Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Tuesday April 10, 2012

We saw three castles today! It was a very long day beginning with an early morning. You know how I love mornings. Especially after I didn't sleep very well because of this head cold I caught.  Nate had it last week and passed it on to John. 

Anyway, I pushed through and it was well worth it. It had been snowing yesterday but today it was clear and warmed up this afternoon to high 60's low 70's. Bright blue skies over the snow capped Alps! Absolutely breathtaking. 

Honenschwangau was first. This was Ludwig II's boyhood home.  It was beautiful but not overly grandiose like Versailles. 


Poor Ludwig only had this castle to grow up in. How sad...

Neuschwanstein Castle was next and quite a long hike up the hill. Unfortunately, parts of it were under maintenance so covered with scaffolding but it was still amazing.  Its easy to see where Disney stole ideas directly from Ludwig.   



Neuschwanstein Castle

View above Neuschwanstein Castle

We had lunch at the cafe down the hill after the tour and then headed to a little town called Oberammergau to see some crazy good woodcarvings and other trinkets.  The carvings were amazing but way too pricey to actually purchase.

We headed to the last castle which was the one Ludwig lived in most of his life and the only one that was completed during his life time, Linderhof.  Linderhof is worth visiting if only for the grotto where Ludwig had operas performed for him in a very Wagerian styled place. Crazy. 




Nate being silly :) 

Views along the drive today. Amazing! 




 



Edelweiss. :) 

View from our hotel in Austria just across the border. Incredible.


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