Page 212 - WDT INTERACTIVE

It wasn’t until later I learned there’s nothing at with Radius Tours, talked about cows herded down
all Medieval about Neuschwanstein. Nor is it very from summer pastures and the tradition of village “Mai
historic. It was built using the steam-powered Baum,” a civic sign in totem pole form. To the west and
equipment of the late 19th century. Even the Disney south, the Alps rose up.
connection is sketchy. Accord- Visiting Neuschwanstein
ing to Disney archives, it’s more requires commitment. Not only
likely that Disney designers is it a 90-minute bus ride from
Herb Ryman and Bill Martin Munich (Radius and other tour
added the Neuschwanstein groups also offer a train/shuttle-
look to Cinderella’s or Sleeping bus combination; there are even
Beauty’s castles, not Walt. bike tours) but also it’s about
But I can attest that, after a mile-long, up-hill walk to the
a second trip, the romantic castle from Hohenschwangau.
appeal endures. And my fellow Shuttle buses are available as
sightseers agreed: Said Mary are horse-drawn carriages but,
Anne Bielaccys from Michigan: as romantic as carriage rides
“I like anything about castles. appear, lines can be long (more
And I want to get pictures for than 60 would-be passengers
my granddaughter. This was were waiting when we arrived).
the model for Sleeping Beauty’s And no matter how you get to the
Castle and all little girls are castle gates, there are still many
princesses.” stone steps to climb to reach
It was cloudy and grey my the furnished rooms. Meanwhile,
first time; this September, skies were clear and the air the most iconic, panoramic view is another 10-minute
was dry. I wore shorts and a T-shirt. We left Munich uphill walk to a bridge that overlooks the castle and
around 10:00; soon we were in a countryside dotted the surrounding landscape.
with red-tiled barns. Danielle “Dani” Bohn, our guide We were game for the climb so we walked the wide

212 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018