Salzburg - Fussen - Munich. Day 11

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Today we left Salzburg at 9AM and purchased a Bavarian Ticket, which takes us all over Bavaria for 27 euros. Today’s trip was marked by lots of train connections – our journey from Salzburg from Munich consisted of lots of train changes.

The first wrench happened when one of the trains was delayed by 20 minutes, which ate up all our connection time for the next train. The second wrench happened when we were told that the train had also changed platforms. We kind of felt like we were in an episode of the Amazing Race, rushing to find the platform and running at top speed toting luggage and a backpack. Here again we were thankful that 1) our luggage was light and 2) several kind locals helped us translate the train announcements on the PA. Without them we most certainly would have missed our connection and we would have spent our day at the train station instead of at the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle.

So we did the hike up to the castle and it was a little more punishing than we had expected

Carlos' Fruit Stand in Munich
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So after catching the right train, we stopped n Fussen, put our luggage in a locker, and caught a bus to the castle. Once there, we purchased 9 euro tickets for the castle and had a light lunch of currywurst and schnitzel sandwich.

We were glad we ate; it’s a 30 min uphill hike to start the tour of the castle but we refused to pay the euros for a horse carriage or a bus – Lord knows we’ve already spent enough. So we did the hike up to the castle and it was a little more punishing than we had expected, but we were surprised to find the hike more invigorating than exhausting. Once we were at the top, the views were fabulous – waterfalls, green fields, and steep rocky mountains as far as your eyes can look. The tour of the castle felt a little rushed but it really was interesting – the castle is not that old, only a little over a hundred years, and it was entertaining to see what “state of the art” was like back then. Apparently the castle was located such that it was right below a natural spring which provided the castle with fresh running water (not sure if it was heated). There was a room where the flooring was made of 2 million tiles – that was my favorite room. Also the kitchen looked like something out of a fairy tale; large stoves and ovens and shiny copper pots and pans. It was easy to imagine the staff bustling about, preparing food for the king…and as I type this we are both very hungry, we haven’t had much to eat all day.

Munich Four Points. Olympic Park
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After the castle, we caught the bus back to the train station to head back to Munich. Now we are on the train… it’s too dark to see outside the windows but we have been checking out the houses and real estate all day on the train. We are curious to know what it costs to live in one of those countrywide chalets. It’s remote but man we bet it’s quiet… and we bet at night, the stars would light everything. We’re hungry, tired, and sleepy – but happy. It’s been a good trip so far, especially now that we know our families are all right.

train ride from Salzburg to Fussen
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Once we got to Munich, we found our hotel, dropped off our bags, and tried ot take advantage of a bit of the city at night before going to bed. Our hotel is the Four Points Sheraton Munich OlympiaPark, the site the tragic 1972 Olympics where the Israeli athletes were taken hostage and killed. Carlos thinks we’re sleeping in the same rooms as the athletes, but all the rooms are now either the hotel or residential apartments. Two major perks – free minibar (no liquor, some beer) and FREE INTERNET!!

Bavaria scenery
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I was finally able ot catch up on work (big mistake, I went to sleep at 3AM) and talk to my brother. The furniture looks like IKEA. Downsides – no English on the plasma TV – not even ESPN. That was probably the most frustrating thing for Carlos, he missed his sports.

We left the hotel and proceeded to the city center where we looked for Hofbrauhaus – one of the world’s largest beer halls. Rick Steves wasn’t kidding, this place wazs huge and beer by the liter – only. That’s almost half a gallon. There were bouncers outside who looked like they meant business – they had the coiled-cord earpieces and black jackets and the whole Secret Service aura about them. It was 11PM and the place was PACKED; they did serve food but we mostly saw people at long tables with HUGE mugs of beer. We only walked around a bit, then we had to leave. The noise was overwhelming. According to Rick Steves, there are also a dozen urinals and a vomitorium. I have to ask why do that? Why make yourself sick? There were plenty of drunks on the street, and lots of strip bars. We opted instead for a chicken doner kebap sandwich for 3.5 euro and we contented ourselves with gawking at the drunk tourists. We then headed back to the hotel where I caught up on work and Carlos slept