(Sorry for my punny headline)
Today is my day to head for the Alps. My body clock is getting closer to time – woke up at 4:30am today – the bed is harder than I’m used to.
I decided to take the early train to Füssen (the correct spelling) today – leaving at 6:51am with a transfer in Buchloe (Alex to Buchloe, Deutsches Bahn to Füssen). I caught the bus to the train station, then headed to the DB ticket machine. The first one wouldn’t take cash, so I hit the main set of ticketing machines. I walked up, punched in the information put in my €50 note, the machine printed my ticket, gave me my change. Then it happened – other tourists saw me and asked for help. First was a pair from Japan, who wanted to go to Cologne. They couldn’t find Cologne on the list of stations to by tickets for, so I helped with using Köln for the station – showed them how to choose the train (the next train was an ICE – intercity express – but cost €256 vs. the slower train that left at the same time but got in one hour later and had changes and cost €198) – they chose the ICE train, paid, got their tickets and were happy. Then the Italian gentleman needed help – he was going to Nuremburg – I helped him get his ticket to Nürnberg and then rushed out before anyone else asked, since I had to grab some food (Croissant & Fanta) and get to my train.
I got on the train and it headed out. I spent the 40 or so minutes finishing yesterday’s post. In Buchloe, just as I got off the first train, the second one pulled in. I hopped aboard and headed to Füssen – stopping at nearly every stop along the way. At least this train was a Regional Express train – or else we would be stopping at every town along the way…
Once in Füssen, I caught the bus to the village of Hohenschwangau – home of two castles: Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. Hohenschwangau was was the older of the castles and was where King Ludwig II came up with the idea for Neuschwanstein (the inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle at DisneyLand and Walt Disney World). The family is still apparently still involved in the operations, and thus you have 2 hours between castle visits (to try and spend more money…) – so I took the 9:50am tour of Hohenschwangau, then took pictures until the 11:50 appointed time for Neuschwanstein, including a bus ride to the Marienbrücke (bridge) that overlooks the castle (above a waterfall) and a walk down from there to the castle.
After touring Neuschwanstein, it was time to head down to try and catch the 1:05 train back to Munich – but although the trains run on a quitee tight schedule, the horse-drawn carriage back to the bottom does not – though even if it had left right when I got there, I would not have made the bus connection back to the train station. Stopped and had a Bratwurst mit Semmel (on a roll) and tried a “Lift” soda (Apple-based) – no added sugar (just what’s naturally in the apple juice) – which was kind of bland. Then it wass back to Füssen to wait for the train to get back to Munich.
The train ride was uneventful – change in Buchloe to Munich. Upon arrival in Munich, I headed back to the hotel, where I fell asleep. Waking up after the news was over (slept through it – but keeping an eye on it – the announcer’s voices helped me sleep, I guess…), then I went downstairs to go out for dinner. While dropping my key off, I ran into a mother and daughter who were doing their own whirlwind trip – they were in Rothenburg and had just arrived by train, and were flying tomorrow to Florence. They were trying to figure out how to get to the airport, and the receptionist was guiding them to the S-Bahn – but they seemed leery. I told them that I had taken the S-Bahn here and it was a piece of cake (S-8 to München Flughaven) – on at the train station, off at the airport. They were concerned with the train stopping, and I said that although the train stopped along the way, it didn’t have to deal with traffic like a bus would – I recommended that they be at the airport 2 hours early, meaning leave about 12:30pm for a 3:30pm flight. They were going to Neuschwanstein in the morning, so I’m wondering about making a 3:30pm flight – it’s a two-hour trip there, two-hours back, plus visiting the castles – kinda close for me… They were also looking for some food to eat, so I walked with them until they saw a pizza place and decided to eat there.
I kept going and on to the train station to catch the S-Bahn downtown to a restaurant highly recommended to me by eine Freundin who used to live here – Donisl. I had a Wiener Schnitzel mit Kartoffelnsalat und ein halbes Radler (Breaded Veal Cutlet with Potato Salad and a 500ml Beer and soda water mix – lighter). Mmmmm Good!
By the way – the Marienplatz downtown was spotless (other than the occasional cigarette butt) – no glass, no confetti, no trash.
I headed back to the hotel. In the train station – I tried to inquire about the Locomotive Engineers strike that was voted on earlier in the week (why I’m watching the news). The only strike announced so far is from 4:00am to 10:00am on Thursday – nothing specific on future activities – just hope it doesn’t impact my train to Berlin on Friday night/Saturday morning… Keep tuned… I’m not sure if this affects S-Bahn trains or not, but will not be rushing out in the morning… Tomorrow and Friday’s plan is to do my Munich sightseeing.
Tschüß!
Wow that was quite an adventure! I just love Munich and Koln too! Are you going to make that trip?