Germany '92
Munich, Salzburg, and the Castles

On one or two of our first student trips to Germany, we stayed in Berchtesgaden rather than in Salzburg. The bus ride between the two cities is less than 45 minutes, and Berchtesgaden is a little bit less expensive than Salzburg. Berchtesgaden is a lovely small town with many squares similar to the one in this picture. At the time when U.S. soldiers in Germany were much more numerous, Berchtesgaden was a favorite recreation center for the soldiers and their families. For our purposes, however, we found that although Berchtesgaden and the surrounding region offer much in the way of natural beauty, Salzburg offers so much more for a night's entertainment. On subsequent trips, we opted to see the sights around Berchtesgaden on day trips from Salzburg. A square in Berchtesgaden
St. Bartholomae On this particular trip on the Königssee, the fog was lying so low over the lake that it was difficult to see the mountains that surround St. Bartholomae monastery. Our students might have been disappointed that they couldn't see all the scenery, but the atmosphere of quiet serenity was enhanced. There was only a small group on the boat that morning and for much of the trip, the only thing that could be heard was the low hum of the electric engines.
In many of the central areas of Salzburg, the huge structures serve as a reminder that the city was once one of the most powerful independent Archbishoprics in Europe. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna made Salzburg a part of Austria. The Hohensalzburg Fortress stands high above the city, another reminder of the past greatness. Salzburg's wealth was built on salt, but today it is maintained on tourism. In talking with other tourists, we have found that travelers either love or hate Salzburg (usually the hate has something to do with the thousands of Mozart images everywhere) and that there are few lukewarm feelings. By the way, we happen to love it, even with its horrible high prices. Salzburg's grandeur
Munich's Olympic Park On this trip, the city tour that we took in Munich included a visit to the Olympic Park. The only reason I might recommend that anyone visit the park is to take a trip up the tower to get a long view of the countryside. I did find it interesting that the small rolling hills in the park are actually contructed on the rubble from the city that was placed there as the city rebuilt from the heavy damage of World War II bombings.
Neuschwanstein was contructed as it was so that Mad King Ludwig II could look out across the countryside from the heights. It was probably built so that reaching it would be difficult for the common man. Today, millions of us commoners are invited to the castle as paying guests of the state, but the hard walk up still reminds us that we are, in fact, commoners. The Schloss Restaurant lies on the pathway a little below the castle, and the rooms that are rented there will get you physically closer to the castle than anywhere else. If you are a paying guest there, the taxi actually has the right to drive you up the pathway (with all the walkers cursing you). At the times we visit, there is often snow, and the trip up and down becomes even more difficult. On the path to Neuschwanstein

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