Vils - Castles, old and new

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).

comfortable beds

playground by suspension bridge

Ehrenberg Castle

Highline 179 Bridge

Hohenschwangau

Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein

Hohenschwangau

Vils, Austria

Telburg Alpine Slide * Fussen, Germany * Lech River

3.78 miles

We took a gorgeous drive from Northern Italy to Northern Austria today through Innsbruck.  It first reminded me of driving along the Snake River towards Jackson and seeing the Tetons, except narrower and greener.  When we got to Innsbruck I could have been looking at the Wasatch Mountains.  Innsbruck is set in a smaller valley with a fraction of the population, but it reminded me of home.  I think I enjoyed this drive better than the Tuscan Italy drive just because it felt familiar.

We arrived in Vils Austria, about 15 minutes from Fussen Germany around 1:00.  We were starving, but only had apples and rolls with butter to eat.  We were worried about getting our tickets to the Neuschwanstein Castle so we raced there only to find out we couldn't buy tickets in advance.  Since we were by the Alpine Slide we went there next and enjoyed 3 rides (unlike the Alpine slide in Utah, they only cost about $3.00/ride).  

At this point everyone was getting hungry and short on nerves.  We needed a decent meal - fast.  One tricky aspect about vacationing on a budget and on the go is the constant forage for cheap eats.  We hunt out grocery stores, bakeries, delis, etc!  Tonight we decided we needed to eat some typical Bavarian food since we are only here 2 nights.  We talked to a local family at the Alpine Slide and asked them for a recommendation.  We ended up in Fussen, Germany eating Schnitzle, Sauerkraut, Sausages, French Fries, and a Salad.  It was really good!  We also found a discount grocery store - it was so discount they even charged for a grocery cart (which we didn't get - we made the kids carry our groceries around the store) and no grocery sacks in sight.  

It is a kick trying to figure out anything German.  All the words are really long and nothing is similar to Italian or Spanish.  I see some English similarities, but still can't figure out many words.  It makes our driving and grocery shopping all very interesting.

Telburgh Alpine Slide