The Palatinate Weinsteig leads through a wonderful deciduous forest, every now and then down to a quaint wine-growing village.
The wandering pope knows his terrain;
it tells of the fight against vine pests, points out grape varieties, illuminates the history of the “Wine Route” as well as the names of various castles from which we look down into the Rhine plain.
Hiking in Germany is so demanding and effortless.
This clears the minds that are being reminded of the pandemic with masks and rules everywhere else these days.
At kilometer eight, Manuel Andrack spots a rest area, takes the right drop of Palatinate wine from a chilled bottle in his backpack, screws stylish plastic hiking wine glasses together and toasts.
We're on the Weinsteig.
Andrack has become a kind of figurehead for hiking in Germany.
It should be noted that he would have survived this difficult year much worse without hiking.
And he's not the only one.