertook a hike of over 70 km from Cunewalde to Görlitz and the St. Marienthal monastery. We spent the rest of August in familiar surroundings. Garden, playgrounds, a trip to the Malter dam and another trip back home were on the agenda.
September
Sponge time. For us, this means: Saturday we go to our "Fleckl" in the Dresdner Heide. Within half an hour, the baskets are full and we make our way back. All in all, that means: drive half an hour to the heath, walk half an hour into the heath, collect half an hour and then return. As we are hungry, we head to the Elbegarten, which has become one of my favorite beer gardens. A beautiful view of the Blue Wonder, delicious tarte flambée, a nice playground and plenty of space are simply a good overall package.
My job has taken me and a colleague to the Czech Republic. More precisely, to the home of Gambrinus and Urquell in Pilsen. It becomes clear why the Czech Republic in particular should have such big problems with corona in October and November. The virus only plays a minor role here. Everything feels normal. So the normal of 2019.
At the end of the month, it's time for another vacation. This time the three of us are going to South Tyrol as a family. Even though the number of infections in Europe is slowly rising again, we're taking another vacation. The third this year and probably the last until at least April, I would imagine. Winter is on the horizon in Val Gardena. The temperatures during our vacation are rarely above 8 degrees and there is snow at high altitudes. Nevertheless, we enjoy the time out and the area. The Alps are simply something special. I love coming here. Even if I would have liked 5-10 degrees more in the end. But Italian coffee, pizza and Kaiserschmarrn make up for the cold weather. And the distant views and mountain vistas anyway.
October - November
October and November are quickly told. Work has me fully in its grip. My agency leaves its premises on Schillerplatz and moves to Niedersedlitz. At the same time, we build a second fulfillment warehouse, set it up and fill it with goods. Then there's the Christmas and project business, which in the online retailer services sector starts earlier than the Christmas business itself and, as experience has shown, sometimes lasts until the last week before Christmas due to last-minute promotions.
That's why exploring has been a thing of the past since the beginning of October. An evening in the open air with a campfire and mulled wine offers a change of pace. A few walks in the surrounding area also clear the mind a little.
December
Now would actually be the time for museum visits in Annaberg-Buchholz Plauen, Steinigtwolmsdorf, daydreaming in Seiffen, feasting at the large and small Christmas markets in Saxony, meeting up with friends, Christmas parties with colleagues. But instead, gloom prevails.
The much-too-late hard shutdown starts after everything Christmas-related has already been canceled in advance. Christmas as I know and love it is different this year. At least not completely. The closest family circle is allowed to get together. One household plus a maximum of four others. Mother-in-law, parents, brother. That's it. We can see each other again for three days. I have to forgo a trip to my home country two days later for my father's birthday. Even if the only people meeting there would be the same people as at Christmas, from December 26 it will be forbidden indefinitely to leave his home without a valid reason.
After all, who believes that the easing of restrictions will be reversed at the beginning of January? Not really me. I'm going to pick up my route planner again and see where I can hike, walk or cycle within a 15-kilometre radius. Maybe I'll find something unknown and unexplored. At least I already have a few ideas.
But first there is the anticipation of 3 days of almost normality with the family. Normality in which my little girl can finally see her grandparents again. And not just by video call. For friends and distant relatives, all that remains this year is to pick up the (video) phone and send the odd handwritten Christmas card.
So what remains of this year?
Statistically speaking, with Poland (a fuel trip to Usedom), Austria (a day hike), Italy (a week's vacation) and the Czech Republic (a two-day business trip), I visited 4 countries. Plus Saarbrücken, a state capital that I hadn't seen before.
I have grown as an entrepreneur. My team has grown by a whole 8 people this year. As a result, my hobby blog has received less attention. But that should change again next year. One or two ideas are waiting to be implemented.
Socially, much less so. I only saw my best friends who live far away one to three times this year. I didn't even visit friends in Dresden more often. I was not allowed, or rather not supposed, to travel home for a total of four months. A long time, even if it was split into two phases.
I am still grateful in my private life.
Grateful that, despite all the restrictions, some normality was allowed to prevail this year. Grateful that no one in my circle has yet fallen seriously ill with coronavirus or died from/with/without/because of coronavirus.
Grateful for the time I was still able to spend with family and friends.
Grateful that the difficult time for my brother seems to be over and that he is getting better.
The wish remains that next year will be (even) better. That there will be a little more normality at some point in the spring, which will then change to a light normality in the summer and - assuming sufficient concepts, measures and vaccination readiness - bring an autumn 2021 that is not threatened by another shutdown.
The longing for the good old days of 2019 can be felt everywhere. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it comes back in parts sooner rather than later.
For this year and until the end of the lockdown, let's make the best of it!
I would like to take this opportunity to wish my readers a great start to the new year! Let's put 2020 behind us and enjoy the new year 2021. Stay healthy and keep exploring with optimism!
December is all about mulled wine, Christmas stollen, baking cookies, Christmas markets and festivities. It's also the time to look back on the year. The author reflects on the beginning of 2020, when everything was still fine and the COVID-19 pandemic was only mentioned in passing. January was characterized by walks in nature and social gatherings with friends. In February, the reality of the pandemic drew closer, but there were still moments of normality, such as visits to museums and exhibitions. March brought a sudden halt to public life, while April was characterized by lockdowns and deserted cities.
In May, the infection figures stabilized and the first easing of restrictions allowed a little more freedom of movement. Hikes and excursions into nature became possible again. June even saw a vacation on Usedom, which offered a few relaxing days. July brought boat trips and more excursions, while August saw a blogger collaboration and further activities in the garden at home.
In September, sponge hunting in the Dresden Heath and business trips to the Czech Republic were on the agenda. This was followed by another vacation in South Tyrol in October and a busy November. December brought with it the restrictions of the hard lockdown, but also the opportunity to celebrate Christmas, at least with the immediate family.
Overall, 2020 was characterized by ups and downs, restrictions and moments of normality. The author looks back with gratitude on the time he was able to spend with family and friends despite everything, and hopes for a better future in 2021.
