Here is the view of Oktoberfest from the St. Paul's Cathedral Bell Tower. TONS OF PEOPLE!! The Cathedral opens the bell tower for showcasing Oktoberfest. The staircase has 252 stairs leading to the first landing (whew...too much sausage and beer the night before...) but the view is definitely worth it. The rest of Munich is also quite picturesque; white townhouses with red roofs span the city, with church steeples popping up here and there. The little sister at the bottom of the stairs looked to be about 95, but was very kind and watched our bags for us as we made the arduous climb upwards.
This is one of the views of the Bavarian countryside that we saw while driving to Innsbruck after leaving Munich. Can you believe that I am actually at a gas station? This is what SURROUNDS the gas station... crazy. BUT not as crazy as the magical turning toilet seats. See, I suppose Germans are very concerned with spreading disease and illness (remnants of the Black Plague maybe?) so, their facilities are immaculate. It doesn't really matter that one has to pay 50 cents to use it (and with the way the US economy is, that's practically a car payment...) because at the end of your trip through the bathroom, (beware of being locked in...) you kinda feel better than when you went it. Everything is sanitized, cleaned and disinfected. Hoorah!
I actually don't think that this building was important in Innsbruck... most of the buildings around where we were staying just looked like this. They were pretty, well taken care of, with nice little flowers in all of the windows. I believe that this might be a small hotel? Maybe some apartments? I don't know... hard to distinguish between one beautiful building and the next.
This is Domkirche zu St. Jakob, or St. Jame's Cathedral in Innsbruck. It is a Baroque church designed by Johann Jakob Herkommer. It was begun in 1717 and finished in 1724. The inside of this church is beautiful, and is one of the most intricate, ornate and awe-inspiring churches I have ever stepped foot in. Even on Saturday afternoon when we quitely toured it, little old people were deep in prayer. It was peaceful. Also, one of the only "older" historical sites that we visited while on our roadtrip. Everything else was pretty "new" by German standards.
Okay, mom... so you think that this water color can only be seen in the Bahamas, but here it is again in the middle of the German Alps! The Alpsee is about 50 degress all year round (eek!). It didn't stop the dirty Italians that were also visiting Neuschwanstein from getting in for a dip/bath... in their underwear. That was a sight; castle, castle, castle, Alpine landscape, pretty ducks...oh...a 200 lb hairy short italian man in his "orange-tighties" going for a dip. Niiiiice. But, in all seriousness, It was incredible!! If I didn't know how cold it was, I would have probably brought a bathing suit myself and given it a shot!
This is Castle Hohenschwangau. This is the older castle that was in the same town as Neuschwanstein. It is named for the "swan knights" that (legend has it) crossed the lake in a swan-drawn boat to rescue the damsel in distress. Pretty romantic, right? Well, while this castle might look old, it's not (bummer). The ruins of the castle were discovered by then-prince Maximillian of Bavaria (later King Maximillian II of Bavaria) as he was out hiking one day. He fell in love with the legend of the swan knights, and the location on the Alpsee, so he began construction on what would become the royal family's favorite vacation spot.
Neuschwanstein. I did not make it to the castle in time for the tour (scheduled at 5:25 pm) because the bus was running late. For those of you that have heard that the German people are...cough cough... Naz-*inaudible* about time, you would be correct. So, at 5:27 after running uphill, I was turned away at the door, along with 10 other Americans. So, American's around the world have a repuation for being brash, loud and utterly unconcerned with rules. After THIS afternoon, I believe that that stereotype may be founded...
So, the man at the door tells us that no one can give us a tour at this late hour. Connie, and 8 other Americans visiting the castle, ENTER through the EXIT door and basically run as fast as they can through the castle towards the top. Against the flow of traffic. I, on the other hand, got the stink eye in the gift shop, chicken out and just went to the bathroom instead to make it look like I had purpose there. Apparently, this group of 9-ish, make it all the way to the king's bedroom when they are finally stopped by one of the Supervisors of the castle who then gives them a private tour...WHAT!?! About an hour later, as I am sitting dejectedly at the bottom of the stairs, Connie and the other Americans emerge, victorious grins on their faces, having seen the castle. Sigh. Another loss for Ashley because I don't break the rules. Only thing Connie had to say? "Man, we really should tell them that their security sucks..."
This is the picture of the Hohenschwangau region from the bathroom window at Neuschwanstein. The stall that I chose to hide in, just in case they sent the German-equivalent of the FBI my direction with the sole purpose to deport me, happened to have a wonderful view of the Bavarian countryside. Stop to take a picture, check that the coast is clear, and then visit the gift shop. The ONE castle I wanted to see really badly, and all I got to visit was the bathroom and the damn giftshop.
Traveling through the Bavarian/Austrian countryside was spectacular. All kinds of interesting things happened.
Note: Just before (I attempted, Connie succeeded) seeing Neuschwanstein, Connie and I both had a moment of clear understanding, looked at each other, and decided Oktoberfest needed to be revisited. Our original plan for the evening was to spend the night in a quiet convent in the countryside around Stuttgart...oh, how quickly and fully that got turned around.
Next up: Oktoberfest 2.0 and the next day!!
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