Munich - Day 6

The day started in the rainy dark with a very large bus coach pickup at our hotel.  I would have expected the entire tour group, but it was our personal bus ride to the downtown train station.  We loaded up with a large group of folks from Spain, Germany and US making up one of two buses for the days trip.  We headed out of Munich and soon started the climb into the Bavarian Alps.  As noted by the tour guide the valleys are close to the peaks, so the mountains do not seem as high even though the Alps overall are like the Rockies.

Bavarian Village on way to first Castle Linderhof

We arrived at the Linderhof Castle the only one completed for King Ludwig, where he spent 2 weeks a month visiting (long story about this King).  It started snowing on us while there and I was able to capture a picture of a picture showing the two castles being visited in the height of summer color.  Just the same imagining the castle in the dead of a Bavarian winter was very fascinating.  Not as big as some castles go, it would be a great place to stay at the end of a long valley into the mountains.

Front entrance to the castle across from a reflection pool closed up for the winter.

Yes were were here and having fun despite the cold.

Top picture of Lindenhof from the vantage of the reflection pool, the other is the fairy tale castle all know so well.

Smoking is still alive and well in Europe!!

Small village where houses have the sides of their houses painted with fairy tales...know this story?

Neuschwanstein Castle from a distance.  Ludwig had planned another castle that was never started 14 k away that would have even more of a breath taking view.  This castle was never finished, even though when his family de-throne him they arrested him here in his bed chambers.

This is the lake you see from the western window of the castle and the even bigger lake from the north view.

Janie in front of Hohenschwangau where Ludwig the 2nd grew up.  Heavy French family connections and influence based on all the stories, which goes to show our modern heritage and country boundaries are not that old.  Many countries are only 100 or so years old in their current state.

Looking up from the very small village at the base of the mountain.  Yes it did snow on us while were there!

Would love to have this as my view for coffee in the morning!

At the base of the castle!

After the long day of touring and hiking we loaded up on the bus and headed back to Munich.  Upon arrival at the main train station we decided to grab dinner before heading back to the Hotel.  So we walked over to the Marienplatz area and found the Haxnbaurer  restaurant.  Versus the other two nights the town was swamped with what we figured is both locals and tourist and being a Friday night tough to get into the restaurants.  Their specialty was all about the pork!  I ventured out and ordered Pig Knuckles and Janie went with a Sausage we had no idea about.  Let me say the Pig Knuckles are to die for and if you can ever get to Germany ( I hear good in Spain also) order Pig Knuckles.  After we finished dinner, we could not turn down the opportunity to order Apple Strudel and ice cream.  Yum!  

Pig Knuckles and Dumplings - Sausage and Mash Potatoes!!

After a walk to enjoy the wonderful fall air we snagged a cab back to the room to catch up and pack for our trip in the morning to Madrid via Iberia Airlines.