Munich! We are starting our visit to the city at the 1972 Olympic Park. We have come full circle in the last 8 weeks on our Tour of the Alps: Anger and Almbach – Germany – Alps 1This is where it happened: Remember the swimmer who won seven gold medals here, each setting world-record times?Interesting glass roofs were ahead of their time in 1972.The clouds made the tower look a bit surreal – like it was a spaceship landing.The day cleared up nicely for a picnic lunch enjoying the Olympic Park.BMW Welt is in the same area and was fun to visit as well as tour the BMW museum.There is lots of BMW to turn your head here – classics to Mini’s to Rolls Royce to cars of the future.Elvis’s US Army tour had him serving in Germany in 1958, where he bought this little sports car for his R&R . Rediscovered in 2008, it was meticulously restored and has been featured here for the last 10 years. You can sing “Return to Sender” while it sparkles in the lights.BMW Isetta from 1958, could have been a more practical option. The front is the door and it seats two.The advertising for the car all had people stretching thru the sun roofs. Oh what fun!In the center of Munich is Marienplatz with the eye catching Neues Rathaus (City Hall).The Rathaus-Glockenspiel is a large mechanical clock. There are lots of people in the square but the clock only performs twice a day.Munich was pretty much completely rebuilt after WWII in the traditional style.The Ägyptische Museum (Egyptian) is an amazing collection, organized to give us greater appreciation of the type of art being showcased.No trip to Munich in October is possibly complete without a stop at a beer garden. After a wander through the English Gardens, we thought we should enjoy this fabulous ambiance from the Seeshaus with some Bavarian Paulaner! Prost –
The fairy tale Neuschwanstein Castle is near the neighboring town of Fussen.Bavarian King Ludwig II put his heart and soul as well as much money into this gorgeous unfinished castle on this amazing site.We are seeing it from Mary’s bridge, mid morning just as the sun is rising over the mountain.We will enjoy viewing it from many angles as we walk to the front door.It looks a bit different from the front with the red brick wall.We met some tourists from Singapore doing the Alpine tour – it was fun to chat with them.The view from Neuschwanstein Castle looks down on his childhood home, nestled nicely on another hill overlooking the lake with the Austrian Alps as a backdrop.It is also a stately looking castle. Fussen area had many happy memories for Ludwig II. A related fact is that his cousin was Elizabeth, who grew up nearby, married Franz Joseph – a Hapsburg King – to become Empress ‘Sisi’ of Austria. Schloss Linderhof is where King Ludwig II actually lived. The family hunting lodge was on this location but he had another vision.His idol was the French Sun-King Louis XIV and he sought to recreate his favorite parts of Versailles here.A bit over the top in a wonderful Baroque way. We enjoyed an English tour of the inside to see the wonderful elaborate Rococo rooms. We couldn’t take photos but you can see some here.We could appreciate some of the gardens – can you imagine strolling in 1876?Very regal.
In some ways our tour through the Alps has followed the Via Claudia Augusta, an ancient Roman road, to Reutte, Austria.We are taking the elevator “Top Line” up to view the Ehrenberg-Schlosskopf Castles.The Ehrenberg is the lower castle which was good defense until the invention of cannon balls. Notice the new long suspension bridge, which we did not pay for the privilege to cross over, to the Roman remnants of Fort Claudia on the other side of the valley.The Ehrenberg Castle was all decorated for Halloween/Christmas with nighttime lighting and filled with families enjoying a glorious Fall day .Via Claudia was the way over the Alps from Rome – improved in 15 BC for military use primarily. It extended all the way to the Danube River, where basically the Romans drew the line in the sand and ended their advance Northward. We visited a roman museum in Vienna.The upper Schlosskopf Castle was the more interesting and a pleasure on such a gorgeous day, high in the Alps.The museum told us all about travel in the middle ages and dragon slayers – men becoming knights. That process was not easy and they did not always get the fair maiden.This was a type of treadwheel crane to lift the blocks to build the castle. This type of crane was used since Roman times, but this upper castle was built around 1700.It was almost incomprehensible to imagine bringing that much stone this far above the Lech river valley.Stop horsing around! I will pick you up in Reutte…We drove by Mount Zugspitze. Germany’s tallest point at 9,700 Feet. We lingered and watched the clouds play as this will be our last real mountain day in the Alps.
We rent electric city bikes to ride around the Ammergau Alps Nature Park. This is Kofel Peak, which we can see the other side from our dining room window in Unterammergau.Whetstones for grinding mills were quarried and crafted in Unterammergau from this limestone. We are enjoying an especially nice day.The path leads us to what were royal hunting grounds and Bavarian King Ludwig II ‘s Linderhof Palace.Of course we needed to stop for coffee to contemplate the beauty of the gardens.The village of Graswang on the Linder river, a tributary to the Ammer – looks like a peaceful place to stop……Nice – A picnic bench to have our lunch.The route is not all paved but is level and easy to bike.Our next destination is Ettal, and the Benidictine Monastery.What a location for a beer garden! The monks at Ettal Abbey, established in 1330, have been brewing beer since 1609.
Oberammergau is known for their painted buildings and this one tells the story of Hansel and Gretel.Remember? The German Grimm Brother’s fairy tale where the abandoned siblings escape by pushing the wicked witch into the oven.Across the street is the Little Red Riding Hood house. “Where are you going little girl?” asks the hungry wolf.Is this the sickly grandmother or the wolf posing as her? “My what a deep voice you have…”Other buildings in Oberammergau tell of history like this one of life in 1775. Others have religious themes as the Passion Play is performed here every 10 years.This is across from our apartment in Unterammergau. It is the last Sunday in October and all are ready for a pilgrimage to a nearby chapel.Horses are the main focus this festival, who are blessed by Saint Leonhard, the patron saint of horses.The horses have braided mains and tails as well as ribbons and flowers. Blue and white are the colors of Bavaria.Of course there are marching bands – all are in traditional outfits with wonderful hats.The main square of Unterammergau is the final gathering point for all the bands to join together for a concert.This is one of four friendly llamas that live across from our apartment in Unterammergau.
We drove to nearby Grindelwald and took the Eiger Express gondola to see the Eiger, Monch, & Jungfrau. That is the Ogre with the Monk in between protecting the Young Maiden, or so the legend goes.The sun is just illuminating the ridges. Would you look at those glaciers?We start hiking down into the sunshine. That is the village of Murren nestled on the edge of the cliff behind me.We come across this place to take a break with a view of the Wetterhorn. That ridge far on the distant horizon is where we biked to yesterday: Gross ScheideggToday we are first heading to Kleine Scheidegg, nestled in this valley.The weather has warmed up nicely and I am thirsty!And we have worked up an appetite.Wow! This is a Swiss Rosti. A pile of potatoes, with bacon & melted cheese, topped with a fried egg. Hearty mountain hiking fare.We continue to enjoy the Eiger’s North Face and the Moch as we hike some more.As we hike down back to Grindlewald, we ask why some mountains are called “horns”? Seems that they have been carved by 3 glaciers which leaves the horn in the middle. To visualize, pick up 3 glasses in one hand – that empty space where the 3 meet is where the glaciers did not carve away the rock.The Eiger Express gondolas (hold 26 persons!) with the Wetterhorn. We are happy there is not a sanction out on us and that we have not run into Clint Eastwood or George Kennedy today. Ha Ha Ha. But we would have bought them a beer…Returning to Grindelwald on this how-could-it-be-better crystal clear fall day. Pure Satisfaction.
We rent some e-bikes and head out along the back roads of Meiringen towards Brienz.Friends living near by join us at Brienzersee.Udder-ly delightful.Enjoying the love and warmth at a coffee shop.We are ready to tackle the Rosenlaui Valley as we head up the pass.Swapping photos as we enjoy the company of our friends – they suggested this route as they have ridden it several times.We stopped at Schwarzwaldale for some soup to fortify us for the rest of the climb. The Wetterhorn is coming out of the clouds and joining us on this colorful autumn day.STOP! And lets get a picture of that!!! Very imposing.The final assent to the Grosse Scheidegg, with lots of sunshine.Still smiling on the final switchback to reach the summit of Grosse Scheidegg.This is the incredible route we have climbed – around 4,500-feet. Very glad to have had an electric bike!Enjoying being on top of the pass with views in all directions. A well deserved summit.Time to celebrate!!!Ready to fly down to Meiringen…
Sunrise from our apartment in Meiringen, Switzerland – the start of a beautiful day!Listening to some deductive reasoning in Conan Doyle Place from Sherlock Holmes. Elementary, my dear Watson…Conan visited Meiringen and he came to use nearby Reichenbach Falls in “The Final Problem”.Correct reproduction from original blue prints of 221B Baker Street, the parlor of Sherlock-Holmes. The museum gives us details of Conan, Sherlock, and Watson as well as artifacts from that era.Reyna Bistro Cafe – time for a coffee break!Cable Car up to Reuti is included in our Haslital visitor card so we rode up for a look back on the town and……We walked the Panorama-Weg, enjoying the countryside and views of Wetterhorn mountain.Zooming in on the beautiful Wetterhorn and it’s glacier.The Swiss precisely stack their firewood so that it is a work of art.Cows are hanging around Badesee – the lake is a reflecting mirror pond this afternoon.This little restaurant on Badesee is open today – tomorrow it closes for the season – we are able to enjoy some hot food and the pleasant fall day.It was about a 2-mile hike to Badesee form the cable car – a great leisurely destination. We retraced our route back home.Another great apartment – this was perhaps our largest and very comfy! Time to enjoy the balcony.
