München, pretzels and castles!

Sunrise Saturday morning was so beautiful. 7.45am from Kriftel train station. It got better and better but I couldn't photograph it cos I was on the train. 

Munich couldn't have put on better weather for us on Saturday.  The weather cleared the further south we went. The train ride wasn't as picturesque as the ride to Bonn, but nice all the same. By the time we arrived in Munich there was hardly a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining brightly.  I was really wishing I had packed my sunnies. 

We headed straight to the shopping strip and the Marienplatz as our room wasn't ready. (Fortunately we were able to leave our bags though). After buying a few gifts/souvenirs we checked in to our hotel and readied ourselves for another outing - more shopping and dinner at the Hofbrauhaus. 

It was sooooo busy at the hofbrauhaus, we didn't think we would get a seat, but after doing the rounds once, we found a nice big table with only 2 people at it.  They kindly allowed us to sit at the other end. Within 2 minutes, another group of 3 people also asked to sit at our table. They were Russians and the original 2, Germans. There was no communication between any of us, I think we were all just soaking up the atmosphere. Whilst there I did what every good, genuine tourist does and had a pretzel!  The main reason I did it was for Robyn.  It was awesome!  Massive and oh so yummy. 

Wow!  After the monumental stuff up I made with our neuschwanstein castle tour tickets, things couldn't have worked out better. 

Stuff up, I hear you say...yes I stuffed up!  Somehow, god only knows how, I managed to book our tour for the same day we were/are leaving Munich!  It wasn't until Saturday afternoon that I noticed the date on the tickets. Omg!  What a doofus!  I couldn't believe I had made such a huge mistake. We tried calling the tour company but as we didn't know our phone number we couldn't leave a message for a return call. So, off to the tourist information we went and booked a new tour with a different company. As it turns out I think it all happened this way for a reason, a very good reason. Originally we were to catch a train for our Tour and only visit one castle. I'm not sure how it would've worked because I didn't notice any train stations near the castle. But with the new tour it was by bus, we had the best tour guide and we visited 2 castles and Oberammergau!  Win!  

As I said, this new tour was a win. There were a number of fellow Aussies on board, unbelievably also from Brisbane!  Win 1: we were on one of the first buses to arrive at neuschwanstein castle which meant that the line up for the horse and carriage ride up the mountain wasn't too long!  Yay!  It was so cool, but those horses work hard. When we got to the top the were steaming - literally. 

Win 2: while we were waiting for our time to enter the castle, it started snowing!  Yes, snowing!  How magical, standing in front of a magical fairy tale castle in the snow. It was awesome. We couldn't have asked for better. It didn't snow a lot or for very long, but it was just enough. Inside was amazing, unfortunately though we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. To compensate for that we bought a book so you'll have to wait to see that. 

Win 3: a table in the busy restaurant for lunch plus ultra quick service plus amazing food!  

Then on to the next castle....Linderhof.  This was also king Ludwig's castle, but substantially smaller. It was literally built for one person, only him. He never had one visitor to that castle while he was alive. This castle was insanely beautiful. Very gold and decadent. It was really beautiful - too beautiful for a man!  However, not for a reclusive gay who spent his days reading and designing more castles!  Again, no photos were allowed. There was one guy in our group who thought he was above this rule and set about taking photos inside. He didn't last as the tour guide caught him and stood by him to ensure that he deleted every photo he took. He left, I think through embarrassment and humiliation - it happened in front of us all. 

Neuschwanstein castle 

View from top of neuschwanstein castle

On our walk to Linderhof castle

Linderhof castle

View from front of Linderhof castle - overlooking gardens which are closed during winter. 

Next stop was Oberammergau. By the time we arrived it was dark (4.30pm). It was nice to wonder the streets though, admiring the Christmas lights and shop windows. On Sundays in Germany the shops are closed, so there weren't many open. Our guide told us only one would be open, however whilst wondering around, we discovered a number of other souvenir shops also open. 

Oberammergau has many buildings painted like the one above - all depicting stories.  eg. One we went past was painted with the story of hansel and gretel. 

We left Oberammergau at around 5.30 and arrived back in Munich around 6.30pm. We had the most disgusting Burger King meal ever, then went back to our room and played the game of life on the iPad. (Thanks Mitch for downloading it!) and read about King Ludwig and his castles. 

Monday morning the weather was MAGIC!  Not a cloud in the sky and very fresh!  We walked down to the Marienplatz again and took some more photos before heading back to checkout of our hotel at 11am. Then we had almost 2 hours to fill in waiting for our train (in which time I finished this blog post). 

Looking forward to heading back to Kriftel so we have internet service to publish this post and skype again!  

Ciao for now! 

Yvette and Emily xoxoxo

Rüdesheim

Well, we had an earlier start today - 8.30ish.   After breakfast I decided to start the mega long process of sorting out Emily's room.  Omg, it's like packing up a room - well it is I know, but with all the stuff she has accumulated you would think she has been here for longer than 4 months!  2 bag fulls of rubbish, a large-ish (3kg) parcel posted home and lots of folding of crumpled up clothes later, her room is somewhat neater and more organized.  I'll be surprised if her suitcase weighs in under 30kg!  I will post another package or maybe 2 before I leave just to be safe. 

After an early lunch of so many leftovers, we went to Rüdesheim. I love that place - there's something about it, I don't know what. Today though, it was like a ghost town. So many shops were closed. Taking advantage of the opportunity to take the week between Christmas and new year off I guess.  There were a few though that are closed until mid March!  Imagine that - closing your business for a few months. But I guess that the weather is not nice between now and then, so it's as good a time as any to close. Tourists are down at this time of year I'm told. Looks like I missed that memo!  Lol. 

Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it. The cable car to the Niederwald Denkmal was not operating either and we didn't have enough time or the inclination to walk or drive up. We did however go to the ice cream shop we visited last time. Of course Emily had ice cream and an ice cold diet coke, while we all opted for hot drinks. And cake!  

Now, it's time for sleep. We have a big day tomorrow - off to Munich.  Our train leaves before 8am! 

So güte nacht. Not sure if I will have internet at our hotel - if not I will post again on Monday night (our time). 

Bis später, 

Yvette and Emily. xoxoxo

Boxing Day

Boxing Day, or the second Christmas Day as is it called here was a quiet morning.  We all slept in!  It's so easy to sleep in when it is still pitch black at 8am. Following a late breakfast and a lovely chat with mum and dad, Hansi and I sorted out the tickets to Munich for this Saturday.  I can hardly wait for Sunday to visit the Neuschwanstein castle. Emily and I are also looking forward to revisiting Munich and the hofbrauhaus!  

Today's lunch was insanely good. Ken, you would have loved what we had.  Schnitzel baked in a carbonara sauce!  It was soooooo good. 

This afternoon we went to visit Hansi's sister, Renate at her house for afternoon coffee and cakes.  She made an almond cake that was sooooo yummy. Her 2 boys and their wives were also there as well as 2 gorgeous little girls from her oldest son. Unfortunately I couldn't access my camera as we were cramped into the little dining room and I was not near the door, so I couldn't get out. Hansi had his camera and took photos which I will get a copy of. Renate sends her greetings to you, Ken, Mitch, mum and dad. She has also given me a small gift for you.

I am unable to copy photos from Emily's USB to my iPad - it says the iPad doesn't have enough power. I think there are too many photos on her USB. I might buy myself a USB and copy a handful of photos to it and then to my iPad and see if that works.  

And today, Friday....I don't know what we are doing. There has been no talk about today, we will find out at breakfast I guess. 

Till next time!  

Love to all, 

Yvette and Emily xx

A German Christmas

So, when we returned from Bonn, it was our (Emily and I) job to decorate the tree.  I think we did a pretty good job of it, if I do say so myself!  (Kerstin liked it because we used a lot of red on the tree.)  

On Monday night we went to the Wiesbaden Christmas markets. Wow, these were very pretty. And very busy! It was very mild, temperature wise also. Between 8 & 10 degrees. 

No, this was not glüwein!  Yuk!  This time hot chocolate.  Omg, Mitch it was to die for. Best hot chocolate ever!  By the way, I look terrible with hats and beanies on. 

Anyway......

In the morning on Christmas Eve, Emily and I, after speaking with you all, went to MTZ for some last minute shopping (and to see if I could get some shoes).  Since Beate has a love affair with angels we got her one from the Swarovski shop. It is divine - so beautiful and she is holding a pink heart.  For Hansi...well what else but chocolate!  We didn't know what to get him. 

After lunch, we wrapped and wrapped and wrapped the presents. We had so many!  Any wonder my suitcase weighed 28kg!

Just after 4pm, Kerstin arrived, but unfortunately Onkel viktor was too ill to come over. He was very sad about it as it is the first time he has missed Christmas Eve with his family.  So, we went around there to give them presents and share a glass of sparkling with him and Tante Elfriede. It was lovely to see them both after 4 years. Elfriede doesn't seem to have changed and viktor is the same but frailer. 

Nice double chin in that last photo! :( 

As you can see from the photos they were very happy to see us. 

On return to Beate and hansi's house, we opened presents. They were quite shocked at the number of presents we had for them. Beate LOVED the angel!  I think it's fair to say everyone was happy. 

Oh, by the way, in the last photo of Kerstin, elfriede and I, you can see a candle in a vase on the table...mum, that is what we got for viktor and elfriede from all of us. We didn't make it to the garden centre. 

Then, food. So much food, but different food to what we usually have.  

We had: fresh bread, smoked salmon, variety of wursts, prawn cocktails, but the best bit was dessert. Crime brûlée or chocolate mousse plus our Tim tams and baileys balls!  Yum!  Hansi forced me to drink schnapps - it wasn't a very nice one. Reminded me a bit of the schnapps we drank at Viktor's in '97 Ken. We tried to convince Emily and Kerstin to sing a German Christmas carol for us, but failed miserably.  Afterwards we took some 'family' photos.