One of the Most Beautiful Castles in the World: Schwerin Castle

For me the card that I will show you is one of the most beautiful. Beautiful is also the place in the card and it is one that I wish to visit. I'm talking about Schwerin Castle which is located in Germany in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was the home seat for the duckes of Mecklenburg but now it is the seat of the state parliament (you have to know that Germany is a Federal Republic consisting of 13 states and 3 city-states.
In 1358, the County of Schwerin was bought by the descendants of Niklot, who had been elevated to Dukes of Mecklenburg in 1348 forming a ducal hereditary line that lasted until 1918. Soon, they relocated farther inland from Mikelenburg, near the city of Wismar, to Schwerin. During the late Gothic era, the growing prosperity and position of the dukes lead to a growing need for a representative castle, and this meant architectural changes to the fortress settlement that was there. During the time the castle took the present form and each era live its imprint on it.
In the 20th century the castle was affected by fire in 1913, then by the revolution in 1918 ending with the abdication of the Grand Duke and in 19t8, then it became a museum and then the GDR transformed in a college for kindergarten teachers. After the fall of the Berlin Wall it became a place of government and representation as the seat of the parliament of State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Since then, massive renovation efforts have been conducted and are, due to the complexity of a castle of this size, still in progress. Despite all that it still can be visited so check up the site for visitor information.
The small impious ghost Petermännchen (some kind of gnome) reportedly roams the halls of the Schwerin castle. This little spirit is no more than a few feet high, and is often depicted in clothes from the 17th century, something resembling a cavalier. His existence may be in doubt, but he is a popular legend as ever.

53.624167,11.418889 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.

Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

Official Site For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
Germany For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

The Swan King of Bavaria

Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Herrenchimsee, three wonderful castles built for the so-called fairytale king Ludwig II (1845-1886). He was a person who loved to live his fantasy and he tried to realize that in his buildings. Not all Bavarians agreed with that, because it was an expensive hobby. Ludwig II was a fascinating and intelligent person but many said it was paranoid. He died under mysterious circumstances (not even enlightened) in the Lake Starnberg. He and his psychiatrist were found drowned in the lake; both went for a walk in the late afternoon and never came back.
Nowadays, the castles of King Ludwig II are very famous and well-known all over the world. I had the chance to visit all of them. They are all fascinating and beautiful and with some amazing technical gimmicks. All worth a visit but my favorite one is Neuschwanstein. I love the view from the nearby mountain. You can also see this castle and Hohenschwangau Castle (built by Ludwig’s ancestors). From the Marienbrücke (a small bridge over a gorge) you will have a perfect view of Neuschwanstein Castle.
Herrenchiemsee is located on an island in the Chimsee (a lake near Munich), a wonderful place built to look like the French Versailles.
Linderhof is the smallest of the three and it was a place where the king could stay alone.
There can be a lot more to write about Ludwig II and the three castles but I think it would be difficult to find an end.

Thank you Regina Sammet for the beautiful letter about the Bavarian Castles. I have had the chance to visit Neuschwanstein Castle and I was impressed. The road to the castle is very abrupt and long and my feet were burning and my friends put a tax on every grumbling, it was 10 euro cents.

Neuschwanstein: 47.5575,10.75 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.
Herrenchimsee: 47.860556,12.398056 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate. 
Linderhof: 47.571667,10.960556 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate. 
Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

Official Site For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
Germany For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

Train Travel: Germany and Austria - useful tips

Traveling by train in Europe can be a lot more pleasant if you know a few tricks of the trade—particularly in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

European trains, including German Rail, are among the best in the world. Europe's fastest trains, the French TGV and Germany's ICE (InterCity Express), are technologically ahead of anything running on U.S. rails. The popular InterRegio express trains zoom across country borders, connecting major European cities. The normal, everyday InterCity (IC) and EuroCity (EC) trains crisscross Europe, offering convenient connections to cities inside and outside Germany.

For shorter journeys there are numerous trains ranging from local commuter runs to fairly fast D-Züge (through-trains) that are sometimes just as speedy as InterCity trains. The recently discontinued Eilzug will not be missed. Although eilen means "to hurry," an Eilzug wasn't really that fast. The regional trains are now designated: RB (RegionalBahn, stops everywhere), RE (RegionalExpress, faster, does not stop everywhere) and SE StadtExpress (semi-fast connections connecting cities to their outskirts), not available in all parts of Germany. Learning to read the train codes (RE, EC, IC, ICE, etc.) on German schedules can help you find the fastest train to your destination.

Since all big or medium-sized cities, as well as many smaller communities in German-speaking Europe have a train station (or two or three), train travel is convenient and efficient. The main train station ( Hauptbahnhof) is usually located in the center of town, from which commuter trains, taxis, streetcars, and buses can take the traveler straight to a final destination. The weakest link in this otherwise efficient chain is often the station ticket office, where it seems there are always too few ticket agents for too many passengers. Long lines and long waits are all too common.

Credit card problems

Although the "new" Deutsche Bahn AG has finally entered the 20th century by accepting credit cards, bearers of Visa, MasterCard, or American Express cards must be wary. Look for logos and/or a sign (sometimes handwritten) that mentions " Kreditkarten" or "credit cards." You can't just walk up to any ticket window and expect to use your card, even though that is common practice in most of the world. (The Austrian and Swiss railroads are a little better in this regard.) Recently, even in Frankfurt's busy main station, only a limited few ticket windows offered credit card acceptance. And don't assume you will be able to use a credit card to purchase train tickets at every one of the over 5,000 rail stations in Germany, although it has become more common. You should even ask in advance at a German travel agency to be sure they accept credit card payment for rail tickets.

First and second class

All European trains are divided into first and second class. Look for a large "1" or "2" painted on the car near the door. Some special trains (EC, IC, ICE, etc.) also have a surcharge or Zuschlag of six marks added to the price of the ticket, whether it is first or second class. If you have not paid the surcharge, the conductor will require payment (in cash) when checking your ticket. The surcharge for ICE trains varies, depending on the connection.

Special train passes

One big advantage of having a Eurailpass, Flexipass, Europass, or German Rail Pass, besides any cost savings, is you can avoid any ticket-buying hassles. You'll only have to confront a DB ticket window to make reservations if you want them. (This is advisable during peak travel periods in the summer or on popular trains.) But remember that these special tickets have to be bought in advance and may have restrictions. A Eurailpass, for example, may only be purchased in North America. Austria and Switzerland have their own rail pass offers. (See a travel agent for details on rail passes.)

Another good idea, if you will be using the train regularly over a period of time in Germany, is the BahnCard. It won't spare you the task of buying train tickets, but the BahnCard will give you a 50 percent reduction in the cost of any tickets you buy during a one-year period. (See the Deutsche Bahn Website for current pricing.) There are special lower cost versions of the BahnCard for students, teens, married couples, young children and families. The card is not valid for special reduced-priced tickets, and any supplementary charges have to be paid in full. But the BahnCard is valid on every day of the year, including holidays. The card is issued to you in your name, and is also a Visa credit or debit card.

Sorry - reserviert

When you are looking for a seat without having a reservation, notice the orange-colored reservation ( Reserviert) cards slipped into holders on the luggage racks above the seats. If you have a reservation, you're looking for your own card above your designated seat(s). If you don't have a reservation, you are looking for the cards so you can avoid sitting in a reserved seat. The card will tell you which segment of the train's route has been reserved for that seat. If you are getting off before or after the reserved segment, then you can sit there without worry. If you happen to be sitting in a reserved seat, the person entitled to that seat will ask you to relinquish it. When the conductor comes by to check tickets, he will verify the seat reservation if there is one.

Couchettes

Some rail enthusiasts have come to appreciate couchette travel, while others use it only as a last resort or never. Offered by almost all European railways, a couchette car ( Liegewagen) has compartments that have regular seats by day and sleeping bunks by night. Intended for longer journeys such as Paris to Frankfurt, Hamburg to Munich, etc., the couchette seats on each side of the compartment magically transform into four or six bunks. The porter drops off a blanket, a pillow, and a pocket-like sheet for each person. After some clever unfolding and the snapping of a few latches, the bunks are ready. There is no real privacy, and you probably won't know most of the people in the compartment. Your traveling companions may be male or female, young or old, and from any part of the world. Couchette travel is not for timid souls. It can be a fascinating adventure, a sleepless night, or both. You must make reservations for a Liegewagen, and there is an extra couchette charge (which is usually much less than staying in a hotel).

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This article in an extract from "When in Germany" by Hyde Flippo, a practical guide to German life, language, and culture.

Source: http://www.justlanded.com

Munich - Oktoberfest at Odeonplatz

There is so much to write, many photographs to post and several anecdotes to share and I have no idea where to begin. I've decided to start with the pictures as I collected my thoughts .


Munchen was our last port of halt in Germany .The first big city that we visited . After a long journey from Freiburg , it was midnight when we landed. Tired, sleepy, hungry with a hotel in the outskirts ,we tottered our way through as the rains came tumbling down . Morning brought more rains , but that did not dampen our mood .


We were too early for Oktoberfest , but the festive spirit was already in the air. Munich is a city where even a week is too less to get a feel of the city We had a few hours and we felt that we had just flipped through a book . There was history, art, sports, beer to choose from . We chose history and beer . Armed with a map and an umbrella , off we went to walk down the Middle Ages, to get a glimpse of Bavarian way of life .


We started with Marienplatz or Mary's Square ,the city centre which dates back to the 12th century . Bordered by the old and new town halls called Altes Rathaus and Neus Rathaus and the Marien's column in the centre , it was earlier called Schrannen and was once a trade route between countries like Italy and Austria .


We had no tourist guides, nor did we go with any city tour..our doses of history came from local people we met in trains and in hotels and even some on the road who paused to answer most of our queries


In the Middle Ages markets and tournaments were held in this city square. The Glockenspiel in the new city hall was inspired by these tournaments, and draws millions of tourists a year.The "performances" here are quite amazing .




We posed at the Fish Fountain for a picture - I believe this was an erstwhile market and you can get a feel of that today in Viktualienmarkt . Its lively , colourful and full of energy..From ripe red strawberries to bright yellow flowers, this market is a great place to relax. The Frauenkirche or Church of Our Lady is the landmark of Marienplatz, built in the 15th century .Other attractions here are the three city gates, St Peter's church among other monuments .




Walk further and you come to Odeonplatz . a beautiful square bordered by the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshal's Hall), the Italianesque Theatinerkirche and the Hofgarten, a former court garden. From this square the Ludwigstrasse - one of Munich's most monumental streets - leads to the Siegestor, a large triumphal arch.


As we walked towards Hofgarten, looking for the palace, we saw a majestic monument. We stopped by to ask a German how to get to the palace when he smiled at us and said you are right there . We were at the Residenz Palace , home to the Bavarian kings and queens from the 14th century. We were standing at the Festsaalbau , or the banquetting hall .







We were guided to the entrance and the two main areas - the Alte Residenz or the Old Residence and the Konigsbau or the King's tract . There are 135 ornate rooms here filled with roich taopestry and mirrors , including the bedrooms of the king and queen .My favourites are the Hall of Antiquities where there are frescos from the 16th century and the Ancestor's Gallery . There is a treasury as well , which has some unique jewellery and gems along with some statues and sculptures .








It was late evening and it was time to gulp down all that history with some refreshing beer . We had heard about a 16th century beer hall which was set up by Duke Wilhelm V to satisfy his thirst , With just a "X" mark on a map, we went looking for it . we lost our way and when we finally did find it - it was almost like discovering a treasure - what a place ! The less said, the better...Im going to leave you with some pictures- too bad we didnt have some music and beer to serve you as well...

In the land of Grimm Brothers ...

The train meandered through lush green meadows and dense woodlands . Lakes and streams dotted the landscape , lulling us into a deep sleep . A fairy with a magic wand appeared from nowhere and lo ! we were in land of Red Riding hood . All the characters of Grimm Brothers came alive, but there were no wolves or witches to haunt us . We were in Schwarzwald or the Black Forest . Dark and Dense , with pines and conifers, black is beautiful. Cuckoo clocks, the traditional Bollenhut hats and the sensuous black forest gateau filled with the most delicious cherry schnapps, strawberries , cream and chocolates ...this is where we had landed .


Our journey into the Black Forest started with Freiburg, a pictureque medieval town flanked by the Black Forest mountains. If you are planning for a walk in the clouds or a hike in the mountains, Freiburg is the destination . The town itself is a beauty to behold. According to Wikipedia , the city was founded in the 12th century and I felt that it probably remains just the way it has been ...Like Heidelberg, the old and the new merge - the old town - Augustine platz is quaint and yet bustling..several old monuments, churches, squares dot the town .

The city is filled with Bachle or water that fills the gutters and even small cobbled streets . We followed the sound of water and walked down a narrow alley behind a church and found it gushing .For a moment, I thought that its sewage, but it was crystal clear with no odour . Then one of the shopkeepers corrected me saying that its water from the Black Forest that flows down and its not sewage - apparently its been flowing since the city was founded .

It was late night as we walked to the city centre. We had just had our first meal in the last few days that started with wine and ended with a sumptuous desert . We were doing some window shopping and I was amazed that there were only trams that were allowed into this road. Bright and colourful, these red vehicles added to the beauty of the town . Besides them, there were cyclists all over. Even the trams lugged them . I saw a couple who tied their child's pram to their cycle and ambled along the road.

Could we for a moment stop and imagine a Linking Road in Bandra or the Brigade Road in Bangalore being open only to cyclists, pedestrains and trams or buses ? No cars, bikes, autos ... no noise pollution ..no pollution at all ! No wonder Freiburg , the eco city looks like its set in the middle ages....except for the young students and the modern brands, I thought for a moment, I was in a different world !

And now we wanted to explore the Black Forest . Tourists come here for a week , but for us, it was just a few hours . Unfortunately we just had a dekho ! So, we hopped onto a bus from Freiburg that took us to the cable car (Tal station - Tal means valley )and decided to go up the Schauinsland mountain at 4000 feet high.

Its one the longest and the most beautiful ride that I had ever taken , looking down to see just acres of verdant greenery . As the cable car dipped and soared, kissing conifers and touching flowers , we were breathless taking in the views .This is it ! we were in the famed black forest .The mist clouded our vision, leaving everything hazy and dreamy


And then we decided to go on a trek ourselves into the woods . We were amazed to find the energy among the old who were in their trekking gear . There were several routes , with information at every corner so that amateurs like us could enjoy the black forest without the fear of were wolves .

We wanted more, but there was no time . surprisingly our feet did not cry hoarse -so with the energy we had ,we decided to go to Lake Titisee to enjoy more of the black forest ..We were originally planning to stay there in a farm house, but accomodation was unavailable.

Its a great place to shop, trek, chill - go to one of the spas or a boat ride ...But the weather cried foul...we landed there only to realize it was raining..but whats a holiday if you dont enjoy a bit of rain and shine !


Coming up next- Munich !