May 24th, 2007 by cnguyen
Lunch in Innsbruck
We had lunch in Innsbruck and went off to the Neuschwanstein castle.
Neuschwanstein Castle
We were a bit early for our tour so we ate an early dinner and walked around a bit. Toured the castle (requirement to be admitted into the castle).
Lunch in Innsbruck
Today we slept in a bit since we were pretty tired from the past few days. We drove to Innsbruck and ate lunch at Hofgarten restaurant in a park. It was really nice, and the food was amazing. We had the Hofgarten pan and the Angus salad. However, we were running a bit late, and there was more traffic than we thought there would be to the Neuschwanstein castle. Gas in Austria is less expensive than in Germany, and we were a bit low on gas, so we filled up. Bill ended up at almost 50 Euros, since it cost 1.15 Euro a liter! Driving through the Alps was incredible; all the greenery was nice and there were still some snow on the mountains. I’m writing this blog entry while travelling to the castle, actually.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Evan had tried booking a tour online, but their website was sketchy and didn’t give him a confirmation. Luckily, there were spots for a tour at 5:50pm, and it was only 4:05ish. We took the bus up to the castle from the parking lot, and walked to Marienbruke, the bridge across a waterfall, and a good picture spot. I’m quite afraid of heights, so I couldn’t really see the waterfall, but I could see the castle well enough. We were about an hour early for our tour so we went to eat at the nearby restaurant, which is about five minutes downhill from the castle. Evan and I had the castle pan (similar to the previous pan and just as tasty), and a ravioli filled with yummy pesto and cheese.
The castle was very pretty; I loved the paintings in particular. Sadly, they did not allow photographs so we don’t have any pretty pictures to show you. Since King Ludwig was a patron of Wagner, most of the paintings were of legends that Wagner based his operas on, such as Tristan and Isolde. He didn’t have any paintings of himself, which I thought was really cool, although there were paintings of his coat of arms in some of the halls. There was an artificial cave made of plaster in the castle, also based on one of Wagner’s operas. The castle was unfinished (unfurnished and not painted)- the king died (rather mysteriously) before it was finished (he was only there for a hundred days or so before he died). His favorite animal was the swan, so his living room has over a hundred paintings of swans and a life-sized porcelain swan. There’s also a “swan†in Neuschwanstein, the name of the castle.
Evan and I left from the castle and drove back to the hotel, tried to get online again but failed miserably, and watched a little bit of The Queen.
Posted in germany, neuschwanstein, austria, innsbruck | 4 Comments »
May 23rd, 2007 by cnguyen
Deutshe Museum
Checked out of the hotel and went to the Deutshe museum (which is a gigantic version of the Museum of Science in Boston).
Sound of Music Tour
Took the Sound of Music tour with Bob’s Special Tours- the tour guide was especially good. It was actually an excellent introduction to Salzburg as well.
Drive to Zirl
Driving to a bit out of Innsbruck- Zirl, where our hotel is. We had lots of traffic issues but the navigation helped us out.
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Posted in germany, salzburg, sound of music, austria, innsbruck | 31 Comments »
May 22nd, 2007 by cnguyen
Car Delivery
Went this morning to take delivery of my beautiful new car in Munich. =)
Marienplatz
Wandering around, got lunch at Andescher am Dom. Tried my first real beer in the heart of Munich.
Frauenkirche church
We visited this really pretty church which was near where we ate.
Back to the Hotel and Glockenspiel
Took a break at the hotel and went back to watch the 5pm showing of the Glockenspiel.
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Posted in church, car, germany | 2498 Comments »
May 21st, 2007 by cnguyen
Morning
Checked out of our hotel, leaving for the Vatican.
Sistine Chapel & Museums
Visiting the Vatican museums & the Sistine Chapel… gorgeous artwork!
St. Peter’s Basilica
Going to the top of the basilica, down to the crypts, and right in the basilica- with the Pieta.
Last Gelato in Rome
Most impressive gelato place in Rome.
Flight to Munich
The airport check-in process was rather confusing, but we made our flight.
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Posted in vatican, germany, gelato, flight | 6 Comments »
May 20th, 2007 by cnguyen
Ostia Antigua
Day trip to the ruins of Ostia, which is a large ancient Roman city.
Ostia Lido
Afterwards, we went to the beach of Ostia, which is a few stops away on the metro. It was a beautiful day outside, but was rather humid.
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Posted in ostia, beach, lido, walking | 10 Comments »
May 19th, 2007 by cnguyen
Sleeping… and Shopping.
Delayed in the morning, we revised our plan to visit the Vatican to the Piazza del Popolo, and then the Trastevere district afterwards.
Actual biking in the park
Okay, not really- rented rizcos and walked around the park.
Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions
Visited a museum on the way out, which recreated some of da Vinci’s inventions, including some that were based of a few of his drawings.
Dinner
At Da Poeta, in the Trastevere district. Evan got a headache during dinner.
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Posted in shopping, piazza del popolo, trastevere, leonardo da vinci, park, walking | No Comments »
May 18th, 2007 by cnguyen
Trevi & Pantheon
Wandering around Trevi fountain and the Pantheon, getting gelato on the way.
Lunch & Colosseum
Tour of the Colosseum & the Forum.
Dinner
er.. food!
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Posted in forum, pantheon, trevi fountain, fountain, walking, colosseum, rome | 293 Comments »