TRAVEL MEMORIES: EUROPE 2022

NEUSCHWANSTEIN & OBERAMMERGAU

We passed some lovey scenery on our way from Innsbruck to Neuschwanstein. Here are a couple of pictures which made the trip enjoyable.

The purpose of our visit to Neuschwanstein was to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle, which is not really a castle as it was unfinished and by definition, did not have the ability to defend itself; so for purposes of this blog, we will call it a palace. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures despite having to climb 180 stairs, so the pictures are from outside the palace.

The third picture shows a bridge to the palace; the bridge was closed. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II as a personal retreat and in honour of his friend Richard Wagner (yes, the one who wrote music). Ludwig chose to pay for the palace from his personal fortune and by extensive borrowing rather than using public funds. Ludwig hated people, was arrested for being a madman and died leaving a great deal of debt. It took his family about 25 years to repay his debt.

The six gargoyles under the last balcony (and just above the door) represent the stone masons who took the stones up the hill to build the palace.

View from the palace.

Time to show our faces!

Another view from the balcony.

The yellow building is Ludwig's father's castle.

A hotel in the town of Nueschwanstein.

OBERAMMERAGAU

We spent two nights in the town of Oberammergau, the main purpose of which was to see the passion play put on live by the townspeople, which includes live animals. Unfortunately, we could not take pictures so all I can tell you is that it was fantastic and worth the trip. It was so realistic, I was in tears at certain points. The acting was excellent, as was the choir, the orchestra and acoustics. I wouldn't do it justice to try and describe it any further. Other than the play, the town has your typical tourists shops and hotels. Many of the buildings have painted frescoes, some of which depict biblical scenes. Here are a few!