First Week in Munich

I won’t write about Training at Siemens, Munich. As I believe all info should be kept confidential.

Aw, Simon and I stayed at Hotel Carmen during week one and two. There is nothing fantastic about the hotel. The only pull factor for the hotel is probably free porn channel? While the customer service is pretty good, but condition of the room does not meet my mark. Nevertheless, we stayed there for a fortnight because the training clashed with an exhibition from 23^rd to 29^th April.

Holensalzburg from far

During our first weekend, we got the Happy Weekend ticket to Salzburg on Saturday and Füssen the following day. It cost 29Euro to travel from Munich to these destinations (return trip).

I always want to visit Salzburg to see the filming ground for Sound of Music. Little did I know, the filming area isn’t close to city. Nevertheless, I am happy to see the place. The journey to Salzburg (some 160km South East East of Munich) takes two hours. There is adequate time for me to get my orientation while traveling. I kinda decide the team should see HolenSalzburg. My justification is simple. The castle is located on a high ground. Even though I can not get close to Sound of Music filming ground, I wanna see the city from the highest possible place. The walk to Holensalzburg is interesting, we crossed Salzach river, bypassed Residenzplat, Domplatz and Kapitelplatz before seeing Castle of Salzburg.

Statue near Residenzplatz

The tour at Holesalzburg is good. The audio guide gave good info on how Salz (Salt) burg (City) developed. Nevertheless, I dun like to move through the castle with someone running after my ass. I thought I can stay as long as I want on top of the castle. While the city is no longer a major trading area for salt no more. The charm remains as composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born there. There is some kinda celebration for Mr Mozart every year and the chocolate is probably as famous as his symphonies.

Salzburg from Holensalzburg

I was thinking of some friends the night before I go to Füssen. It was 22^nd Apr at Singapore then, I was supposed to do Mount Faber run with my running kakis. I messaged a friend. She was sick and not going the run. It is very seldom for her to sign up for running event. I was sad for her.

Instead of running at Mount Faber, I went to Neuschwanstein castle, about 160km South West West of Munich. The walk from Füssen to the fairy tale castle took me about an hour. 4km is no easy walk for Aw. I thank him for walking with an uncomfortable pair of shoes. I realized the walk is indeed a little too long and time consuming. If only we have bikes, we should be at the castle within 15minutes.

Flowers Along the way to Neuschwanstein

Hohenschwangau

Neuschwanstein

There is another castle which was owned by the same Bavaria King, Ludwig II. It is sun yellow Hohenschwangau. I was at the Füssen seven years ago with April, JiaYing, ZhenHui and Weilin. We did not enter any castle then. I realized I was smarter seven years ago. The cost for entering each castle is 9 Euro now. It shd be cheaper if U wanna go to both castles. Nevertheless, I dun think that is necessary.

We entered Neuschwanstein, the English guide spoke with German slang. I did not quite catch him at some point of time. Anyway, I am not superbly interested as what he said can be easily found on internet. Walking through all halls in 30minutes is quite a shame. Unlike Holensalzburg, we did not have the opportunity to roam within the castle.

The drawing within the castle is fantastic. I appreciate paintings that were done on round surface, especially if it is done inverted. It is not easy to paint on the wall especially when the drawing needs to be done with mathematical considerations. I wonder how those artists drew with such precision.

The more interesting part of the tour is probably when we explored beyond Marienbrücke, Mary Bridge. There is a short track after crossing Marienbrücken. I think the view from some part of the trail is even better, as one can explore from higher ground. I am thankful to King Ludwig II fascination over his beautiful castle. I wouldn’t be able to seeing the castle view without his foresight of having the bridge.

Neuschwanstein and Marienbrücke

After seeing the castle, we walk to the river which runs under Neuschwanstein. As Aw and me are running low for water. We collected the water melted from the Bavaria Alps. We took a bus back to Füssen. The sky was bright when we left the empty town.

Neuschwanstein from the trail beyond Marienbrücke