UBC January 2025 - Ravenna Gorge

Every year I want to visit Christmas markets abroad. However, this requires preparation and usually fails because of this and the actual lack of time it takes to go even there. 

This year, however, I was determined! As you know my Mom and I managed to visit Colmar.

There was something else on my bucket list. I had seen pictures of it on social media last year, it looked fabulous and the scenic viaduct reminded me of the Coca-Cola commercial with Melanie Thornton's “Wonderful Dreams”. 

Back in October, I managed to get hold of tickets for “Ravenna Gorge” in the Black Forest (Germany) online. It wasn't as elaborate as the process we had to follow to score Taylor Swift tickets, but close! I had to subscribe to the Black Forest Tourist Office's newsletter in order to get access to the platform an hour before everyone else. 

Also, if you wanted a parking space, you needed a ticket for that, too. 

After a 95km (60 mile) drive, mostly through the rain, we arrived at the place known for being overrun with tourists. I suppose the ticketing system regulates the overtourism to some extent, but it still had plenty of visitors. 

Fortunately, the crowds spread out across the grounds.

And since the recent Mac update, I shouldn't even worry about people messing up my pictures. Nowadays users get to "clean up" their photos. It's genius, you can make people disappear, check this out:

What's more, the rain miraculously stopped and even produced some mystic evaporation fog rising. 

So we were able to make the most of our two-hour slot from 4 to 6pm (yes, the organizers let the visitors come in in shifts) by wandering around - and, to be honest, queuing for food and the bathroom ;-) 

After trying to reduce my “evil carbohydrates” all year, I now enjoyed the Käsespätzle, a specialty famous in southern Germany, to the fullest!

So what is my conclusion? Is it worth the effort to fight for tickets, to take the journey (and the risk of the weather)? Absolutely, because it really was as scenic as I had imagined. Would I do it every year though? No. 

What's your opinion? Worth the hassle? Let me know.