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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.
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!
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