Berchtesgaden, Germany

Date: June 3, 2022

I arrived in Berchtesgaden with my best friend Nick, just as the summer was beginning to stretch its limbs. Together, we stood atop the Eagle’s Nest, gazing out over the still waters of Königssee far below. The sky was clear, the Obersalzburg mountains endless in their quiet authority. We cracked open a few German beers at the summit café, toasting to the road behind us and whatever lay ahead.

As we sat there, laughter mixing with alpine air, an eagle soared high above us—circling the ridgelines like a guardian of the land. It felt symbolic, like something out of myth. We didn’t say much in that moment; we didn’t have to. The silence between us spoke louder than words could. The weight of history lingered around us, but so did the healing power of nature.

Berchtesgaden offered me more than a beautiful view. It gave me a window into presence—how sacred it is to slow down, share a beer with a brother, and watch the mountains breathe. In that place of contrast—where past darkness met present light—I felt clarity, reverence, and something close to peace.