Into a fairytale:: Sleeping Beauty castle

10/6/2007

We went today to Neuschwanstein Castle which was the inspiration for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle! (picture taken from Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/)



We had to catch a train into the city and change lines on the way in… then we had to get a “Bayern” ticket. Lots of rushing!!! We were standing at the ticket machine about to pay for our tickets when a German guy (or some european nationality) rushed up to us telling us to “wait!” He had a ticket which he had not written on and it had not been stamped either – he said we could have it for 15E (as opposed to the 27E it costs from the machine). So we gave him the money and took the ticket hoping it was ok!! Michelle wrote our names on it and we set off!


On the train…BREAKFAST TIME!!!



Thanks to Michelle who had made coffee and heated up bread before we left). Mmmm coffee and gluten free/ lactose free croissants (the first ones I was “technically” able to eat) – they were not too bad!! And ciabatta for Guy!!

We changed trains in Buchloe …… and then continued on to Fussen where we got on a bus to Hohenschwangau. .50E for the privilege of using the facilities (it’s funny how you have to pay to use most bathrooms – even in a restaurant!!)

We bought tickets and lined up for the “horse and cart ride” up to the castle .. there were a few PUSHY people but we managed to get on the 2nd one that came and went on up the hill past all the people walking up!


ooh...purty!!



We waited for a bit to get inside and then as the number before ours was through we went up the the turnstile and were the first through when group 447 was up…we were hustled through the castle/ rooms quite quickly.

Lots of elaborate walls – with pictures of scenes of stories that Wagner wrote operas on. It was King Ludwig’s fairytale castle.. his escape from reality… and was not finished being built before he was deemed “mad” and a day later found drowned in a lake… suspicious???



After the tour we found a spot for our lunch



(Shell went off to the string bridge and took some great photos of the castle) – and then it was back down the hill!!





Ahh… here you see Fritz, Fritz, Fritz und Fritz!!!


they formed up whilst Guy and I were heading down to start lunch and then as we were setting off down the hill they were marching down the road.



....Bus, train, train and home… tired and grumpy!

"tschuess"

P.S.. Guy has decided top take up farming in Bavaria!!