Slept like crap. Well slept ok from 21:30 til 00:55 then was awake for *ages* and then restless/broken sleep after that.
Woke up a bit before 06:00. Got up when Mum woke up.
Went and got Scottish Restaurant for breakfast. We were there early enough for the breakfast menu this time, but no hashbrowns.
Checked out then headed out in the rain to go collect the car. Which by somewhat good planning was just around the corner. They had an Italian car there, so I could have saved myself the 300 euro one-way fee, however that one didn't have GPS. Which I possibly could have lived without, except the sim I have won't work in Switzerland, so I'd be a bit stuck. So decided to suck it up and pay the extra. The first problem with the car is that the suitcases don't both fit. We had to put the seats down, which I'm not at all happy about. There's at least one place where I was wanting to leave the car with the suitcases in it while walked around town, but that's going to be a bit too stressful, so don't know what we're going to do. Also, it stinks of cigarette smoke. I hope whoever did it got a big bill. Cause it's gross. And I hope they don't think *we* did it!
So off we went. It was still relatively early Saturday morning so the inner city streets were a bit quiet. But then I missed an exit in one of the tunnels (because the gps wasn't talking to me and I was watching the road), and it had to renegotiate around epic traffic, and then at another point it changed its mind and sent us somewhere else, then changed its mind again and sent us back. hmm.
But we got out of Munich eventually and hit the autobahns. They were flowing pretty well which was a nice change from last time where roadworks caused epic delays and traffic jams. Not sure what speed I maxed out at, maybe 140. But then it was off onto quieter country roads. Which were very pretty. But it rained.
Neuschwanstein castle and Bavarian Alps
Photo by Mum
Neuschwanstein castle and Bavarian Alps
Got to Füssen and had to pay a euro to park in a carpark at the end of a road with nearly noone around. Went and dumped our bags at the guesthouse (bit early to check in though). Then we headed into town to find lunch and an ATM. But first we needed to find parking. Tried a parking garage but the spaces were so tiny I didn't want to risk scratching the car, so left. Actually managed to find a free 30 minute spot, so left the car there (reverse parked on the wrong side of the road, I may have hit the kerb a bit) and went on a mission to find money and food. Found a bank first and got 100 euro out. Then walked back to the kebab place we'd walked past. It fitted the requirement of "fast". We shared one too, so it was not only healthy and quick but super cheap as well.
Then we headed to the castles. 10 euro to park. And it was raining.
Cute Bavarian building in Hohenschwangau
Walked up to Hohenschwangau first (last time we took the "slow" way and I said the "steep" way would only take five minutes when they say it'd take 20. Well today we accidentally took the steep way anyway and guess what, it took five minutes to the base of the castle, with another minute or two to the courtyard). Wandered around taking photos of the outside before going in for the tour. Luckily camera bag and jacket were allowed no problems. The tour was pretty good, I took quite a few notes as well so can write it up later and look for photos.
Swan fountain in Hohenschwangau
Arch and side of Hohenschwangau castle
Horses and cart heading up to Hohenschwangau
Archways at Hohenschwangau
Hohenschwangau castle
Decoration on the side of Hohenschwangau castle
Hohenschwangau castle
Hohenschwangau castle
Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein
Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein
Neuschwanstein castle
Archway at Hohenschwangau
View towards Museum der Bayerischen Könige over Alpsee and Bavarian Alps
Hohenschwangau castle from the village
Then we took the shuttle bus (last time it was included in the ticket price, now it's 3 euro each) up to Marienbrücke. It was too late in the day for the best photos, but the sun did poke through a little so that was nice.
Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge)
Waterfall from Marienbrücke
Mum and me and Neuschwanstein from Marienbrücke
Neuschwanstein castle from Marienbrücke
Neuschwanstein castle from Marienbrücke
Alpsee and Hohenschwangau from Panoramablick Schwangau
Hohenschwangau castle from Panoramablick Schwangau
Neuschwanstein castle from Panoramablick Schwangau
Walked down to Neuschwanstein and waited for that tour to start. Stu remembered this tour being not nearly as good as the Hohenshwangau one, and I tend to agree. This one has a bigger group and you only stop in about four rooms, and walk through a few more. What Ludwig II did actually finish was pretty impressive though.
Neuschwanstein castle
Gargoyles on Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
Entrance to Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
Electronic entrance gates at Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
Marienbrücke and Bavarian Alps from Neuschwanstein castle
Marienbrücke from Neuschwanstein castle
View towards Schwangau and Forggensee from Neuschwanstein castle
Alpsee and Bavarian Alps from Neuschwanstein castle
Arch and view to Bavarian Alps in Neuschwanstein castle
Kitchen underneath Neuschwanstein castle
Kitchen underneath Neuschwanstein castle
Photo by Mum
Kitchen underneath Neuschwanstein castle
Model of Neuschwanstein castle
Model of Neuschwanstein castle
Exit tunnel in Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
Neuschwanstein castle
View to St Coloman church from near Neuschwanstein castle
By the time we got out it was well after seven, then we had to walk all the way back to the car. It was 20:00 by the time we got back to the guest house. Dumped some stuff and then went across the road to the restaurant that had been open at lunch. Only to find it wasn't open. There was nowhere to get any dinner. And I certainly wasn't going to walk into town (my feet and ankles hurt too much) and I certainly wasn't going to drive (in the dark, on the wrong side of the road, in a car I'm unfamiliar with, to somewhere with stressful parking. No thankyou). So we had Pringles for dinner. Sigh. Still, it did mean getting do photo and blog stuff a lot earlier. I'm already feeling stressed about the lack of down time we're getting. Too many early starts and late finishes. And I don't know when it's really going to let up. Perfect recipe for getting sick.
hmmmm
Forggensee from near our guesthouse
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