27 Nov 08 / Neuchswanstein Castle and the village

The Village of Schwangau:

This I believe is a good area to use as a base to explore Bavaria, Austria and even the upper part of Italy, not to mention Switzerland. All these are accessible from Schwangau in just a few hours drive. Prices are quite a lot more reasonable in Germany. Shame we don’t have time to cross the boarders.

my goal...

But like I said to myself and to my dear friend Marven who is kind enough to leave work just to show me this castle, “I came here to realise a childhood dream! To step inside the castle where all of my childhood fantasies took place”. For thirteen years I begged my ex husband for us to please holiday in Europe even just once for this very reason. Or at least allow me to go if he is not interested. But he just kept going back to the Philippines mainly to satisfy himself and I had no choice but to do as he wished. But I guess he never realise nor appreciate what childhood dreams are meant to some. Whether he had dreams like these or not I really do not know. So from here on, any other places I see or new things I will experience will be a lovely bonus!

defreezing job...

Leaving the hotel, I took photos while Marven prepared the car. Things like putting anti-freeze solution to the radiator (or is it?) and scraping snow off the windscreen and spraying it with anti freeze after. All these things I am thankful I do not have to do in Auckland. Not that easy trying to take photos with glove-covered hands but the air was really cold!

frozen banana peels

As I hopped inside the car I saw the two banana peelings I left in the car last night, picked them up and found they were frozen hard as bricks! I took a photo of them just for the fun of it, the same thing happened with my water in the bottle. Yes, this is another new thing for me. They drink water with soda, even the ones sold as STILL water has bubbles in it! It took me awhile to realise I have to actually buy one with the words “NATURELLE WASSER” in it if I want real still water like the one I am use to drinking at home.

The village

Click on the photos to enlarge...

Neuschwanstein Castle: After a two minute drive from the hotel to the foot of the mountain, we found ourselves gasping for the magical sights of the two castles!

Signs

minus 9 degree centigrade Celsius at the village

The outside temperature showed -9 degree centigrade. I don’t believe I have been in a place this cold this long. But like this morning, I really don’t have the time to let my brain register the cold! All my senses are just happy to focus on the visually stimuting sceneries around me!

Before this I have been thinking if all that time spent flying was worth it! Today I know I'd do it again when I get the chance and the money to do it!

Buses weren't operating the day we were there due to thick snow

Due to the thick snow, no buses were operating today. Instead we had the choice of walking up to the castle or take a slow ride in the horse-driven carts that ply up and down the hills to almost 200 meters close to the Castle’s entrance.

We went for the horses. Always wanting to see as much as I can possibly see, I chosed to sit at the front just behind the horses. We were joined by several Japanese tourists. I tried having some small conversations with the lady next to me but she didn’t speak any English. She smiled a lot though and I smiled back a lot at her too!

We must have sat in the freezing air for another 20 minutes. Normally I wouId be moaning about the cold by now but I remember not saying anything. I was just busy admiring the old Hunter's Lodge which is now transformed into a boutique accommodation and the beautiful Hohenschwangau Castle which sat like a big life-size portrait perched on top of the hill a few meters above the village!

There is something in the air and it isn’t the coldness or harshness of nature. But I was quite happy once the old man decided it was time to go! Cameras came out and I started to hear a lot of ooohhhhss and aahhhsss interrupted with sudden burst of laughter and shrieking from the four of us in the front seat! The horses decided it was time to let out gas...and man did it smell! This happened at least 4 or 5 times for the whole 15 or so minutes journey up the mountain. At one time, I asked the gentleman, in kindred spirit, had he fed his horses with sauerkrat last night? Both him and Marven let out a crisp chuckle!

good view of the castle on our way up

Then after the horse ride there is an easy 200 meter or so walk/climb to the entrance of the Castle. We took our time as this offers one of the best angle to take a snap of the castle. To our left and below, and I must say just as beautiful, lies the valley of Schwangau which was totally covered in shimmering white! I tried to envision what it would be like to look down into the valley when the fields are green and the flowers in bloom and I know I would still feel mesmerised just as I am now!

Going up Neuschwanstein Castle

Puffing hard and my legs feeling the strain, I pushed on eager to get to the top asap! At the entrance I stopped to once again immerse myself to the gleeming beauty of the village down below! It sure is magical and as I turned around towards the Castle’s gate, the magic carried on!

The main gate/entance to Neuschwanstein Castle

Once inside I saw several groups of Japanese tourists covered the area between the gate and the Castle’s courtyard. Most of them busy buying souvenirs, some using the loos and all of them clicking cams! Walking around taking snaps and feeling in awe at this place I kinda lost Marven amongst the hundreds of Japanese inside the courtyard who were waiting for their group number to be flashed on the screen by the entry door.

view from the main entrance

Marienbrucke

I managed to get myself to the left of the courtyard, I have been trying to figure out where the Marienbrucke would be. I know we have not passed it.

Mary's Bridge (Marienbrucke)

As I surveyed the Alpine Peaks across from the Castle, I realise the bridge was right there infront of me. I failed to see it earlier due to the glare of the sun that happened to be just where the bridge is. I gasped in awe and the few ladies behind me joined me in. I only had my small digital so I went looking for Marven who was also busy taking photos. Urged him to come over and I didn’t have to say a word once he saw the sight I was heading to!

A big group just went in and our number was next. There were 2 other guys who didn’t look like Japs aside from me and my buddy. Managing the 3 flights of a spiral staircase, we soon caught up with the group. There were 2 lines and the empty line read “English” which for obvious reasons we decided take. Four minutes later, the tour guide came and unlocked the door and to my surprise we were asked us to go in before he allowed the rest of the group. It took me a few seconds to figure out how to make the best of the multi-language translation gadget each of us had in our hands.

It will take me several pages if I try to describe everything I saw inside this lavishly and I bet painstakingly decorated Castle of King Ludwig II. I can only say this, most of the time I get disappointed when I see the real thing. This time, it is the other way around. The few photos I have seen of the castle do not justify the grandeur, the pompousity yet detailed in the most minute way possible and the surrealism shouting out of everything that is inside. Thus they call this the Fantasy Castle and the King The Fantsy King for he really lived in a world of fantasy. I just can’t put it to words but yes the Castle is way beyond what I was able to imagine. One has to see it to understand it. So will put some shots inside the Castle to give you an idea why I find it difficult to put my thoughts/emotions into words. It is prohibited to take photos inside the castle by the way. These photos are not mine.

Inside the Castle:

Castle Interior3

The Singers' Room

Castle Interior2 - the King's Bedroom

Interior of Neuschwanstein Castle

He put so much of his life into building his Castles, especially this one being his last project...only to die before it is finished. None of these managed to alleviate I would presume the loneliness inside his heart. Happiness does and never will be found in the material things around us. It is rooted deep inside us and if that internal well is empty and dry, then so is our whole life! Just as in Ludwig’s life...the majesty, the lavishness, the almost unreal reality of his surroundings...none of these really amounted to anything. He was found dead in the freezing waters of the lake nearby!

Photos taken from and on the way to Mary's Bridge

from the Marienbrucke

Hohenschwangau Castle and the village view from Neuchswanstein

His subjects remained loyal to him to the end. He lived his life the way he saw and or believed it. Had he not been passionate (to the extent of bordering to madness) about the things he loved, he would have left no legacy to his people. There is a degree of madness in each and everyone of us, the only difference that set achievers like Ludwig apart is he took action! He was not afraid even to the point of being counted as mad! Without passion life can go on but with it one can stretch out and is enabled to do that which is uncommon.

written by

jorgn_craw on November 26, 2008 from Schwangau, Germany

from the travel blog: Euro Trip 2008

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