The drive was easier than what I remembered traveling in Europe than before. Before I had felt nervous, anxious, and unsure. I am talking about the past few summer vacations my family and I have taken while I visited them in Switzerland. Road culture anywhere else (even in different regions of the U.S.) can be overwhelming -- all of a sudden there are an array of different signs, signals, etiquettes, routes, and especially geographic landscapes to remind you that you are in a foreign land, chartering undiscovered waters.
***Out the Window***
The drive was about three hours or so. We stayed in the Hotel Sonne in Fussen, Germany -- a small town (15,000 or so) in Bavaria -- just 5 km close to the Austrian border. Fussen is situated near the so-called "Romantic Road" -- a term coined by german travel agents in the 1950s to describe a stretch of highway in southern Germany (Bavaria). The name makes sense though. The views and landscape are picturesque and idyllic.
***Dustin***
My brother is getting psyched for our tour of the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. Both of these castles relate directly to the Bavarian King Ludwig II. King Ludwig is known as "the Swan King" and also "the Fairy Tale King." Ludwig was well known for a number of things -- his eccentric personality (many thought he was mentally ill), his patronage to famous opera composer Richard Wagner, and his love for art and architecture namely in the building of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castle.
Before we left to tour Hohenschwangau Castle, there was some down time to take some photos and I thought I'd give my new camera a spin. The weather was great -- it was mid morning (about 10 o'clock).
***Flowers outside Konigsschlosser Ticket Office (1)***
***Flowers outside Konigsschlosser Ticket Office (2)***
The first castle we toured (the tours were about thirty minutes each) was Hohenschwangau Castle. Hohenschwangau (English translation -- Castle of the High Swan County) was the official summer housing of King Maximillian (Ludwig's father) and was finished in 1837. Here are some photos of the tour:
***Hohenschwangau Ticket***
***Outside Hohenschwangau Castle (1)***
***Outside Hohenschwangau Castle (2)***
***View from Hohenschwangau Courtyard***
***Hohenschwangau Courtyard***
***Looking down the roof grooves***
***Lime tree in Hohenschwangau Courtyard***
***Lion Fountain***
***German Inscription***
(Note: They would let us take photos in the castle but I managed to sneak this one)
***View from a room in the Queen's quarters***
The next castle was the more impressive and more famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Neuschwanstein (English translation -- "New Swan Stone") looks like a building from a fairytale. Actually, it is said that Neuschwanstein Castle was the inspiration for Walt Disney in the development for Sleeping Beauty's and Disneyland/world castles all over the world. Again, they wouldn't let us take pictures inside the castle but all the views were very impressive.
***Ticket***
***Neuschwanstein Castle***
***Neuschwanstein Castle (2)***
***Marrien Bridge***
This is the bridge I took the photos of the castle from far away. It was about a ten minute hike up through the steep woods. It was all worth it and there were lots of people teeming (like me) just to snap photographs of this magnificant building.
***Neuschwanstein Entrance***
***Neuschwanstein Inside***
***Dad***
After the tours we had time to unwind and look at souvenir shops. I bought a wooden sword and waited outside the Olde German Christmas shoppe while Dustin, Gretchen, and Mom shopped. Dad and I were tired and losing our minds.
