Germany

Day 5 - Sat 4 Aug 07

Didn't get much sleep as I forgot my ear plugs - a stupid mistake! The train made it in to Munchen at about 07:30, I found the car rental place (right in the station), but it doesn't open until 08:00. So I decided to head into Munich to have a look around.

There's no-one around, and I walk down the cathedral square, take a few photo's and then head back to the station. It's 08:30 now, and there's a queue of people waiting to collect their cars! I get all the paperwork sorted, and walk around to the car park around the corner to collect the motor. It's a brand new Toyota Yaris Automatic.

by using the map I'd printed out I find my way onto the E54 heading east, and soon get to the junction with the B17 (the romantic road) but somehow I end up heading north on it rather than south. It takes me a bit to realise this, but I soon find a spot to turn around.

The Yaris is okay, but the engine isn't that powerful, and the auto gearbox is rather, well, clunky.

The Romantic Road, isn't that romantic! I left it and headed off to visit an interesting little village I spotted in the distance. After abandoning the car, I walked up the hill to where the church is located. A huge building with a big clock/bell tower. Inside it was very ornate, with fresco's on the walls and ceilings. Outside there was a team of women looking after the graves, and boy do they do a good job! Every grave is like a mini garden, with beautifully tended flowers and plants.

I grabbed a few provisions in the local shop and headed off again. The countryside here is very lush and green, and the further south I went the bigger the hills got. There was one incline that I thought the Yaris might not make it over. I pushed on down to Schwangau which I got confused with Schongau (which is about 20km before Schwangau).

Drove past my hotel twice before I spotted it, but it was worth it, as my room has a view of Neuschwanstein castle, which was the hold point of this little trip!

I dumped my stuff in the room and had a bit of a snooze, and then in the afternoon took a walk up the (steep) hill to the castle - You have to buy at ticket at the bottom of the hill if you want to go inside, I decided not to as I wanted to see the lay of the land.

Neuschwanstein Castle

At the top of the hill you can either head into the castle, or keep going to the Marienbrücke (Queen Mary's Bridge), I did the latter and was rewarded with a picture postcard view of the castle from the bridge. The bridge was teaming with tourist, who, once they had their photo turned around and went back. I pressed on, and got to another view point of the castle.

Then it was the long trek back down to the Hotel, I jumped in the car and headed off to see if I could find a supermarket, which I did and loaded up with provisions.

Had a bit of a snooze, and then walked up the hill to the castle again as the sun was setting, got some lovely photos, but then had to trek down in the darkness!