Maxfield Adventures - Living life to the Max: Vils

Neuschwanstein Castle * Hohenschwangau Castle * Swimming

*Ehrenberg Castle * Highline 179 Suspension Bridge

8.5 miles

We had to start our day early because we were unable to secure our tickets yesterday for Neuschwanstein - so we were up and moving and in line to get our tickets by 8:00 a.m. We are enjoying the longest days of the year right now and it was full day light at 6:00 a.m. We enjoyed our tours of the King's Castles - Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. It was enjoyable seeing things that were original and still in working condition. None of the paintings had been restored - all the woodwork was beautiful and still in good condition, the doors, locks, furniture, chandeliers - were all original. It was quite a trek uphill to Neuschwanstein and everyone was tired by 12:00 when we finished.

We all needed a nap this afternoon, especially the grumpy teenagers. We've decided this apartment is the best and biggest we've stayed in yet. It's the 2nd level of a home in a quiet, sleepy area - 2 bathrooms, 2 large bedrooms, large kitchen and family room, and immaculately clean. We have to separate our garbage into 7 categories: glass, paper, tin/metal, plastic, bread, organic, and 1 we don't understand. It makes for cleaning up a meal very interesting.

Our best decision of the day was to head to the local swimming pool at 4:00. We love the ingenuity of the Austrians - we had to wear a bracelet into the pool to time in and out. The bracelet also locked the lockers. We were a bit shocked by the coed locker area - at least there were private dressing rooms. The pool was really nice for a small community; 1 large pool with lazy river (warm enough water that I even enjoyed hanging out), 1 salt water warmer spa area, 2 small kids pools and a water slide. We all enjoyed going down the water slide several times. At the top of the water slide was a stop light with green and red lights to tell the next rider when to go. We got in trouble though when we walked into the pool area with our street shoes. Things are very clean in this country!

After a 3 hour swim we headed up to a 12th century castle ruin, Ehrenberg, that overlooks the city. We are listening to Prince Caspian right now, so we pretended to be Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund wandering around the castle ruins at the beginning of the book. It was a perfect time to be there, cool and enjoying the evening light. We also crossed a pedestrian suspension bridge that is 300+ feet off the ground over a gorge. It was a bit freaky as the bridge moved as we walked.

Dinner was late - 10:30 (how European of us); Schniztel from the "convenient" counter at the store with a green salad - no dressing. We finished watching the Italian job while we ate. (The naps must have allowed us to stay up so late).