By: MJ + PJ
Since we were staying near the German border while in Salzburg, we decided to spend a few days in Germany. It’s a two hour train ride from Salzburg to Munich. We took the train both ways on two consecutive days, and got really busy to pack as much in as we could. Knowing we’d be leaving early and getting home late, we decided to squeeze the two days together, and follow it with a rest day in Salzburg. Check out more of our photos from Germany HERE.
A DAY IN MUNICH
Booking another Sandeman’s Walking Tour, we had to be in the city Centre around 11am. We arrived about an hour early to find our way to the meeting spot, and to have a little look around. We learned a lot quickly, including:
- The surprisingly competitive town maypole traditions
- There is a cannon ball lodged high in a church wall
- The Devil’s deal with an architect and the Devil’s footprint
- How to walk around in Munich with a beer in your hand
- Why you shouldn’t store water above your performance venue
- The nuances of Hofbrauhaus – huge pretzels and slumbering old men
- What might be an untapped market: Bavarian yoga
This clearly opened up the day – providing answers to questions we never thought we’d have, and instilling us with a sense of the history and culture of the region. These stories and places were shared by a Cornhusker tour guide! We explained we were from Northern Colorado, and he easily rattled off the places he’d visited there.
MJ had noticed there was a Strong Beer Festival on at this time of year when we were planning the places we were aiming to visit, well over a year beforehand. We treated these events as “if we are there at that time that’s great, but if the planning leads us elsewhere, so be it”. As luck would have it, the timing was right thanks to the generous window of opportunity provided by the festival… or more accurately – by Paulaner, the host brewery. Since it it had just turned April, we certainly were not going to see Oktoberfest while in Europe this time.
We made our way across to the Paulaner Brewery by train, and got off a stop early. Not because we wanted to walk further to see things, but because of a simple error. No harm done, and the extra walking amplified our hunger and thirst. We arrived to the top of the hill, checked in our bags with security, got some tokens, and then made our way to the hall which was in full swing. In doing so we walked through their huge biergarten, which must be a hive of activity on weekends.
Since we didn’t have reservations, we were guided to a quieter area to the side of the stage in the hall. For all we knew, this may be how Germans hold staff or board meetings, given by the number of people seated and talking intently at 4:30 on a Tuesday. By the time we finished our steins, we had absorbed the scene and music, but had to be on our way.
Our exit train station was about a 25 minute walk further across the ridge, so we headed that direction. Not far up the street was a large red-brick church, a spooky overpass, and an instrument store. The store was the Munich Guitar Company, and we couldn’t help but take a peek inside. It reminded us of the stores we had done the same at, in Asheville, La Paz and Porto. Inside you get immersed in interesting collections of guitar family instruments – you can always find something beautiful to look at and not buy!
A TRIP TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE
Tuesday had been a long day, and one MJ was particularly appreciative of, but PJ was on the level of ‘super excited’ for what we did on Wednesday. This location had been on her bucket list, and she could barely contain herself once we purchased the tickets for the day tour.
Getting to Munich took two hours, then after meeting the tour guide, we had a 1 hour 40 minute train and 10 minute bus ride to arrive at Hohenschwangau, Germany. There was no easier way to get there from Salzburg other than driving for 3 hours – being on a train gives you lots more options to amuse yourselves.
The transit time was certainly worth it. Take a look at our photo album! PJ knew of this castle as the inspiration for Disney, while MJ knew it from watching Le Tour De France stages pass through the area.
Our guide left us at the castle entrance, and we continued inside for a timed entry tour. There was some renovation work happening on the entrance end, and within the castle. We learned all about Ludwig II and the castle which became his focus. The tour was by a young guide who seemed to recite a script she had memorized in English. It was an impressive interior, but no photos are allowed inside. Hence the only ones we have are of the exterior and from the western balcony.
After the tour we had a narrow window of time to walk to the bridge to the south to see the castle and farmland to the north. This is a spectacular view and the bridge was absolutely packed! We wiggled our way along to the far end where it was a bit easier to get some good photos.
On our way up to the castle we were told by our tour guide to make sure we stopped to buy some of the deep fried yoghurt balls made fresh at a little stall. We were running short on time, but we made sure we bought some. These were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! This is a must if you are visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.
Working our way back down to the bus area, we took a short cut on a gravel path, this giving us some time credit – enough to take a break for 15 minutes while everyone else assembled. Taking the opportunity, we tried a local beer and AJ got something that reminded him of Copacobana in Bolivia…
It was a hectic but amazing two days in Germany. We barely scratched the surface in this region, and know that there is much more to be seen across the country on a future visit.
