Hohenschwangau

Today we toured Hohenschwangau, the castle that Mad King Ludwig's dad built and lived in, which is very close to Neuschwanstein.

This fountain is in the courtyard of the castle.

The village below the castle.

The kitchen, which is one of only two things you're allowed to photograph in the castle.

Much more of this castle was finished, and it was actually inhabited for many years, so there was more to see than at Neuschwanstein, but it was not as opulent. 

View out the window of the castle, the second of the two things you are allowed to photograph.

Then it was back to the steel luge track because the boys loved it so much.

Just behind Dashiell's head you can see the remains of a Roman bath built on the site and accidentally rediscovered when the track was built.

All of the responsible children who went down the track slowed down as they reached the bottom, but these two wild Chicagoans tore through the ending as fast as possible. 

There is also a free zip line there.

Right before we went to the luge track yesterday, Rick Steves was there, filming as he went down it!

It is on his Facebook page.

We have really enjoyed our time here in the Alps. The luge track pushed it into #1 status for Dashiell, supplanting Greece in his estimation. Greece is still first in my books, but this is #2.

How can you not love a place where driving to get groceries means you pass all of this?