We drove north out of Switzerland on our way to Munich and went via Schloss Neuschwanstein - a beautiful castle near the Austrian boarder. The castle was built by King Ludwig and he was renowned for his love of Richard Wagner operas and swans.... and also for being a bit of a nutter. He created a stunning castle but unfortunately didn't live long enough to see it's completion - he was sent off to a psychiatric hospital when he was declared mentally insane, and died the next day under suspicious circumstances. Regardless, the tour was well worth it as it's the only way to get a look inside, and it really was so ornate and absolutely covered with swans (in one room alone it has been said that hundreds of them have been counted through all the paintings and woodwork etc). The outside of the castle is even more impressive, and it is said that it was the inspiration behind the Walt Disney castle.
After the castle we charged on to Munich, beer halls and german cuisine was calling us... We spent the evening sampling the local brews at Weisses Brauhaus, then visited Hofbrauhaus (where Hitler first voiced his views). The beer halls are literally huge halls (and sometimes outside patios) packed full of tables, then crammed with hundreds of locals and tourists. A lot of the locals even rent little 'lockers' for the steins so they can store their special vessel at the establishment - how convenient! Was great to see the beer halls in action, definately a must do for anyone visiting the beer drinking capital of the world!
The following day we went on a walking tour of the city which was helpful to get our bearings, and suprise, suprise, it ended in a beer garden in the middle of a huge park that literally goes for km's. In the park is a standing wave on a river that the locals line up to surf on - crazy to watch dudes in wetsuits in the middle of a city park, as they jump on to their board and on to the wave simultaneously and surf backwards and forwards across the 15m wide river. It was a great place to spend some time watching the locals and trying some of the traditional food on sale. People would just sit for the whole afternoon, perhaps even the whole day, drinking beer and catching up with friends on the weekend, all cramming in to tables laden with beer. This was a highlight of mine, perhaps as you'd never expect to see such a site in a park in Auckland!
Next stop Salzburg........
After the castle we charged on to Munich, beer halls and german cuisine was calling us... We spent the evening sampling the local brews at Weisses Brauhaus, then visited Hofbrauhaus (where Hitler first voiced his views). The beer halls are literally huge halls (and sometimes outside patios) packed full of tables, then crammed with hundreds of locals and tourists. A lot of the locals even rent little 'lockers' for the steins so they can store their special vessel at the establishment - how convenient! Was great to see the beer halls in action, definately a must do for anyone visiting the beer drinking capital of the world!
The following day we went on a walking tour of the city which was helpful to get our bearings, and suprise, suprise, it ended in a beer garden in the middle of a huge park that literally goes for km's. In the park is a standing wave on a river that the locals line up to surf on - crazy to watch dudes in wetsuits in the middle of a city park, as they jump on to their board and on to the wave simultaneously and surf backwards and forwards across the 15m wide river. It was a great place to spend some time watching the locals and trying some of the traditional food on sale. People would just sit for the whole afternoon, perhaps even the whole day, drinking beer and catching up with friends on the weekend, all cramming in to tables laden with beer. This was a highlight of mine, perhaps as you'd never expect to see such a site in a park in Auckland!
Next stop Salzburg........
