Today was one of the days I was most looking forward to! Everyone from past years always talked about Neuschwanstein Castle and how it was one of their favorite parts of the trip. The 6:15am departure time was a shock to my system, but excitement and adrenaline kept me awake the whole bus ride until we arrived. The weather outside was pretty chilly and cloudy, but I was relieved that it looked like we would avoid the rain, and the gloominess added to the allure of the castle.

We first stopped and grabbed coffees before making our ascent to the castle. I knew it was a “hike” up, but I think the incline and the distance were downplayed. I think most people in our group were also surprised, so it was a fun opportunity for us all to bond together on the long walk.

The air was so crisp, and as we got higher and higher, the views kept getting better and better. We stopped to take pictures at every chance we could, and I know I’ll be looking back on those for a long time being grateful for this excursion.

The tour of the castle was brief, but perfect. The lavish architecture and decor was a testament to the wealth of Fugger the rich. I really enjoyed the reoccurring symbol of swans in the castle as it added to the fairy-tale allure.

We made the extra trek to the hanging bridge where I took one of my favorite pictures of the castle. With so many people on the hanging bridge, I quickly made my way off because it felt pretty unstable. On our walk back down to the bus, we stopped for “like sweet donuts” which were warm, fluffy, and coated in powdered sugar. I was so hungry and these completely revived me.

We then took the bus to Fussen where we browsed the shops I got a slice of pizza for lunch. It was such a cute little town with so much charm. There was a yard sale happening on the street into the town, and it was cool to see how similar a German market is so similar to one in America. Our last stop was a beautiful Roman Catholic church called Wieskirche. We stopped and listened to the music they were playing and took in the murals and artwork on the ceiling and at the altar. I found the visit to the church very peaceful and centering at time when the trip was beginning to feel chaotic.

After a late night, early morning, and long day, everyone decided on a chill night in which was much needed and appreciated. The sights of today were so magical, and I’ll never forget the hike to the castle or the delicious donuts.