Schwangua

It was another night of driving through the night. We left at about 8pm and didn’t arrive in Schwangua until early hours. The campsite we had chosen was convenient for the castles there and was right on the lake with views of the Bavarian Alps.

All four children were fast asleep when we arrived, the campsite locked up and dark.

Putting the feet up on the caravan, we tucked them in bed and set our alarms again for pre reception opening.

This was the view when I awoke.

I watched the sun rise over the mountains and clear the clouds and mist from the lake.

It was a more expensive site, so we knew we couldn’t stay long. Time enough though to see Neuschwanstein Castle, do some laundry (our clothes, towels and bed linen were dirty and wet from the rain and drizzle in the Black Forest) and eat our first meal out. The laundry facilities here were good. Large linen rooms with separate rooms for airing, drying and ironing. A launders haven. (I think I miss my kitchen, laundry room and washing machine the most)

That afternoon we set off in the direction of the Schwangua’s (in fact Germany's) most famous castle. Neushwanstein castle became well known for it’s location setting in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but it's the work of King Ludwig II that makes it famous. It was a prominent feature on the Alpine landscape and it didn’t fail to impress us and with almost 1.5 million visitors a year, it must impress others too.

A short drive up to the booking office, our allotted time for entry was at 16.10. We had 4 hours to kill, so we started the hike up. We needed the time. The view at every turn was awe-inspiring.  When we reached the top, we still had time to walk around the castle to the bridge around the mountain.

On the walk up to the castle

We weren’t the only ones with this idea. The castle itself is a large tourist draw, hence the requirement for rigid entry times. And the bridge was no less busy. We  quite literally fought our way on,  with Holland reaching the middle with ease! I was happy with sticking my camera in the air, capturing the castle and the river below and vacating as quickly as I could. I don’t have the stomach for heights from a bridge like that.

View of the castle from the bridge

At the castle. Bobby; any time, any place. 

The Bridge

The bridge

The castle inside was stunning. It wasn’t complete, but the rooms which were, were breathtaking. Huge, vaulted ceilings in the throne room with gold leaf and eloborate, intricate wall painting. Vast marble floors, delicate wood carvings which took months to complete.

http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/interior.htm

Part of travelling is experiencing the local food and this was something that we were certainly missing out on. Our budget didn’t even allow for us to eat out, even a simple lunch. So, I wasn’t prepared to leave Germany without sampling some of the local Bavarian Bratwurst. 

Our meal out that evening took place in the lovely little town called Fussen. We stumbled upon a local, traditional looking restaurant where every table had bratwurst and potato salad. Tall glasses of wiess biere lined the bars. Perfect!

But it wasn’t to be. The waitress explained they were full and we couldn’t be seated that evening.

Disheartened, we made our way out. I had saved a small amount of money for a meal out, and I didn’t want to waste it on a non traditional meal!

All the other restaurants in the town were expensive and rather ordinary.  We were all getting hungry and by now the babies were tiring. Thank goodness we then happened upon another local's place.

We were seated in a cove booth. A small room all to our selves. We all ordered bratwurst apart from Emily who had tomato pasta. Huge great big Frankfurt sausages were delivered to our table with a heap of French fries to each plate.

I had a litre of weiss biere (my favourite) and Andrew had a litre of lager beer.

Holland was a more than a little disappointed that Bratwurst was a Frankfurt style sausage. Indeed Holland’s favourite meal in the world in sausage, so she was looking forward to this event with gusto and Frankfurts just aren’t her thing! Poor Holland. We made up for it in Austria though. Schnitzles turned out to be her new favourtie food!