Today started very early; I was up at 5:00 AM and out the door by 6:30 for our trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. Even though it was rough waking up, the ride was worth it. As we got closer to the mountains, the scenery completely changed. Flat farmland slowly gave way to rolling hills, and then suddenly, the Alps came into full view.

Once we arrived, I decided to hike up to the castle instead of taking the horse carriage like some of the group did. It wasn’t a long hike, but it definitely got the blood flowing, and the views along the way made it more than worth it. The mix of forests, mountains, and lakes made the whole area feel like something out of a movie. You could see why this place inspired Disney.

Inside, the castle was even more extravagant than I expected. Every room was incredibly detailed and over-the-top, which makes sense once you hear about King Ludwig II’s vision. At the same time, it was also kind of sad that he never really got to see the finished version. After the tour, we grabbed a quick lunch near the castle, where I had the pork schnitzel again.

Later in the day, we returned to the University of Augsburg for a guest lecture from the MAN plant manager. It was interesting to hear how MAN is approaching the EU’s push for electrification, especially since we had already toured their factory earlier in the trip.

Overall, today had a little bit of everything: stunning views, physical activity, a fascinating piece of history, and a business deep dive. The hike might’ve left me a little sore, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.