After studying the DB app (I love that app!) to determine the best way to get to Neuschwanstein, I calculated that a bus was the way to go. Due to how the rails are set up in that part of Germany, it would have taken us over 3 hours to get there by train with various connections, or about an hour by bus. A bit of a no-brainer. Even with all of our backpacks in tow. We enjoyed one more Bavarian breakfast (complete with pretzels!) at our hotel, packed up and walked down to the bus stop.
As our super full bus pulled into the drop off zone, we realized we weren't in quiet Bavaria anymore. This was the most crowded touristy destination we had visited. And it was a weekday!
Now, the thing about Neuschwanstein is that you have to climb a fair amount to actually get to the castle. For a small fee, one could ride in a horse drawn carriage, but this is really not necessary. However, we did have all of our belongings for our 2 week trip on our backs. Not exactly ideal. After a bit of looking, I figured out we could leave them in the information center...right next to the bus drop...really wish I had realized that before I walked a ways up the road trying to find lockers. However, as a bonus, it was completely free to leave our bags behind the desk. As long as we were back by 5 pm: KEIN PROBLEM!!
It is already about noon, so we eat our sandwiches, drink a bit of water, unload as much weight as possible and begin our hike up the road. The first stop along our way...which I hadn't wanted to do, but again Eric's idea proved a good one (He is now up to 2 good ideas)...was to stop in at
Hohenschwangau, the familial summer home of Ludwig 2.
It is a beautiful building and of course the views were exquisite. Even on this sort of gray day. (The weather again accommodated by keeping the forecasted rain at bay). There were quite a few fountains that John loved, and I think I would have been pretty happy just spending time in the courtyards. Well worth taking the extra steps up to walk around a bit...before commencing the climb up to Neuschwanstein.
This climb took a long time. I'm not exactly sure how long...but, it was a long time. But, it was broken up by evidence of horses along the way. Which was extremely interesting to John.
Now, after reading several reviews of actually visiting Neuschwanstein, Eric and I determined we did not want to wait to go in to the palace. The best part of the palace is seeing it rise from the mountains. And the best way to see that is to go to Mary's Bridge.
Which we did. And it was totally worth it. Will, who likes to share his opinion on these matters, commented more than once he didn't think the climb was going to be worth the view.
However, I believe even he agreed it was worth it.
There is a waterfall under the bridge. Which confirmed what both my dad and a friend had mentioned when they came to visit us: That the traffic on the main road near our home sounds a lot like a waterfall. It really does...minus the honking.
After several minutes admiring the view and being a bit in disbelief we were there, we got off the bridge to allow for others to get on. There is a sign at the entrance indicating how many more people can enter the bridge...we didn't realize this and just went on, but the bridge held and now we know for the future.
Due to gravity and the threat of rain, our walk down the mountain took much less time. We also took a trail that had no evidence of horses much to Will's relief.
We collected our bags from the surprised information lady ('Oh...you didn't actually go in...that makes sense'), and headed to Fussen to catch our train to Munich.
We had about an hour before our train, which would have given us just enough time to do a quick walk through of the area...except no child wanted to do yet another walk around. Especially as there was a park right across the street from the train station. And a park bench ideal for reading a book. So Eric did a quick walk around by himself.
We have visited England and seen memorials for World War I and II. There were not as many for World War II, but several for World War I in the towns we visited in Germany.
And Bavaria is definitely the Catholic area of Germany. I can't believe we didn't grab a picture of one of the many Crucifixes along the roads. I mentioned to the kids imagine if you had no idea what that was? I thought of a friend who came to visit and looked horrified at a Crucifix on our wall. And here they were everywhere.
After a brief time, Eric returned, we bought some snacks for the train (pretzels and coke), and headed to Munich.
On a train, of course.
The reason we elected to try Space A during the summer when it is a bit more complicated was in order to meet up with my parents and sister's family in Munich/Holzkirchen. Mom and Dad had been in country as long as we had, but were at a big anniversary celebration in Eutin, Germany up until the 12 of June...which was conveniently when we would also be passing through Munich's Hauptbahnhof! Thanks to the miracle of technology, we arranged to meet with them to ride a BOB to Holzkirchen together.
And it all worked out!
Dad disembarked from his train and shouted hello as he quickly made his way to the next platform. Nana stopped to say hello and give hugs. Shockingly, we all made the next train! Dom and John even got to sit in First Class with L'Opa. While the rest of us sat about 10 feet away in 2nd Class.
We had successfully completed the section of our journey where we were on our own. Now, my dad took over as guide and translator. And our kids were super excited to see their cousins who arrived the next day. They'd basically been counting down since we landed in Germany to this point. I could relax quite a bit...except when we landed in Holzkirchen 6 minutes late...just as the S-bahn was getting ready to head back to Otterfing where our hotel was. We shouted our goodbyes and rushed to make that train...just in time! Alles Gute!
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