Hello again, my lovely people!
It seems I was here recently and returned again, because a person who had been in Munich, met her 30th birthday and fulfilled her small but cherished dream, could not remain silent and probably should not…therefore I decided to share my story, my magical Munich and much more…
Have you ever noticed what the background of my blog looks like (if you read it from a lap-top, not a phone)?? Yes, it always snows here but that’s not the point. The main thing is in the fairy-tale castle, which all the time is hiding behind the curtains of my poetic thoughts. And the name of this castle is Neuschwanstein.
It’s been a long time I wanted to see it and not only on the page of my blog, but to see it alive and while I was participating Elena Blinovskaya marathon back in spring 2019, I wrote down one of my desires: to meet my 30 years next to the castle. I doubted for a long time whether it was worth it as already good amount of money was spent on my European tour in August of this year (Finland, Estonia, France, Italy), but my excuses were not as strong as my dream and desire and, immediately returning from Italy, I bought a ticket to Munich (as it turned out later, the most expensive city of Germany).
My birthday was in October the 12th, and I flew to my destination a day in advance, on Friday, October 11.
Crossing the border was already a kind of stress for me. The thing is that we stood in a line for quite some time, the Germans asked EVERY Russian for the purpose of the trip, return ticket, hotel reservation… and as about me – I booked the hotel for 2 nights in Füssen, but I was going to stay in Munich with a stranger, more precisely with a German woman whom I found through couchsurfing. What I should have had: reservation, exact address. What I actually had: an unknown person, her phone, no address as she said she would meet me at her swimming pool on the appointed day and time.
I was staying in the line for passport control, and my mind had already drawn my future:
“what does it mean, you have no address?? I mean, you don’t know her at all?? Miss, I am afraid the road to Germany is closed for you. Police, take that Natasha from Russia! ”)))) I started queueing as a rather happy person with popping eyelashes and an open heart, but the line made me a tortured person, immersed in stress and disappointment, haha…
That was my expectations but reality was different:
a stunningly handsome German guy asks the purpose of my trip, everything went according to plan, then he was given a return ticket for the plane. I said that the ticket was in Russian language, to which he replied that the main thing for him was to see the date of my departure from Germany (oh, well, of course)). And here I passed the exam. Here I was, in horror that now he was going to ask about the hotel, shaking with a bunch of papers, I did it beautifully, at ease (in my expectations, but in reality – a real circus and laughter)))) and in addition, so that he definitely would not bother me with his questions, I said that the day after was my birthday and I came to see the castle. Bingo! The young man puts a stamp, smiled to me and wished a wonderful birthday. Obviously the passport with my date of birth in his hands was very helpful. However all this situation was really unpleasant, someone in the line even said that they were taking revenge on us for the war (everyone in the line was Russian).
Then I had a quest which was to find a train going to the city center, buy a ticket and take the right direction. Two information points were empty, there was not a single person there. It’s great that Germans speak perfect English. I asked one person, the second one, the third person… I followed the signs with the image of the train, I bought a ticket , the so-called Bavarian ticket, for 27 euros, which I could use to get to the city center, and then follow with it to Füssen. Hurrah!
Look at the pointers and signs on the photo on which I laid my route (the image of the train and the letter S were my guiding stars at that moment)
This is the place where I got my ticket (however there isn’t myself on the photo)
And I would also like to show you a very creative window-shopping of one of the shops at the airport. At least I liked it:
The train took me to the city center in an hour or less, I didn’t notice, and I got off at the München HBF station.
While traveling, I did not observe any special beauties, and therefore immediately began my story meaning I started writing this article in order to not lose time. I know – crazy me, never have time to relax nd rest 🙂
I didn’t have much time for a walk, because I arrived at 13:30 and I needed to have at least two hours for the way to to Füssen and you may not believe me but the hotel in Füssen sent me 6 emails!!! saying that after 19:00 the reception will be closed and I couldn’t check in after. Frankly speaking, their perseverance scared me and I decided not to come there late because although it seemed like a very funny and interesting adventure to meet the 30th birthday at night on the street without a place to sleep at, but my old age made me preferring a warm comfortable bed, comfort and four walls around me))
Here is the message received 6 times by me:
therefore, after taking a walk around the station, seeing a street of shops, I recharged with a wonderful European-Bavarian atmosphere and returned to the train station.
If you ever need to use this station, I advise you to come in advance. I don’t know how many platforms there are, but I needed the 31st so it’s quite big. By the way, I want to tell you a funny story which I think I have not shared here before and I think it deserves some attention.
A couple of years ago I visited my Ukrainian friends in Hanover (Germany as well), and one day i decided to travel to the suburbs. I bought a ticket valid (if I am not mistaken) for 2 zones only, and I probably had to go to the 4th zone. My friend X. (let’s call her that way))) seemed to say that the ticket was correct, but then she began to doubt and when I was already on the train, she left me with the words: “if they check your ticket and there is something wrong, you are a tourist! Remember that! They’ll forgive you. Just pretend you don’t know foreign languages!” You should have seen my face expression at that moment… half the way I was under big pressure and stress and then I saw HIM. It was a controller appeared on the horizon…before I blinked, the German stood in front of me and asked for my ticket. Then he told me that I bought a ticket for less zones and I had to pay a fine. To which I (the former English teacher), having distorted my grammar a little and said “sorry, no speak English I” then, oh Gods, he spoke to me in French (the language I could also speak). I pretended not to understand the languege of love, baguettes, croissants and the Eiffel Tower))) and then he switched to Italian (and I knew that language too!!!), what a polyglot!! It was just a worker on the train. I thought it was a practical joke program. Realizing that I knew the only language – Russian, he led me to the map and explained how much I was wrong, I paid extra for the necessary zones, but without a penalty. Thanks to the acting talent, the German train-worker and my friend X. for her advice))))
In general, everything was fine in Munich, the only thing I was told to write my name on the ticket, which I did not do before the check, but only after…
This ticket is for the way back and for a different date but I attached it here so you could have an idea of how it looks like.
And here are a couple of photos taken on the way from Munich
Füssen … these letters are already very important to my heart. How beautiful the city is! It’s just beyond words. As soon as I arrived there I remembered that only mountains can be better than mountains. To enter the city, you will need to go along the platform, through a small shop and you are in the city.
Since my check-in was strictly until 19:00, I, first of all, went to the hotel.
It was a bit scary when, having passed the central part of Füssen (and already admiring its stunning beauty), I realized that the path to my “house” lied through a small park with a narrow path, near the cold-emerald river Lech. It was beautiful, alluring, magical – yes! But I was not pleased with the thought of walking here in the evening when it’s dark. Although, when I was settled at the hotel, they reassured me that the town was small, quiet, and besides, the lamps in the park would be turned on. And so it happened.
I stopped at the place called Gastehaus Sarkt Ulmrich. It was absolutely valuable for the money paid and I was very pleased! The friendly lady at the reception answered my 1000 and 1 questions, gave me different cards and one of them was Fussen card that provided me with some discounts and bonuses of various kinds + free transport in the city, although it is so small that you can walk it. If I understood correctly, this card is given to each guest in hotels and, upon departure, you return it at the reception. In my opinion, it’s a very nice bonus.
My room was light, with good new furniture, clean and spacious. Actually, I don’t know what to complain about. Everything was perfect! And very clean which is important to me. Thanks to the guesthouse for the comfort and warmth provided! Though I felt a bit strange that there was a big cross on the wall and the only book in the room was Bible.
And my balcony had a view of two houses so I could definitely wish for a better one but I had no time to sit on the balcony to contemplate anything…
After checking in, I went for a walk around the city. It was quite cold. I didn’t take warm things with me, alas. And the people passing by with their jackets on (and I was in a blouse), scarves, only strengthened my feeling of “brrrr, how comes, how cold”))))
But, despite this moment, I just got a tremendous impression of the compactness, beauty and style of the city. Without further ado, I provide you, my dears, with a photoset:
Mushrooms in the city center
How beautifully decorated the building on the photo above!
Window of the “Glass shop”. I found it creative.
And then the 12th of October arrived, my 30th birthday. I used to think that 30 years old ment you’re not alive anymore, it’s such a terrible age, so old)) but, as it turned out, nothing really changed. It was the same cheerful me, still healthy, my bones did not break)))
When I booked a room in the guest house it was said that “amazing breakfast” was included in the price. I won’t hide it that I was waiting for a big surprise, couldn’t wait to see the breakfast. Honestly it was really good. The assortment included omelet, bacon, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, bread and rolls of various kinds, small croissants, yogurt, several types of jam, nutella, fresh fruits, granola, cereal, cheese and meat cuts. There was quite a wide selection of everything, but I do not know why breakfast should be called amazing…
After the “food feast” I went to conquer the peaks, fulfill my dreams, more precisely I went to the swan castle, for which I started it all.
You can take the bus number 78 which goes from Füssen to the castle and its stop located directly opposite the train station in Füssen. You will easily find it. “Via castles” was written on the bus.
There was a nice bonus that I could use the local transport for free, which I did with the Füssen card (which I was given at the hotel and told you about earlier) . You need to present the card to the driver who will scan it and escorted you with the word “danke schön”.
Arriving at the destination, almost everyone runs to the ticket office. Then you need to stay in the queue. I was staying there for about 20 minutes and please note that I went out of the season and quite early in the morning, that is, in the summer afternoon, you will be staying much longer, plan your route in advance!
Of course, I said that it was my birthday and asked for a discount as a gift. “Insolence” is my middle name. But this time they rejected my request. Though I had a discount of 2 euro with Füssen’s card (I was mentioning earlier) therefore two castles cost me 23 euro.
They made some notes on my flyer where I could see the time of my audio-excursions.
And it’s very easy to find the way to both castles and not only…
I did not take a ticket to the Bavarian Museum. You can get to the castle only by taking a ticket with an audio guide. Of course, they have audio in Russian! In fact I constantly heard Russian, wherever I went there. It even seemed to me that I met more Russians than Germans during my trip in Bavaria.
I won’t tell everything that I learned from the excursions, I will only say that in one of the rooms of the first castle (smaller one – Hohenschwangau) there was a small presentation called “bread and salt”, which in 1891 was presented to the Bavarian king in St. Petersburg. It was strictly forbidden to take pictures there and I did not break the rules. The guide told me: “Miss, are you from Russia? Then should this be familiar to you? ”And he pointed to the Russian bread and to the plate with a picture of famous Russian monument. It was very nice. By the way, we used an unusual version of the audio guide or maybe it’s quite ordinary but I have never come across such a thing. A German local guide was entering all the rooms with us and in each single room he used his special “tube-radio”, seemed to give out a signal through bluetooth to play audio in our “guides” and so on in every room. It was a very nice man in his 60-ties who knew how to smile “according to the protocol.”
So, I will tell you a few facts, the necessary information when visiting the castle and my personal thoughts made on this trip.
I kind of went to the place only because of the castle, but what kind of nature was there!!! Oh my God!! It was breathtaking, head was spinning, my eyes were full of shock and surprise, it all seemed like a dream. This is a fairy tale in reality. There was a foliage shimmering with shades of greenery, warm ocher, crimson fringe, golden sun interspersed with cold colours of the lake. Still, nature is the best artist! What a taste, what a composition and greatness in all this!
I want to share my own interesting thought that came to me during the trip. When I already saw the castle next to me and moved away from it, to the observation deck (one of them), I was staying, adrmiring the beauty and just enjoying the view. There were a lot of people around, everyone was taking selfies and ordinary photos, and there were two girls standing next to me. They seemed to be 5 and 7 years old. The one who was younger sincerely and bewildered asked the other one: “I don’t understand! Tell me what is so beautiful here ?? Why is everyone in love with such a view?” Obviously, after such words I was simply confined to their conversation. The “elder” answered her: “you simply do not know how to see beauty! You don’t understand it! ”(Conversation of preschoolers!) And then, after a while it turned out that the youngest girl was looking ahead and saw nearby bushes, nothing particularly interesting when there was a view of the lake, foliage and mountains on the right side, such a fantastic view and, in the end, our little critic said: “ahhh, well, yes, it is beautiful! I was just looking in front of me and I’m small, I don’t see the lake well as it’s a bit far from me” At that moment, I realized that very often we simply don’t see the beautiful things around us because we are looking in front of us or under our feet and sometimes we just need to make a slight turn of our heads to the side and we will see an amazing mystery, many opportunities, a new life, and we instead, like that little girl asking what is there to admire.
At the souvenir shop at the castle.
A bit scaring way from the castle.
I took a small packet of cookies and a banana with me on my hike. Of course the food near to the castle was quite expensive and I doubte its quality and taste very much. Nearby they were selling hamburgers, sausages in pastry, ice cream, there was a restaurant nearby. It was my birthday and I did not plan to save money, but, nevertheless, I did not want to eat there. The only thing I bought was three donuts for 3 euro. This delicacy was fatty, soft, tender, sprinkled with sugar. It was really fresh and warm. I liked it a lot!
By the way there were carriages with the horses taking tourists to the castle, so I advise you to look down time from time. There are some unexpected and very “aromatic” brown creatures on the roads. And if you are too lazy, you can comfortably get to the castle by carriage. Such a pleasure costs about 5 euro or something…I’m not really sure, I walked everywhere because I love walking and because at every opportunity I try to balance my sedentary lifestyle, office life.
By the way I couldn’t wait to see the castle so instead of 40 minutes (as the map suggestsed), I managed to reach my destination for 20 minutes! I’d like to note that it was not easy for me and my heart was beating so much. I still have no explanaition why time from time I do this to myself.
I would also like to warn you that it is better to go to the castle in comfortable shoes and clothes. And I must say that even in October (considered not a high season), in order to get to the bridge which overlooks the Neuschwanstein assembly, I had to stand in the queue for about 30 minutes.
The next photo showing the same queue but closer to the brigde. You can already see it!
And the view from the bridge
By the way if talking about queueing there: on the ticket you will see the number of your audio guide / pass and the turnstile will not let you go to the castle earlier than the appointed time, only exactly a minute-per-minute or a little later, but not earlier. I tried to go two minutes earlier, the turnstile showed a red man and did not open its “door” to me…
when your time comes, the person on the screen will be green and you will easily pass
I want to talk about how quickly some of my dreams can come true. After all my walks, I went to sit near the magical lake. Moreover, the lake was not small and I chose a more secluded place.
I was sitting, enjoying the moment, looking around and thinking to myself: “this is a fairy tale! Natasha, this is a fairy tale! Next time you should definitely come here with a photographer! It’s compulsory for you! Even if it happens in 5-10 years that would be great!” After literally 5-10 minutes after this monologue in my head, a girl appeared on the horizon, or rather, 5 meters from me. She was taking pictures of the lake, water, branches on her phone but she was doing it in a very specific way like a professional photographer. I was sitting, looking at her and thinking: “should I ask her to photograph me or not, what to do, hmmm”. Finally I asked her to take a picture of me and, in the process of conversation, I found out that she was Russian, native Petersburger and a PHOTOGRAPHER-artist!!))) and Katya (that was her name) was planning to move to Italy while also speaking German, English, French and Italian. It was almost like I met myself there, hahah. And Photographer! How comes?!
After talking to her I found so much in common with the girl. It’s interesting that she managed to come to this place for the first time in 6 years and I came to the lake at that very moment, not earlier or later… (some of you will definitely think “Oh, come on! It should have been a man! Why don’t you meet a man this way))) Well, actualy I met a man on the trip as well, but probably he wasn’t good enough, hahah so no worries. I don’t meet only girls while traveling)
Once again, I have no words to describe how greatful I am to the Universe that after sitting there and wishing to visit such a beautiful place with a photographer, I met a photographer in a few minutes. My wish came to reality instantly! Well, I had to slightly modify my wish because I wanted a professional photo session in a beautiful dress or in a creative way, with makeup, etc. but I am also very happy with such a miracle happened to me!
Surprisingly to myself, I left the place with some difficulties. There was a huge queue for the bus and I did not get on the first one, I had to stand, wait for the second though not for a very long time.
The evening was wonderful, but I won’t write about it, because I’m horrified to think how much time it will take (+ an article in Russian language + to put all the photos, etc.)
I’m going to Munich at the moment. By the way, remember, I said that I had to stay with the German lady through couchsurfing. She told me that her friend was recovering after the operation, and if he would be strong enough, he would come to stay with her and I would have to look for an alternative in this case. But at the same time, she assured me that she would very much like to get to know me and that it was extremely unlikely that her friend would come to her house at that period of time. I just trusted in fate, I was sure that everything would be fine and did not look for alternatives. In the evening, the night before my arrival she wrote me that a friend would occupy “mine” = “his” sofa and I would remain without a place to stay.
And so I was going to Munich that time without knowing where I will be staying. It’s quite strange for me because I used to plan such things way in advance. The road to Munich flew by unnoticed because I was writing my blog, looking around on juicy-green fields, cozy Bavarian houses, some cows and sheep. And, according to my own tradition, I bothered a German sitting next to me, asking where I should have left the train (I should have had a train change but had no idea where exactly), then I asked him if he looked correctly on the Internet because my station (the one he suggested to me) was not on the electronic route display.
As it turned out, the stations were appearing there only closer to the stop. The situation was very cute because the German, despite his engagement ring and his status, trembled and blurred in a smile when I asked him a question and when I went out, said goodbye to me like we were good old friends.
So, Munich … I won’t write about everything by days and minutes, but simply mention the points that I managed to visit and that I can advise you to see.
1. BMW Museum and BMW Welt. These were modern buildings which design had already deserved special attention.
They were located near the Olympic Park. The ticket price per adult (in both parts together) for October 2019 was 10 euro, which, in my opinion, was not expensive for such museums.
The museums present car models of BMW brand from the old days to the present and even to the future. You can trace the history of the brand, see different types of cars, learn a lot about Formula 1, see details and BMW engines there. You can even sit in some cars and feel as an owner there.
However I was really sorry for myself and the reason was that I was not good at cars at all and could not understand and appreciate as much as I could have, but the museum certainly impressed me. Here are some photos:
The photo above was taken in one of museum’s cafe which design reminded me of my mother-land.
2. The Olympic park. I did not plan to visit it but the weather was amazing for mid-October (+ 23C) and during my walk in the park I suddently found myself next to the stadium. Immediately a wave of emotions and memories swept over me, I remembered how I was dancing 7 years ago at the opening ceremony in London. Somehow I came to the Munich Olympic stadium when the marathon was currently taking place…
3. Old Pinakothek. Honestly, I never enjoyed visiting two museums a day, and this day was no exception. I literally came to the second museum for an hour, not more. I was told that a ticket cost 1 euro on Sunday so I decided to use this opportunity at least for getting an idea of what it’s like. I looked at the first floor (there were temporarily paintings from the 18-19th centuries, because another pinakothek was closed for restoration). I saw several paintings by Van Gogh, Manet and Monet, Cézan, Gauguin…
4. The library of Munich. This is a place that is definitely worth a visit, although to my shame, I did not fully complete the mission. It was evening, I had already reached about 23 km of walking on that day and I was really exhausted, and there were other things ahead of me, so I just looked briefly at this building. Already from the threshold, the stairs looked impressive.
Unfortunately I was not allowed to go into the halls with books, because I had a handbag and even it was insignificantly small and filled to the bottom they did not allow me to go to the heart of the library.
5. Crazy ice cream maker. (Der verrückte Eismacher — im Wunderland which is located at the following address: Amalienstraße 77, 80799 München)
This is the name of a very popular gelateria of Munich. It’s known for its unusual flavours. This gelateria was on my list “must visit” even before I arrived in the city. I took a rather modest and quite usual but delicious flavours such as: a mix of figs, dates and something else.
And also I could try a spoon of something unusual. I took a guacamole-flavored gelato as a sample, and the second spoon was with beer-flavored. Both tastes were very unusual and cool but I did not like it at all. Frankly speaking I can hardly stand the taste and smell of beer and that ice cream tasted just like beer. I wondered, by the way, whether there was alcohol in it.
What I can say: it’s definitely worth visiting such a place at least once and try creativity and its taste.
6. I was very surprised by two cathedrals, in which they combined what seemed to be incongruous. I have traveled a lot and have never seen such a collaboration: contemporary art intertwined with religion. Here are some photos of the installation presented there:
And in the next cathedral there were corns and flying wings of angels. Here it is:
The same installation during evening time:
7. Mmmmmm … Munich. I tried different things in Bavarian capital during these two days. I’ll tell you what I really liked. This is just the exact opposite of healthy eating and I can’t imagine how my body was shocked with such a huge difference of eating style. Indeed, in Russia I mostly eat fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, nothing oily and fry, but when I travel to Europe … I become another person, haha
This time, for example, I once had breakfast with a freshly baked waffle filled with chocolate and salted caramel. Incredibly sweet, soft, tasty, there were a lot of calories! Did I blame myself at that moment? Oh yes, of course!! But I received tremendous pleasure. The cost of such a waffle was 3.5 euros
Another day I bought a banana but it was sprinkled with milk chocolate and subsequently frozen. It was also delicious and very sweet. Did I blame myself? Oh yes … but it was mmmm delicious!! The cost of the banana was also 3.5 euros (if I remember well). And I actually thought about the cost of it and that if I did the same at home it would be much more cheaper but anyway I did enjoy it a lot.
The famous German pretzel (or bretzel).
I had a wish of trying it during the whole trip but I put it off and, on the last day of my stay before going to the airport I finally bought a pretzel and it was not a plain one but with cheese. Honestly I was not that much impressed because it was not a waffle with chocolate, haha. In fact, it seemed to me that it was not very fresh, the cheese was hard and so the dough was. And being honest it was painful and hard to bite with my braces. Anyway I was satisfied I had done it!
Also, when I was shopping the day before I left for Russia, I came across a wonderful premium-class Dutch cheese shop. Every cheese was tasting there!
I tried Dutch cheese with herbs and garlic, pesto, pumpkin, lavande, red pepper, honey, rosemary, coconut, smoked cheese and probably something else. They also had various jams, mustard, cheese sauces presented with small cubes in order to try.
In addition to that the lover of bakery, sweets and the enemy of healthy eaiting (talking about myself in Europe) had an opportunity to go to a cafe (my Munich-Petersburg friend took me there), where you are given homemade bread (a large cut piece) with cream on top of it (there was tuna, there were honey and mustard and other flavour). I chose a cream with cheese and salmon. It was delicious and soft but since I hardly eat any bread at home there were too much of bakery products in one trip. I must say I love travelling madly but it seems to me that my body no longer shares this delight over my eating outside Russia.
and you can see us in the mirror on the photo above 🙂
8. I was very pleased with the street musians who I met and listened to every single evening (well, I have spent only 4 evenings there). There were a German pianist and harpist while another day I met the Russian team with a balalaika and other musical instruments. All of them were unique and inimitable in their way. It only supported the image of the fabulous Munich.
9. A spiral staircase called Rewriting. I purposefully went to the place just in order to see this art-object.
The stairs were behind this colourful building
10. And obviously I couldn’t resist of mentioning such a beauty as Marienplaz and the Old Town (Neues Rathaus) located there.
And a bit more of photos taken in Munich:
I arrived to the city just a few days after Octoberfest finished. However as I said earlier I wasn’t a big fan of beer, not at all.
I was really thankfull to Bavaria, Germany, the Universe for such incredible weather and sunny days as there was rain and temperature was colder just before my arrival to the country.
Another queue to another gelateria.
In the subway
I’m not showing my legs but presenting you the fact that European youth do not really care about opinions of others. After all, a girl has a hole in her pants not from great fashion and trends. And she was sitting absolutely calm, did not cover her knee, because I suppose she didn’t care what others thought about it and she was confident. I hope I could be just like her. I found it impressive. Nevertheless, her legs position did not give any impression of confidence but I will not develop this topic in more details on my blog.
It’s a shop of glasses and I am not sure why the girl should show a bit of her boobs here. Germany… hahah
Bavarian costume (the photo above)
This is not a very traditional costume like the other one but still I wanted to share it on the blog
Now, having returned home, I want to say that it was a rather expensive present that I made for my birthday, but undoubtedly it was worth all the money spent because emotions are much more expensive and more important than money. Moreover, how wonderful it is to fulfill a dream on the 30th anniversary! I am so happy, Immensely happy!
30 years old … it seems to me that quite a lot of people do not understand me and my lifestyle! 30 years is such a mature age many would say! At this point of live people already have clear goals, stable work, family, children, some have loans, a mortgagem etc. I don’t seem to have anything like that, nothing keeps me anywhere, but am I happy ?? Surely yes! And, perhaps, I do not have savings, many things, foundation, but how much happiness, emotions, impressions, surprises, discoveries and love for everything and everyone I have inside me! I would like to live a long, long time, but somehow I thought and realized that if I had only a few days or hours left to live I would not regret what happened in my life and I can already say that my 30 years have been such a fairy tale and I hope that it will always be like that, but even better and greater.
With much love, from The Planet Earth.