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Published: August 6th 2007
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Bavarian Local
Bitte, milchen mich. Germany seemed big when we didn´t know how to drive on the right hand side of the road and none of the street signs made any sense. Actually, the place is really tiny. We had been planning on spending a few nights in Rothenburg, but when we got up and visited a few sights in the morning, we felt we might as well see how far we could get in a day. My foot has been troubling me since we arrived - I think I have sprained something in it - and after a few hours walking it gives up completely. A day driving in the car seemed to offer the required respite from pain. It worked and we made it all the way to the Bavarian Alps before lunch.
The way the country changed was amazing. We went from picturesque medieval villages to even more picturesque Alpine villages. We stopped for a late lunch at a quiet village called Wildsteig - what a find. The inn-keeper of the "Gasthoff Zur Poste Metzgerei" has lived in the area for over 40 years. She runs the guesthouse with her grown son and lives there with her grandsons. During lunch, one of
the boys had to finish his homework before he could go out to play soccer - English homework of course - so I started back at work early. The countryside is incredibly green and the snow looks so pretty on the mountains on the horizon. The houses have a typical Bavarian character - white walls with lots of timber trim, particularly on the second storey. Wildsteig is not far from Oberammergau - famous for the Christain passion plays - so there was plenty of religious iconography and paintings as well as a church in every tiny village. There were also huge barns, lots of cows and ponies (of typical haflinger type) and old farmers wearing those funny Bavarian hats.
We stayed for two nights but could easily have stayed longer if we had realized just how small this country is. We visited Fussen - an alpine village with regular shops (unlike Wildsteig) and spent a day at the castles of Ludwig the 2nd (misunderstood Bavarian King and dedicated patron of Richard Wagner). The castles are unbelievable. Neuschwannstein castle is Ludwig´s unfinished dream home. It was the castle that inspired the castle that features in Walt Disney cartoons and it
To the Castle
Travelling in style is not hard to see why. It comes complete with its own grotto - a room off the main bedroom which consists of an artificial limestone cave. Every room has incredible paintings and sculptures and the views are so beautiful that it is difficult to believe that it is real. I was so enthralled by this man´s creatiions that I bought a little book about Ludwig´s life and now I am a fan.
After Wildsteig, we briefly visited Oberammergau before making our way on the Autobarn to Dachau. We managed to negotiate our way through the middle of Munich with no trouble at all. I (Dee) am now turning my back on Australia like a spurned lover because I have suddenly found this fairytale land in southern Germany where everything seems to be so perfect. There is no litter to speak of. The streams are beautiful, clear and well stocked with fish. The food is amazing. The drivers on the road are considerate and polite. The grass is such an incredible green that it does not appear real. Everything is neat. There do not appear to be any poor people and there is hardly any graffiti. All of the
Neuschwannstein Castle
An unfinished home for a misunderstood king houses are tidy, well painted and beautifully kept. Everything is so civilised. It makes me wonder whether we really are just a bunch of convict rabble down under.
Anyway, enough of my rant. Germany has had its own problems - that was more than evident in our visit to Dachau concentration camp. It was sobering and very educational to move around the place where so many people died a brutal death. Dachau was the first concentration camp and although it was not deliberately designed as a killing factory (it was instead a work camp) it is clear that the SS did not attempt to ensure that the occupants lived to see the end of the war. It is hard to believe that such a beautiful and civilised country like Germany could ever have been a part of such a terrible crime.
After Dachau we moved north-west of Munich and stayed overnight at Markt Indersdorf - a pleasant but fairly non-descript village. Today we travelled to Freising (the city near the airport) and tried to get accomodation but the place is fully booked because of a trade fair in Munich. From there we have travelled further north to Moosburg
Is it real?
The view from Ludwig´s castle window where we have been relaxing for the day before our flight to Greece tomorrow.
Richard here. I think that Dee is being hard on Australia. Yes, the natural scenery is grand but it all conveys the impression of centuries old human influence. The mountain peaks are backdrops for wide inhabited valleys and there is little sense of wilderness. I think that you would have to spend months here to observe any significant wildlife. My birdlist so far consists of starlings, blackbirds, a buzzard, a black kite, two magpies and a robin. Just thought I would add some balance, but seriously, like Dee, I have been enthralled by this part of Germany and I definitely want to return to see more of this amazing country.
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Cheryl
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Fairytail
Hi Guys, It looks like you've managed to find that little land that all children (and most adults) dream about. What a beautiful piece of the world. I can understand why you'd want to revisit. The castle looks spectacular and the view from the window is to die for. I hope your foot gets better soon. Luke and I are really enjoying following your trip this way, it almost feels like we are with you. I'm glad you put some pictures into the last entry we enjoyed seeing what you had written about. Can't wait for the next entry.