GERMANY 2010 -- 16

+ updated at 22:06 in Germany (4:06pm ESDT) on Friday, June 18, 2010

+ Today we visited the famous castle Ludwig II of Bavaria lived in -- Hohenschwangau Castle -- and the one he had built -- Neuschwanstein Castle.  You can read about this fascinating man at http://www.german-way.com/ludwig.html

The setting of these impressive castles is magnificent.  Hopefully I can upload photos soon.  But I am now a little travel weary and the wine has been poured.  22:05 update: OK I did get a few in (above).

+ Sadly, Germany lost today.  But the USA came from behind 2-0 and tied Slovenia for a huge morale builder. Follow the World Cup at FIFA.COM

+ I just discovered a good radar map of Europe showing that we may have better weather tomorrow. Today we have had plenty of rain but that did not dampen our spirits as we really enjoyed the castles.

+ I took a picture yesterday of Fussen's Reichenstrasse:

+ We are in Füssen which is in the Bavarian Alps only a mile or 2 from the Austrian border. Consistent cloudiness has prevented us from seeing the high peaks and this may continue until we leave the Alps. Nevertheless we are having a wunderbar time here enjoying the hospitality of our host in the gasthaus where we have a great apartment with a view. More mountains are visible this morning from our window. We are on levels 3 and 4 (2 and 3 in European designations) in the house. Great!

Füssen was once a great violin-making center. We are not far from Italy and Switzerland as well as Austria.

Today we head to the famous castles associated with Mad King Ludwig. Photos may soon appear on my blog and at Facebook but Pbase will probably have to wait until I'm back home.

Hope you are all enjoying the World Cup. Argentina seems to be the favorite but Germany is good too.

Hope you are all enjoying life as summer begins.

+ We took a break from sausages and potatoes and ate at an Italian Ristorante here in Füssen last night but we stuck with Bavarian beer.