27 Nov / Trip Back to Potsdam

After the guided tour inside the Castle we walked down to where we can catch the horse-drawn carts back to the village. But just before getting to them, I really wanted to check out MarienBrucke! Marven having about the same kind of child-like spirit as me (people call it being nosey...I call it child-like spirit he he he he!) saw a small gap between the fence and the gate with a sign saying "OFF LIMITS" due to heavy snow! He knows silence from me means I am ok to give it a go! Marven's other name is "Mr No Risk No Fun".

It was slippery; the soft snow was not a problem but some parts of the path where the snow has turned into ice was very slippery. We struggled to get to the top. I think it was just a 100m climb but I was puffing when I get to the other end of the steep path.

Hohenschwangau Castle and the village view from Neuchswanstein

Our struggle was nothing compared to the sight our eyes met as we got to the top. There, the whole lower vista, especially that of Hohenschwangau Castle with the lakes and the rest of the village below opens up as a living postcard-like beauty!

Spent a few minutes here taking pictures and just trying to absorb as much of this beautiful place would allow us to process and file in our human CPU.

Then we pressed on determined to get to the bridge. And the experience was worth it. Just walking thru the bridge was an experience of its own. Top that with the magical (the Germans call it fantastical) sight of the Castle and it was all worth the slipping and the sliding up that path! I actually had to go on all fours to cross the fence (yes, the way to the Bridge was closed for safety reasons) to get me to the bridge. Even if I had broken an ankle I think I would still think it was all worth it!

from the Marienbrucke

Spent I reckon a good twenty minutes on the bridge. The waterfalls drops to something like an abyss way below and it feels surreal to hear the water falling and yet seeing frocen ice all over. It was hard to see the water due to the thick snow or I think I should say ice. We lingered as much as possible. When Marven signaled we have to go, I followed behind him. As he took a break to answer the call of nature, I turned around to have one more look of the castle at the end of the bridge.

On my way down to the main road, I got a bit emotional. I was glad to have realised a childhood fantasy. I was grateful I met a friend who recognised the value of this dream. But way deeper than any of these emotions is the realisation that if Neuchswanstein Castle can arouse and heighten human emotions... I heard myself saying... "Lord I can't wait to see your heavenly palace"! Just as well I have tissues in my bag, I managed to cry without Marven knowing it. He sometimes tells me...you are like a little girl... and yes...I am actually that very moment feeling like a little girl!

Then the descent proved to be twice as hard as walking up the steep path! We got to the horses in one piece though and we saw something 99% of the tourists that day didn't get to see.

We stopped a couple more times for nature's call on our way back to Potsdam aside from the scheduled Zwickau visit to see Rene and Eva. The first one left me laughing like mad. I am used to having a toilet that flushes automatically... but when I flushed this one, the toilet started to make some funny noises...whirrll whirrll sound...or something like that. I look at the bowl and I thought I was going mad! I know I am not drunk as I don't drink. A few seconds later I realise, the toilet seat rotates and a sensor powered cleanser/wiper/sanitiser wipes the whole seat! HHmmm...still laughing I almost forgot to give the door lady some coins (yeah baby, public toilet use is not free in Germany: user pays).

written by

jorgn_craw on November 27, 2008 from Hohenschwangau, Germany

from the travel blog: Euro Trip 2008

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