Wow, where do I start with this one. Monday morning we left home at 6:30 to be here early, got to the parking lot only to see two other cars. Ate breakfast at a super authentic Bavarian restaurant (put it this way, Josh had a Bavarian pretzel w/ mustard and breakfast brats) and we were the only ones in there. We caught one of the first English speaking tours that morning with minimal people in our group. I won't go into talking about the tour because I don't want to ruin it for a couple people... nudge, nudge. But it was phenomenal. Because everything on the inside is original, we weren't allowed to take pictures, but she said we could take a few looking out. So I snapped the second one up from the third floor. Looks like something out of a Lord of the Rings movies huh? After the tour we hiked up to the bridge behind Neuschwanstein which sits on top of a long waterfall and looks out onto the castle (tall enough to basejump off of). It was pretty but they just happened to be working on that side of the castle so it was all covered up with scaffolding and mesh. Jack and I had read earlier about a "riskier" hike up the mountain to the left of the castle. Of course riskier caught our eye and we were on a mission. Each time the trail curved back toward the castle, the views kept getting better and better the higher we got. Eventually we were high enough that we couldn't see the mountain anymore. The trail eventually came around a bend and started heading back down the mountain. We still hadn't reached the peak yet. Josh was winded and ready to go back down. Jack and I just kept looking up and then looking at each other. We were dissapointed and were both seemingly waiting for the other to speak up. We HAD to get to the top. Without saying anything we both just started making a trail for ourselves. It was definitely getting steeper and rockier. Not just rockier, but loose gravel rockier. After about another 20 minutes we had reached some dangerous terrain. The last 50 feet or so got my adrenaline flowing wide open. We reached the peak and there was a welded cross sticking into the rock. What an emotional moment. There was only enough room for Jack and I to sit up there. We both looked at each other and kinda gave a whimpering laugh. I think the words "that wasn't too smart" came out of both of our mouths before we left the summit. But it was definitely worth it and I'll never forget that day. By the way the pic at the top of the page was not the summit. It just came out with better scenery. We had, as you can see, one of the clearest days in Germany since we've been here. It was rainy and foggy the very next day. Without a doubt it was a day hike of a lifetime.
Wow, where do I start with this one. Monday morning we left home at 6:30 to be here early, got to the parking lot only to see two other cars. Ate breakfast at a super authentic Bavarian restaurant (put it this way, Josh had a Bavarian pretzel w/ mustard and breakfast brats) and we were the only ones in there. We caught one of the first English speaking tours that morning with minimal people in our group. I won't go into talking about the tour because I don't want to ruin it for a couple people... nudge, nudge. But it was phenomenal. Because everything on the inside is original, we weren't allowed to take pictures, but she said we could take a few looking out. So I snapped the second one up from the third floor. Looks like something out of a Lord of the Rings movies huh? After the tour we hiked up to the bridge behind Neuschwanstein which sits on top of a long waterfall and looks out onto the castle (tall enough to basejump off of). It was pretty but they just happened to be working on that side of the castle so it was all covered up with scaffolding and mesh. Jack and I had read earlier about a "riskier" hike up the mountain to the left of the castle. Of course riskier caught our eye and we were on a mission. Each time the trail curved back toward the castle, the views kept getting better and better the higher we got. Eventually we were high enough that we couldn't see the mountain anymore. The trail eventually came around a bend and started heading back down the mountain. We still hadn't reached the peak yet. Josh was winded and ready to go back down. Jack and I just kept looking up and then looking at each other. We were dissapointed and were both seemingly waiting for the other to speak up. We HAD to get to the top. Without saying anything we both just started making a trail for ourselves. It was definitely getting steeper and rockier. Not just rockier, but loose gravel rockier. After about another 20 minutes we had reached some dangerous terrain. The last 50 feet or so got my adrenaline flowing wide open. We reached the peak and there was a welded cross sticking into the rock. What an emotional moment. There was only enough room for Jack and I to sit up there. We both looked at each other and kinda gave a whimpering laugh. I think the words "that wasn't too smart" came out of both of our mouths before we left the summit. But it was definitely worth it and I'll never forget that day. By the way the pic at the top of the page was not the summit. It just came out with better scenery. We had, as you can see, one of the clearest days in Germany since we've been here. It was rainy and foggy the very next day. Without a doubt it was a day hike of a lifetime.
Oh,my goodness! How beautiful!!!! I'm sure we won't see it from the places you did, but it sure is breathtaking. And what an adventure for you & Jack! I'm glad you went ahead...you would have been disappointed if you hadn't. I love seeing the pictures & especially when you are in them!
ReplyDeleteLove you!!!!!
Mom
My. my. My!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't get anymore words out. Hard to believe, I know.
It is, in the words of Gr. Lois, beau-TI-ful!
It really looks like something out of Lord o.t. R.
Are you going to be tired of it before I get there? Hehe!
I saw a pic on Google pics of the N. castle in winter... looks completely different.
LOVED seeing a picture with YOU in it. Makes me miss you even more though.
So glad you went ahead and did the final stretch of the hike... you'll never regret it. Just glad safety dad and sis didn't know about it until after the fact.