2:30pm - arrive at Bavaria

- before heading to the castle, we stopped by to get some food. i had my first bratwurst in Germany! how freaking cool is that?? lol. i also got this soda called mezzo mix and its cola with orange soda. sounds weird and nasty but it isn't all that bad…

 - we took the shuttle up to where we had to walk the rest of the way up. while walking that mile up, i couldn't stop thinking about how people back in the days got up these woods! it must have taken them hours to reach the castle!

- finally we got up to the castle and OMG! its HUUUUUGE! and to think this castle was never finished! too bad the tour only lets us see the finished rooms… =[
4:55pm - tour Neuschwanstein Castle

- Walt Disney based his Sleeping Beauty Castle (Disneyland Castle) off of King Ludwig II’s castle. The story goes, King Ludwig was only 18 when he ascended the throne. Having lived at Hohenschwangau Castle (his dad’s house), he dreamt of how he would build his own castle.

- i couldn't believe i was inside the castle. it was so overwhelming. i didn't even know what to say or think at the moment. just looking at all the paintings and gold! it was pretty intense being there. i couldn't even form words, i was just in shock. King Ludwig’s bed frame alone took 14 wood carvers 4 years to make!! seriously… to be rich back then…
He found the perfect spot, it was within his view from his father’s castle. Construction started when he became King but it was only 1/3 done. The King died a mysterious death 20 years after construction had begun. He was diagnosed by his doctor as having a mental disorder. King Ludwig was found dead with his Doctor near a lake but no traces were found of him having drowned.

- after grabbing a cappuccino from the cafe in the castle lobby, we headed back down to where the car was parked. we decided to walk the scenic downward path through the forest. walking there reminded me of beauty and the beast when belle was looking for her father and stumbled upon the castle.

- by the time we arrived at the car, it was slightly sprinkling again.

6pm - leave Neuschwanstein Castle

- i was a bit sad having to leave the castle. i wanted to stay longer and explore the rest. princes and princesses rarely exist nowadays but its nice to think that they once walked the same stone paths i just walked.