Germany Part 1: Neuschwanstien Castle and the Bavarian Alps

This past week we (James, Stephen and I) went to Germany. We got Eurorail passes for 200$ that were good for anywhere in Denmark and Germany for 4 days in a month time period. I found this to be a much better deal than riding in a plane and additionally paying for train passes. So we took an overnight train from Copenhagen to Munich on Wednesday night, we took another overnight train from Munich to Berlin on Friday night, and another train from Berlin to Hamborg and Hamborg to Copenhagen on Sunday. I'm going to write a blog post about each of our days in Germany because of how eventful each day was. This is what we did each day:

1. Thursday: Munich and Dachou // Coach-surfing with a German guy named Michael
2. Friday: Neuschwanstien castle and Bavarian alps in Fussen // Overnight train to Berlin
3. Saturday: Berlin // Hostel right outside of Berlin
4. Sunday: Hamborg and Travel back to Denmark

This blogpost is all about Friday, going to see Neuschwanstein castle and the Bavarian Alps. 

First off the castle. The name means New Swan Stone and was built by King Ludwig II in honor of Richard Wagner, who was famous for his operas. One of Wagner's most famous Operas is Tristan and Isolde and there is a room that is dedicated to that opera. Situated amongst the Bavarian alps, the view from and of this castle is simply breathtaking. As you will see from the pictures, there is a bridge nearby suspended over a huge gorge that gives an amazing view of the castle. To be there during the fall with the leaves changing colors made the view even more amazing. 

This picture was taken right before we went inside

This picture was taken right after we finished the 35m tour

This is the bridge that we got the amazing pictures from, seen from a balcony on the castle.

This is a view from the bridge looking down into the gorge

This a view from the bridge

This is another view from the bridge

Secondly, the alps. They are incredibly beautiful. On our hike we were initially underneath the clouds but as we continued our ascent we were able to get above the clouds and see the surrounding mountains. As we were nearing the peak James realized that we were too high to get back down in time to catch our train that night and so we took a gondola down the mountain (this saved us about 2 hours) and hitched a ride with two kind German guys back to our train stop. 

Below the clouds

This is right in the clouds, observe how far already we are above the castle

This is as we are above the clouds

We climbed the mountain mostly using the switchbacks

Could be models right? Stephen looks a little tense in this one. It's understandable though because there is at least a bazillion foot drop behind them. 

I love this picture because of all of the diversity in color and texture that it captures

I like this one because you can see multiple mountain ranges

I like this one because it is as though we are above a sea of clouds

This one is cool because of the sharp drop off into the clouds.

This is beautiful because its so simple: only three things really, and yet they compliment each other and make for a beautiful effect. 

This one is simply amazing. "There has got to be more to life than being really really ridiculously good looking. Someday I'm sure that I'll find out what that is." ~ James

This a picture of the peak and two Germans that we were able to get a ride from. They were really nice and offered to give us the ride without us even knowing or asking them. They sounded like avid climbers and one of the two was also a para-glider. We found out from them that this day had been an unusually clear and warm day for climbing. Thank you LORD!

A great reminder of the good news of Christ. Thank you Lord for your love for us demonstrated through the cross.

This is our view from the gondola. REALLY HIGH. 

Descending into the clouds in the Gondola

See that black blob?

This was the coolest effect ever. It was as though we were dipping underneath the surface of a deep lake.