Wednesday 3 November 2010

Sep 2010 Euro trip Day 6: Lindau -> Luzern

Lindau landmark - Port entrance with Lighthouse and Bavarian Lion


Lindau Town Museum
Lake side hotels that I can't afford

The hotel where we stayed

Zurich Station
Luzern


A village by the lake



Alpnachstad Station



On the way to mountain Platus Kulm (2132m)




top of the hill
from the lookout






Kriens is the last stop. A bus ride is provided to get back to Luzern station.
The whole trip was about 4 hours and only cost 47.6 Frank (after the discount of Euro rail pass) which was really cheap considering the cost of living in Switzerland.

Monday 25 October 2010

2010 Sep Euro trip - Day 5 - Linderhof - Munich - Lindau

Today's schedule was quite intense. We left Schwangau and stopped at Linderhof Palace on the way to Munich. We also needed to return the rental car at Munich before 1:30 pm, and then catching the 4:30 pm train to Lindau. 
We did not want to stay overnight at Munich because it's the 200 anniversary of Oktoberfest and it was very difficult to get a room near the train stations with a reasonable price... So we only spent a few hours in the Oktoberfest before catching the train to Lindau.

The view from Schwangau to Linderhof was stunning. Part of the journey was in Austria. It's a pity I wasn't able to stop and take good photos as the roads were narrow so I could not stop wherever I wanted.


The car we rented ... the Audi, not the Porsche 




After about 1 hour and 15 minutes, we arrived the Linderhof Palace.

The entrrance to the Palace, guided tour required.

The garden in the front of the Palace. There were lots of beautiful gardens, but we didn't have enough time to visit them.


The sides of the Palace.

Here we were at the Oktoberfest venue.

The Dom next to it.




































One of the big tents.


Another tent.
Munich train station.

Another 2.5 hours we arrived Lindau. The hotels near the lake looked really charming in the evening.


Lindau landmark night shot.


Thursday 21 October 2010

2010 Sep Euro Trip - Day 4 (Fussen, Schwangau)

Day 4 of the trip.

After staying overnight at Fussen, the very end  or beginning (depending on which direction you are travelling) of the Romantic Road , today' itinerary are world famous castles, the fairytale castle "Neuschwanstein" built by King Ludwig II and Neo-Gothic Castle Hohenschwangau built by Maximilian II, Ludwigs father.

The tickets cost 9 Euros for each castle or 17 Euros for both. Guided tours are compulsory and will be assigned a time schedule when purchasing tickets. Compared to Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau is really mini. I would recommend only to visit Neuschwanstein; Hohenschwangau looks like some kind of a large residential house or a hotel, I couldn't really connect it with a "castle" when first saw it.


It only took about 20 mins from the visitor centre, where we bought the tickets, to Hohenschwangau by foot.
Photos of Hohenschwangau:




























Sunday 17 October 2010

2010 Sep Euro Trip - Day 3 - Rothenburg to Fussen (The Romantic Road)

We were wondering around the beautiful Rothenburg this morning, climbing up to one of the watching towers overlooking the whole town which was quite awesome. Then driving through the Romantic Road, down to Fussen to stay overnight. I had to say it was a mistake not to leave plenty time between Rothenburg and Fussen. There were so many beautiful places to stay on the way... Ah well, next time!!

Morning in Rothenburg


City Town Hall






There was a watching tower where you could climb up to see the whole town, highly recommended!
You wouldn't be regretted once you saw the scenery from up there.

There were quite a lot of shops in town and even though it's a touristy place, I felt they were not too expensive (compared to Australia).








Snow balls - a local speciality food

It's time to leave the beautiful Rothenburg. We bought some bread and drinks for picnic lunch and driving towards Fussen.