After Munich, the next stop was a youth hostel in Austria named Jugengastehaus Graben Hostel.

The next morning, we were off to Neuschwanstein and this palace down the hill, Hohenschwangau.

Neuschawanstein was close by.

This is the only picture I was allowed to take inside. All photos are "proprietary". Funny it wasn't that way 30 years ago when I was here...

Here's a view of Hohenschwangau from Neuschwanstein.

Claire, Jeanie, and Jordan.

A veiw over the wall, towards the waterfall and swinging bridge that we'll visit later.

Again, no photos inside. I don't know why though. If I could throw 40 pictures of the inside of this place out there, I'll bet more people would be compelled to come visit. Come to think of it, I shot about two rolls in there back in 1977. Maybe I'll dig those up...

Audi A2. Like all the neat stuff, they don't sell this one in the US.

Everywhere you turn, there's a great picture!

This green water is full of minerals from glaciers, so a geologist told me that we met later on the trip. Interlaken has a similar hue.

Here's the explanation, if you're up on your Deutsch. Let me know what it says...

We had a little time on the way back to take a different scenic route.

Back near the youth hostel, we climbed up to a mountain that overlooks it, in search of the Ehrenberg castle ruins.

This trail looked like it had been here for centuries. The wall looks like a deliberate attempt to keep the hapless from falling off the mountain.

Although it doesn't look like there's much left of this place, I predict that next time we come it'll be under reconstruction.

This is a bit of a shock, but it's a standard 220v German power outlet. Note how it's recessed, which prevents you from being shocked, no matter how hard you try. By the time the pins are connected, the hole is shielded from all attempts to electrocute yourself. And as my German electrical engineer buddy Manfred explained, the greatest benefit of these outlets is the ground prong (at the bottom), which engages about 5mm before the rest of the plug gets any juice, enhancing safety even more. These folks are just plain smarter than us!

Back at the hostel, this firewood pile is a clue of what's to come in a few months. Even their barns and firewould piles are in perfect order!

Here's Ehrenberg castle on the left, with a more intact castle above it on the right. We ran out of steam before we could climb the rest of the way to that one! The kids were totally burnt out on castles (or maybe it was the walking) at this point, and slept in the car while we were gone.

Hey, I know a good picture when I see one!

There's a lot more at page 4 of 5...