The Tirol continued to deliver heavy rain, so I joined all the day trippers from Munich at the big tourist draw in Southern Bavaria. Even on a terrible day of wet weather, with the Austrian Alps socked in with heavy cloud, I had plenty of company. I took the 10 minute local bus ride from Fussen for 2,10 Euro. I decided not to bother queuing for tickets to tour both castle interiors for 23,00 Euro. Neuschwanstein is a very clean looking castle, quite new and finished only in 1869. I don't care much for Romanticism, except maybe in English novels of the late C19th. So, anything that involves waiting around in a cold wet courtyard, along with groups of at least 30 other visitors for a timed entry, and most likely a rushed visit through badly lit, ornate interiors decorated with medieval battle axes and wall paintings of naked ladies wearing Roman helmets isn't generally my thing. I chose instead to trying capturing the mist wrapped castles, extraordinary pea green birch forests, flood level thundering waterfalls, and the other things you miss if you concentrate only on the signature site.
It's a very well run operation here, litter free and clean, with relatively tasteful souvenir vendors. I like to hike, so I brought my folding hiking sticks along. On the way to Neuschwanstein you cross several mountain bike and walking tracks into the mountains. I'd enjoy doing those someday when it's drier. I contented myself with clacking my way up the access road along with the horse drawn carriages and tourists wielding multicoloured umbrellas.
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