neuschwanstein warning—don't you ever buy an english guide tour

it would be a beautiful day, as the weather forecast told us.and for once (or twice), it was right.

it was a long, long journey from fuerth, where i lived. but we made it to neuschwanstein at around 12 o'clock. and the best advice ever was to reserve a guide tour into the palace beforehand. it costed 1.8 euro more, and really really worth it. (in case you wanted to go into the palace) i waited 5 minutes before i got my ticket, and the long line of non-reserved ticket would probably take about 50 minutes.

we had exactly one hour before our guide tour began, and we rushed up to the castle, afraid we wouldn't be there in time. turned out we only needed 30 minutes to go up to the castle (by our short little legs) so we had a break to eat something (and everything was expensive...EXPENSIVE. always pack a lunch box with you to neuschwanstein)

though it was a midday, there was this beautiful foggy atmosphere in which fitted along very well with the 'fairytale castle'

and it was just a perfect autumn day. there was no better day to go to neuschwanstein than that day. many trees were at their peak-autumn colours. the only thing that could be better was to go there earlier and enjoy the morning fog even longer.

and the guide tour began...disappointingly. a friend of mine told me the night before that english guide tour was not understandable. and considering my level of german language, she told me that it was better to go with the german version. (she was in an english version with her australian exchange student, and she couldn't understand a word) unfortunately, i already booked the english version. and there was nothing on earth that couldn't be funnier than our robotic english guide. my friend and i tried so hard not to laugh during the whole 35-minutes session.

so, the english guide tour was the good way to exercise your face via laughing. and nobody could die because the or she laughs too much, though my stomach was aching. the outlook from the castle's balcony was so amazing.

and then, of course, we couldn't miss the marienbrucke. the bridge was full. like unbelievably crowded. but this picture from the point of view was kind of a must when you go to neuschwanstein castle, isn't it? this postcard-perfect, overused photo.

this alpsee was just as beautiful as the castle. i was so impressed from the first sight, well, love at first sight. the lake surrounded by mountains with a foggy effect and little wooden boats. i hoped i had more time to trek around the lake, rent a boat and just enjoy the beauty of nature on this wonderful day.

and that was it, my day at neuschwanstein. however, it wasn't the end of the day because we went further to the muenchener oktoberfest!

which will be my next post, very soon :)