Neuschwanstein Plus More!

Starting rather backwards again - restaurant choice tonight - yes we are in Germany, NOT Italy.
View from window of Neuschwanstein.

Loved this sign with the castle in the background - I think it is a place for German beer!

Another sign - hmmm - German - how would you ask directions to this place?????

These pictures are real!!! Took a bus, another shuttle, a horse and carriage ride today to visit Schloss Neuschwanstein (schloss is German for castle) - the surrounding countryside is so wonderful - to use Alex's word "awesome". King Ludwig II aka "the Crazy King" designed and had built a few castles - this one in the mid 1800s had electricity, running water, flush toilet and every square inched painted, gilded and decorated. He was King from 1864 at age 19 until he was thrown out in 1886 (probably for spending too much government money:)) -a few days later he and his psychiatrist were found dead in Lake Starnberg in Munich - very suspicious and the records are still closed.


Saw this lady last night on the street in front of our hotel - saw her again today - last night I called her "The Turquoise Lady" - guess what, here she is at the castle - same getup - of course I am not so obvious about wearing my black slacks for the 5th or 6th day now.

In the distance you see a bridge called the Marionbrucke (Marion Bridge in English) - Ross doesn't like heights so he was very anxious to get off - not me! Have met some fathers and sons and mothers and daughters travelling together - met this mom and daughter this morning from Des Moines - both married - they also work together and they are seeing Europe by "couchsurfing" - staying in people's homes they have found on the internet - they claim it has been great. New adventures around every corner.

View of the lake, mountains and countryside from Neuschwanstein (no photos allowed inside the castle) - I took 40 pictures today - but Amy has me beat by taking 60 or so of whales in Cape Cod!

Forgot to mention yesterday we got off the wrong train stop on the way to Fussen and the German lady ticketperson on the train jumped off shouting in German and waving her arms - we got it and jumped right back on. The people have been most wonderful everywhere and we are happy we are not on a tour as things have gone very smoothly each step of the way and we are not on the "big buses".
Tonight we get to go my hand chosen Il Pescatore Italian restaurant here - I have had quite a lot of dumplings of all shorts, meats, noodle things, pretzels and am looking forward to pizza - can you believe that? We have heard very few cell phones and very few loud people - it is lovely.