Thursday, September 23, 2010

Munich, Germany - Bavaria

After arriving in Munich, Whitney and I located our hostel, enjoyed a good night's sleep, then woke early. We joined a local tour guide along with a few other travelers on a tour through the Bavarian country-side. This region is beautiful - so green and lush, lovely homes and churches, friendly people.

We traveled along the "Romantic Road" through traditional, old villages and stopped to appreciate the artistic beauty of the cathedrals and monasteries. As the rain slowed a bit and the fog settled in, we arrived at the Neuschwanstein Castle - commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria and inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle! The inside was ornate and filled with brilliant colors and jewels. We then hiked through a small gorge, following waterfalls and streams and enjoying the beautiful, greenery.

The afternoon was spent on a small farm where we enjoyed fresh meats, cheeses and bread. For dessert - cheesecake!