I woke up to a text from my brother - updating me on the latest new headline: 3 dead, 34 injured in Vienna - man runs car into crowd. It is frightening wondering if Jeremy's friend/family are ok. If it weren't an eight-hour drive (round trip), Jeremy would have been there too
Neuschwanstein is a huge tourist attraction so we got an early start. No traffic in Munich at 7 am on a Sunday morning!
Greg assumed we were going the wrong direction because we were on a small two-lane road. "I guess I expected different roads." Greg preferred getting to the castle by train like we did 5 years ago. (We could have taken a much bigger road by adding 30 minutes, and less scenery.)
We drove through several small towns to get to the castle
That's what "ausfahrt" means?? Where is the fun in that?!
When we got to the castle ticket center when it opened at 8 am, there were already 50 people in line. no one was in the reserved ticket line. Jeremy was annoyed that we arrived an hour in advanced but it is required; otherwise you lose your reservations.
Next we got in line for the bus - sandwiched between two Asian tour groups. All the bus doors opened and chaos broke out with tourists running everywhere. The groups all jumped on the bus, and were promptly kicked back off the bus, while we politely watched and waited. Pay the bus driver first.
The Marienbrucke (bridge)
Best view of the castle is from the Marienbrucke
View from the castle down to the ticket center and parking
A selfie stick would have been nice but Jeremy's stick only lasted three days. (Don't bring it up though, it is a sore subject.)
Kate asked is there ever blue sky and warmth here? "I'm tired of being cold." I completely agree - 50 degrees is too cold. But at least I was expecting Germany to be rainy and colder.
Everyone enjoyed the castle. Jeremy thought it was nice, Kate liked it, Greg didn't realize it was only 1/3 complete, and Chris liked how it looks and its surrounding view. I thought it was interesting that everything was original and nothing had been restored - of course it only dates back to 1896 though.
Next we pretty much drove back to Munich to visit Dachau concentration camp. You an imagine what that was like. If you want a description, here is a pretty good one: http://www.scrapbookpages.com/DachauScrapbook/KZDachau/DachauLife01G.html
The entrance says "Work will make you free"
I thought this sculpture is an excellent depiction
- Sunday is a good day to visit Neuschwanstein and Dachau because very little is open in Munich. We were lucky to find a delicious bakery in Dachau (called "IHLE") but no open grocery stores anywhere.
- Parking at the castle costs 6 euro. The bus up to the Marienbrucke is 1.80 each. The Marienbrucke (bridge) offers the best view of the castle. The carriage ride costs a little more and doesn't quite reach the castle, which is way below the bridge.
- The sign at the castle tour entrance says no backpacks but they told everyone to wear them on their front.
- The guided tour is 30 minutes long. No pictures are allowed - but a lot of tourists think the rules don't apply to them.
- Dachau is free. Parking is 3 euro. I'm still confused about the Dachau website's address for parking because it is nowhere near where the signs send you. Follow the signs.
- If you miss the Dachau English tour (two offered each day), rent the audio guides. I liked using them jointly with the signs. Also don't miss the movie in the museum.
