Eagles' Nest, Salt Mines, Berchtesgaden, and King's Lake

 

 We were so lucky to have a wonderful clear day for our excursion to the Eagle's nest.  This was a bus tour which allowed us to get into more things than if we had tried on our own.  Tour buses have a way of getting into the tours faster than individuals.  The only problem, you have a limited amount of time.  I would have gladly have spent more time at the Eagle's nest.  I didn't get to learn as much history as I would have liked.  However, going on a bus meant that Wayne didn't drive and he could look and enjoy the scenery.  Driving up to the Eagle's Nest is a very windy, steep road.  The regular tour buses don't do up.  We had to get on a bus that just went up this steep road.  The view so crystal clear.

 

 We could see a long ways.  If you looked out by the horizon you could see Salzburg. 

 Yes, Wayne was close to the edge several times. 

 

 

The tunnel led to the elevator where it whisked us up to the top very quickly.  Eagle's Nest was Hitler's mountain retreat.  Actually it was meant for mostly meetings.  If I remember correctly, it was not meant for sleeping.  Hitler wanted  the superior people, the best of the best.  I'm not sure he was even that.  He had so many fears.  Heights was one of his fears.  I think he was only up here around 14 times.  What a waste of time, effort and money for someone who hates heights.

We had a quick stop for lunch in Berchtesgaden.

 Then it was off to the salt mines.  Evidently there were a lot of working salt mines in the past that made the area very wealthy.  It was an interesting experience to be so deep in the mountain.  We somehow missed the opportunity to get earphones that translated our experience in English.  We heard it in German.  We went on little trains through small tunnels, then we slid down a wooden slide, got on a boat that took us across a lake and then back on the train.  It was fun, but I probably wouldn't do it again if I every go backto Salzburg. 

 

 

Our last stop of the day was to King's Lake.  When we were at the top of the mountain at Eagle's Nest we could see the lake.  We could also see Berchtesgaden.  

 

This is the view I had of Wayne on most of our hikes.  

The Beautiful City of Salzburg

The hotel where we stayed and surroundings were extraordinary.  We had this balcony that looked out over the lake.  It would be nice to stay there and just relax, but we had so much we wanted to see. 

In the evenings we did enjoy some down time in the hotel's pool and spa area.  It was very relaxing. 

 

Early morning view of Lake Fuschlsee.  

Sunday was our day to  explore Salzburg.  Church would have been hard for me to understand, however, we did walk into the cathedral and heard singing from their service.  Salzburg has a church on almost every block.  

Mozart was born in Salzburg.  As a result the city was/is very much into concerts.  There are music venues everywhere.  There is a big music festival each year during the month of August.  Mozart's statue is in the middle of Mozartplatz.



The New Residenz and Glockenspiel, the bell tower chimes tunes appropriate for the month.  

The Salzburg Cathedral was one of the first Italian Baroque building in the northern Alps.The statue of Mary is looking away from the church welcoming visitors.  Notice the stands in the square.  I'm sure they are there for concert purposes.   

This is a heater.  Almost every roomin the fortress has one.  I noticed them in the castles the day before.  

There is a funicular to help people get to the top of the hill to visit Hohensalzburg Fortress.  The line was long so guess what we did.  Yes, we walked.  I should have taken a picture of how steep the climb was.  It was worst coming down, very hard on the knees.  The fortress was so foreboding that it scared off any attackers.  There was actually a form of a funicular back in the 1500's.  Animals pulled up cargo along rails. 

Pretty views of the city as we hiked up.  

In front of this church was an open-air produce market.  It reminded me of the story in the Bible of Jesus rebuking the traders in front of the temple.  I had a hard time with all the selling going on in front of a religious building, even if it wasn't my building of worship.  

Getreidegasse is Salzburg's main drag.  It would be like Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles.  

 

Mirabell Garden.  Do you like how I have water shooting out of my head.  I'm very talented you know.  In the movie Sound of Music, Maria and the children were seen dancing around the garden singing Do-Re-Mi.  

 Our parting view of Salzburg. 

Schloss Fuschlsee and German Castles

Austria's Flag

 On Friday August 10th Wayne and I flew into the Munich airport, rented a car and drove to our hotel.  We stayed in an absolutely gorgeous place just outside of Salzburg, Hotel Fuschlsee.  We had lunch down by the pool.  The view was incredible.   

 

 

After we got checked in and settled we took a drive around the area.  

We got to the top of the mountain and looked down on this beautiful sight.  It was the little city of St. Gilgen.

We pulled off on a viewing place and watched these parachuters.  I can only imagine the thrill of a bird's eye view of these spectacular mountains. 

We continued driving to Mondsee.  This was the wedding church in the Sound of Music. It was very simple outside and small inside, but very ornate.



I love the colors in this city. 

 

Germany's Flag

 



Saturday morning we got up early for our visit to Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castles.  It was a long drive, but we wanted to get there early.  We had ticket reservations for 10:25.  It was suggested to arrived an hour before.  It was a good idea since you have to  hike to the entrance of the first castle and if you are not there on time you are out of luck.  Hohenschwangau was the childhood home of King Ludwig.  His dream was building Neuschwanstein.  We were not allowed to take picture of the insides.  They are both very lavish.  He died before Neuschwanstein was completed.  It has been left unfinished.  Just a few weeks after he died it was opened for tourists. The Disney Castle's design was inspired  by this castle.

The city has some adorable buildings.  



We hiked up to Hohenschwangau quickly.  We had a few minutes to rest or walk around the grounds.  I was a little disappointed not only did the Neuschwanstein have scaffolding it was a very foggy day.  

 

The tour inside Hohenschwangau lasted a little more than a half hour.  The next tour was scheduled for 12:25.  It allowed time for you to get to the top of the hill.  There were three choices to get there; horse and carriage, bus or walking.  We walked.  It was a very steep climb.  I was hot and sticky when I got to the top.  As Wayne always suggests, I set my pace and stayed with it.  Wayne stayed with me, but I'm sure it was not the pace he wanted.  

Thank goodness, the front of the castle was not covered with scaffolding.

We saw Mary's Bridge from the castle's grounds.  After our tour we hiked to the bridge.  

You get a great view of Hohenschwangau from Neuschwanstein.  It is a beautiful location.  It is between two small lakes.  

The fog lifted so the view from Mary's Bridge was fantastic.  

 The lake was also beautiful. 

Our next stop was another of King Ludwig's castles.  Linderhof  Palace.  We got there late in the afternoon so we didn't go inside, but I enjoyed walking around.  Of the three castles or palaces, this one had the most amazing gardens.  I think the king was trying to impress other country's royalty.  

Great place for some ambiance.  

 

We continued our journey back to Salzburg.  We stopped at the little city of Oberammagau.  It is famous for the painted building, wood crafts and the Passion Play.    

This is the entrance to passion play.  The play is put on once each decade, so this is used for many other plays and entertainment.  

The flower boxes throughout the area help give it charm.

Each city has at least one church or cathedral.  This dome was quite different from the others we have seen.