HEIDELBERG CASTLE

Saturday, September 27th, 1997 Heidelberg, Germany

Jim and Dave got up for breakfast at 7:30 AM and then left to ride the underground to the Mercedes Benz Plant to view their museum. Not too many mistakes, they used their one way tickets for a two way; but since they weren’t questioned they really didn’t know they were doing anything wrong until they asked the clerk at the hotel upon their return. In Germany they use the honor system. You purchase tickets from a machine and they only occasionally check the passengers for tickets; but, if questioned you’d better have the right ticket or the fines are very heavy! They enjoyed the museum very much except for the fact that Jim’s video camera stopped working and said he was “dew”. ??? We think it has moisture inside.

Shari & I slept in until 9 AM…actually I read her book in bed and Shari washed her hair…and enjoyed a late and leisurely breakfast until 10 AM. At 10:30 AM they brought down all the luggage and paid the bill so that when the boys returned at 11:00 AM (as promised); everyone was ready to pop into the car and take off for Heidelberg. But on the way out of town Jim had to drive by the Porsche factory to show Dave where they were made…the museum was closed on Saturday so it was definitely a drive by experience.

Out on the road we took the leisurely way to Heidelberg stopping for gas and groceries before noon. About noon we hit a traffic jam on the autobahn and so we pulled off into a rest area and ate our lunch in the car. Afterwards everyone but Shari got out to use the WC and Shari waited in the car with the windows down. Dave said if someone took off with her we’d just walk up the autobahn and retrieve her as the cars were going very, very slow!!

Arrived in Heidelberg about 3 in the afternoon…found the hotel with very little problems due to excellent directions with our confirmation. The Anlage is a wing of a former palace and was quite nice. Jim & I were on the fourth floor…with an elevator! Shari & Dave were on the first floor in what appeared to be a former dinning room with a beautiful crystal chandelier. Great hotel. Met a couple from Arizona who lived most of their lives in San Francisco. His name was Jack and he and Jim talked about Mel’s Café on Garvey Street as to a location of where our children lived. Couldn’t think of the name of Mel’s Café and Jack left a note under our door later in the day with the name.

Had an opportunity the following morning to again chat with Jim and his wife. We unloaded bags and set off for the Heidelberg Castle or “The Student Prince” Castle….a huge ruin of a mammoth castle from the middle ages. It sits at the top of the cliff and we rode the funicular up to the top. Jim got somewhat upset when a tour group went ahead of us after we’d been standing in line for a long time! But we finally managed to get on top and the effort was definitely worth the effort.

The view was phenomenal and it was even bigger than it had appeared from the valley floor. Had some ice cream after walking all around the grounds of the castle. Back down the funicular and then off to the square where the annual festival was in full swing. It had everything! Rides, garage sales, new items and food booths of all types. At times it was difficult to move through the streets as they were jammed packed with people. This is a university town and the college age seemed to outnumber the other ages by far.

Finally wound our way back to the hotel and rested a bit before venturing back out to the festival to find food for dinner. Dinner was pork sandwiches and bratwurst sandwiches washed down with beer. Later we found some apple strudel for dessert. At times we lost each other due to the crowds, but it was a fun evening for all. Dinner was eaten standing up at a very small round table next to the oldest church in the town.

We were back in the hotel by 8:30 PM. About 8:45 Jim decided to go out and video the castle as it was well lit at night. He returned about 45 minutes later and had also filmed the festival activities. Said he saw several kids jumping on car hoods on the way home and we also had some drunks during the night. But all in all it was another great experience.

A TRAVEL DAY

Friday, September 26th, 1997 Stuttgart, Germany

Up early, I showered and washed my hair before breakfast at 8 AM. The breakfast room was one of the prettiest we’d been in; it was decorated in a French style. Good food, the orange juice was a little strange as they’d added vitamins which gave it a brown look and we didn’t have any eggs. Made our sandwiches and before we left our room we tried to call Manfred at home about 8:30 AM; no answer. Jim & Dave had a real challenge to get the car out of the garage…it was parked front down on an incline. Very difficult to get out without damaging the car; but they did it!

On the road to Oberammergau; everyone except Shari had a queasy stomach from too much beer last night. Picked up the coat that had been left in the hotel in Oberammergau and then headed towards Stuttgart on the country roads. We saw some beautiful countryside. Stopped in a small town for a WC and picked up cokes and potato chips (salt is suppose to be good for an upset stomach). We were going in and out of Austria for a short part of the drive. Dave & Shari decided that we should tell them about each of our children. Took about an hour to go through all seven but it did make the time pass quickly and now they knew our history and we already knew just about everything about their three children. Saw a castle ruin nearby and Jim wanted to find a way there to eat lunch…but we decided to keep going. Soon we saw two hills in the distance with a castle ruin on top of each hill. There was a place to pull off the road with a view of these castles. So we stopped and ate our lunch in the car while we conjured up stories about the castles and who built them.

Dave took over the driving after lunch and we found the autobahn! Three of us had a good nap while our driver worked the afternoon. Arrived in Stuttgart about 3:30 PM and decided we’d best find the hotel and do the Mercedes Benz Museum tomorrow. It took some doing and a stop at the gas station to find our Hotel Mack. Checked in and after a short breather we walked down into the old town area which is a very large outdoor mall. We found the Movenpick Restaurant that we’d eaten in last trip and had a great dinner. Dave & I had spaghetti, Jim has a steak and Shari a salad. Shari has developed a head cold and is taking Contact to dry her nose a little.

After dinner we walked the mall. Inspected several store. Looked at the outside of the Palace. Watched the punk kids and their funny colored hair. Watched three police cars come down the mall with lights on and stop at a department store. They all locked their cars and went into the store…six police in all. Everyone stood around, but soon four of them came out and departed. We figured it was shoplifters. Later we listened to two young men who played music on two xylophones; they were really very good and we listened for quite awhile. We also think that we saw the group from Taiwan (that we met last night at the Oktberfest in Munich) walking down the street; but they were past us before we realized it so we didn’t try to talk with them.

They are busy putting up the beer tents in the Plaza as their Oktoberfest begins in Stuttgart this weekend. They start a week later than Munich and last a week longer. The celebration is for seventeen days. The largest tent says that it is non-smoking. Hard to believe because every tent in Munich was full of smoke! One of the reasons we were glad to be outside. We will be long gone tomorrow when the party begins. But, Jim & Dave may have some crowds on the S-bahn when they go to the Mercedes Benz Museum tomorrow morning. They’re meeting at 7:30 AM for breakfast and an early start. Shari & I are sleeping in and eating at 9 AM; a real treat after having to be up and at em every morning!

SCHLOSS NYMPHENBURG & OKTOBERFEST

Thursday, September 25th, 1997 Munich, Germany

Breakfast at 8 AM, packed the car and left Oberammergau about 9 AM after showing Shari & Dave the Pilot house with the painting of the last judgment. Drove into Munich by way of the autobahn and went to Dachau to see the remains of the concentration camp. Dave, Shari & I walked around the grounds and through the sample barracks. Visiting Dachau is a very emotional experience and Jim decided that our tour in 1996 was enough for him so he found a quiet bench and read his book.

Back in the car we proceeded to Schloss Nymphenburg; the summer palace of the royal family. It is extremely large and we only visited a portion of it this trip. We arrived just as they were closing for lunch; so we found a bench in the park area and enjoyed our lunch with our breakfast sandwiches. Afterwards we walked around the grounds and located the hunting lodge. Looked in the windows and saw the graundure! It was closed for lunch. Then we walked to the former stables which now house the many carriages and sleighs of the royal family. There we were able to purchase our entry tickets…lunch was over for the staff.

Toured that area before we went into the main part of the palace. It was not as large and definitely not as decorated as others we’ve seen. But, this was actually used by the royal families for many years where the other palaces built by Ludwig II were rarely used and were built to fulfill his fantasies. By 2 PM we were on our way into the center of Munich to find our hotel. We had detailed street maps with us so the process was easier than most of our cities.

At the Konigswache Hotel we found an English speaking clerk who was extremely helpful. We discovered that Shari’s black wool jacket was missing…most likely back in Oberammergau! Dave & Shari made a call to the Wolf and couldn’t get anyone who spoke English! So back to the lobby and we got the clerk to make a call for us. It took four calls in all to determine that “yes” the coat was there. So our plans have changed and we will backtrack to Oberannergau and have a much more scenic route to Stuttgart tomorrow. Shari felt badly, but Dave had seen the coat in the closet and hadn’t reminded her and when she asked it the coats were all in the car I told her yes without checking as everyone else had left their jackets in the car during our stay there. So three of us had a part in leaving it behind. Also, we were kinda looking forward to the more scenic route. Oberammergau was only an hour south of Munich. Jim & I attempted to call Barbara’s friend Manfred. He was with a client and Andre was in Budapest the secretary said. We had stayed with Andre in 1996 while we were in Munich on our tour with Jim's sister.

We then got directions to the Oktoberfest and instructions on how to purchase the ticket for the underground. We bought two all day partner tickets for 12 DM each. Got on the train and went to the Marienplatz first for a look at the old city. Very busy as it was about 4 PM at that time. Walked down the street to Frauenkirche…rebuilt in the modern theme; and then to Sankt Michael which was rebuilt in the old theme as before. On the way we passed several mimes doing their thing for money. They are really quite good. The two that we saw here were both outfitted as statutes. The ones in Salzburg were doing period costumes. Then we waited until the Glockenspiel on the Neues Rathaus (the new town hall) gave a performance at 5 PM. We weren’t sure if it was going to do a performance or not as we’d left our book at the hotel. Shari remembered that her book said it only performed at 11 AM.

We later found out that they do two extra ones during the summer months at noon and 5 PM. So we enjoyed the full performance including the rooster crowing and flapping his wings at the end of the ten minute program. We then went in search of the Royal Palace (Residenz) where the royal business was conducted. There we also saw the Feldhernhalle and the Theatinerkirche. These make up one of the most beautiful plazas in Munich (per the tour books). Caught the U again to go to the Octoberfest. The hotel clerk had said to follow the crowds. The train was crowded when we got on and then suddenly there were plenty of seats. At the next stop we got off and back on in the other direction as we figured out we should have also gotten off where everyone else did at Theresienwiese.

Then we stood there not quite sure where to go! So we watched the next train and sure enough, nearly everyone was going the same direction so we followed the crowd and came up into a fairway in the park. It was like going to the LA County Fair in Pomona except there were these huge tents full of people (some say there about 5,000 people in each tent) all drinking beer. We found that all the seats were reserved! We walked through three before we finally found seating in the free area outside at the Lowenstein Tent. We kept stopping and asking people if we could join them; several said they had room for two but never four. Finally we found a table with two girls and an older couple…we asked and they said “yes”. We were very happy as up until this time we’d only been able to purchase hot dogs….12 inch bratwurst that we’d shared; but no beer could be purchased unless you were seated at a table!!!!

Our tablemates were great. The couple didn’t speak English but we managed to find out that he had a sister that lived in Florida. The two girls were in their late twenties and were from Salzburg. They were soon joined by a third girl who lived in Munich. All three were really fun. We bought three rounds of drinks….each beer stein was a liter. They were difficult to lift and drink out of! We soon discovered a group from Taiwan several tables away. We were toasting each other regularly during our party; at least once from the table top so we could say we’d “danced” on the table.

The people at the table behind us were great sports when I used one for a backrest. The younger gentleman from that table joined us for a bit…he was from Austria and the girls got quite a kick out of my ability to bring in a young man for them. But they didn’t like him! We had chicken and extra large pretzels with the beer along with curled radishes (made from very large white radishes) that the girls purchased. The girls spoke very good English and seemed to enjoy their evening with us. At one point I took off with the young man from Austria and had a ride on a spinning machine that they strapped people into. Lots of fun but we got lost on the way back to the table. Jim and Dave were out looking for me when we finally arrived back at the table. Soon it was time to call it a day. We headed back for the U and arrived at our hotel about 9:30 PM. Lots of Motrin will be needed for tomorrow!

NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE PLUS TWO MORE.....

Wednesday, September 24th, 1997 Oberammergau, Germany

Breakfast at 8:00 AM. Then in the car and off to Neuschwanstein Castle before 9 AM. Trying to get there early due to possible long lines. Arrived just after it opened; Jim & Dave decided to walk up and Shari & I elected to pay the fee of 8 DM to ride the horse pulled wagon up the hill. Still had to walk a piece but was much easier. Didn’t have to stand in line very long before we were inside on our twenty minute tour through the twenty some rooms that were actually finished. The English tour was lead by a young English gentleman who had quite an accent so we sometimes had trouble understanding the king’s English; but, he did seem knowledgeable when asked questions. Shari was very impressed with the quality of the castle; especially the king’s bedroom and the Singers’ Hall where they still hold Wagner Concerts. This being my second time through the castle, it's amazing how many little things you miss on your first time!

We all walked down the hill and then up the shorter hill to Hohenschwangau; Ludwig’s childhood home. We were all very impressed with the quality and condition of this castle which was really used as a home by the royal family and is still owned by the Bavarian Royal family although it is now only a museum. On the walk down we stopped at a bench and had our sandwiches from breakfast as we enjoyed the quiet forest quality of our surroundings.

Back in the car we headed for the church in the meadow known as Weiskirche. It is located out in the country and there are cows in the meadows right up against the church. Amazing to see the Baroque Style; lots of gold; wonderful paintings, etc. in a church located out in the middle of the countryside. It is a pilgrimage church and is visited by thousands of people every day.

On to Schloss Linderhof on the other side of the mountain from Oberammergau. It was the only one of Ludwig II’s castles that he actually finished building. He lived here for about two weeks of every month for about eight years. Picked up ice cream bars for the walk to the palace from the parking area. Had to wait for a short time and again we had an English tour which was very good.

Shari’s favorite rooms were the King’s bedroom and the Hall of Mirrors. The home is patterned after the French palaces; especially Versailles and is therefore very elaborate with lots of gold leaf on walls and statutes. After leaving the palace we proceeded to walk up the hill by way of the arbors to the Grotto. An artificially made grotto complete with stalactite and stalagmites. There is a pond with a boat and all kinds of special effects that were very unusual for the 19^th Century in the central part of the Grotto.

Three castles in one day was a full agenda for all of us. But we really enjoyed all of them and the grounds that went with them. Saw some people para-sailing in the sky. Wonderful area for that sport with the high cliffs and the wide green areas for landing. Back to Oberammergau for a brief bit of shopping and a short rest in the room before dinner.

We talked to five different American couples after dinner at the Wolf Restaurant. Two from Downey area were seated next to us; one of the ladies had shopped in Shari’s store! The husbands were police office in LA and they knew Jim's friend Mel, a policeman from bicycling days, and also some good friends of Dave & Shari. They told us a great story about the police in Stuttgart helping them find a room for the night when they found that they couldn’t find a room. One of the men was born in Germany and had lived here for 13 years before he left. Probably about 45 years of age. Hadn’t been back since. He’d never seen his father during all those years and they’d spent two days with him at the beginning of the trip and were going back before leaving again. He still spoke excellent German and also had taken them to visit other relatives in the area.

The other people were three couples from Utah traveling together. We shared some stories…they are also staying at the Wolf and after talking to us were going to try for reservations at the Elefant Hotel in Salzburg…their next stop. Shari & I had meet Peggy at the store while shopping prior to dinner. Made it an early evening as we were all very tired from all the walking today!