Garmisch, Neuschwanstein, Dachau, Germany

We went to Garmish the weekend after Easter to see Nate's friend Eide, who was down there for language training.  Our trip there marked our first long train trip, and the furthest from Wiesbaden we had gone to date.

We left after I got off work on a Friday and walked to the train station.  With a little help from the travel office, we purchased some (pretty expensive) tickets.  We got Bahn cards to save us a bit of cash, then had to literally run to catch our train.

On the bright side, we got to experience taking the ICE trains.  The interior was much nicer than the regional trians - more like an airplane than a trian - but Nate said he still preferred the IC or regionals.  Our total trip lasted nearly 6 hours, ending with us arriving around 1am.  Eide picked us up and drove us to the Bed and Breakfast he had reserved for us earlier that day.

The room was small but nice, and we had our own bathroom and shower, complete with a request that men should sit rather than stand.  The bed was like two small beds pushed together with big square pillows, and the house was in traditional Bavarian style.  They lady who ran it was ery nice and ther was info in the hallway about various local attractions.

The next day we deciced to visit Neuschwanstein.  Eide drove, and because there was no direct route to Füssen, we had to drive through part of Austria to get there.

Once we were there, we got a beautiful view of the castle.  There were tours being offered, so we signed up to see both castles (Höhenschwangau being the other).  If a recall correctly, Hohenschwangua belonged to Ludwig's parents, and he built Neuschwanstein after.  There was some legend connected with the name and the location of Hohen, but I don't know any of the details.

  

There was roughaly an hour in between tours, so we decided to explore a little.  We bought postcards and ice crean, Eide bought popcorn from a vending machine that popped it and played musci.  Then we debated the best way to get from one castle to another (as it was quite a hike).  Dot and I opted for the bus, while the guys took the horse drawn carriage, and Nate walked.  I think us girls got the better end of the deal.  While the bus was PACKED and frankly scray as ever winding around the tight corners, it dropped us off at Marienbrucke, a bridge overlooking a waterfall on one side and Neuschwanstein on the other.  I twas an ideal palce for photos.

We all met up in front of the caslte and waited around in the courtyard for our number to be called.  We got in just before it started raining.

The castle rooms were amazing and elaborate, even though most of them were closed and off limits because they had never actually been completed.  The tour skipped entire floors.  The king himself only lived in the caslte for 160 or so daysbefore he died.  Teh most impressive rooms were the bedroom with its elaborate wood carvings, the cave connecting it to the other rooms,a nd the throne room, almost completely covered in gold, including huge chandeliers.  The legend of the swan knights was portrayed on the ceiling (many murals like this were painted on the walls of Hohenschwangau as well - it was incredible).

When we finished we walked back to the car and decided to try to find something to eat.  We continued to strike out (everyone was closed during mid-day).  We ended up taking a different route back so we could see Weiskirche.

We found the church - and food - prety easily.  The church was unlike any I'd seen in Germany.  All the cathedrals had been so dark and cryptic inside, but this was bright, white and golds and pinks.  The ceiling was completely covered by murals and paintings.  We took pictures, bought a candle, and went for food.

The rest of the journey took us along the Romantic Road and the Alpine Road.  The scenary was breath taking - mountains rose out of nowhere.  WE got back relatively early so we went to the PX for some basics (food, water, gum, etc) and decided to meet up for dinner after naps.  Not being able to sleep, I went out and photographed the unique Bavarian houses and landscape.  The barns were small, almost more like sheds, and all of them dark brown wood. 

We ended the night with dinner at a place that served liter-sized beers.  I of course was limited to Coke.

Our second day was almost as busy as our first - if not more.  We decided to visit the Dachau concentration camp memorial.  We passed through part of Munich on the way (and got a little lost, passing the olympic stadium twice).

When we got to the camp we decided to buy audio guides and then we sort of split up and went our own ways.  Ther ewere several memorials, and a lot were recreated (most of the buildings had been torn down and the audio didn't make clear the original parts).  They had a huge museum that I didn't really walk through.  I was more interested in the buildings/grounds, Nate in the museum.

Its hard to explain what it what was like.  I had tried to prepare myself, knowing that a lot of people have had strong reactions going to the camps.  AS I visited the memorials and the barracks, I was pretty passive about it, but it was a very different feeling walking through teh gas chamber and cermatorium.  Nate wanted pictures, but it felt so wrong to take them.  I suppse you can separate yourself from what actually happened until you see the instruments of genocide.

We left the camp when it started raining and stopped at a Burger King for lunch.  We decided to leave from the Munich train station instead of going back to Garmisch, and we ended up on an IC rather than an ICE, but it ended up ok in the end.  WE walked back from the train station, unpacked a little, and went to bed early.  It was 3 long days, but altogether an amazing trip.