September in Germany

After our little hiking trip in the Alps with friends, we parted our ways to go visit Neuschwanstein Castle.  I am standing on a bridge that overlooks the castle which wooden planks "feel" super unstable.  Usually I am not scared of heights, but this little bridge got me. I look pretty nervous. 

We went up to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to visit the Walker family. We went to the Linderhof Palace, which Kind Ludwig II had built, as well as the Neuschwanstein Castle, but lived in the palace the longest.  Eight years I think?

This is the Christmas Store in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a little town that Pinocchio was designed after. This store is opened year around, super cute!

 Rothenberg ob der Tauber

A wall guards the entire city.

The town has a mechanical clock portraying a drinking scene. Goes off every hour.

Beautiful scenes of the Tauber River.

The Christmas Store. 

And we went to the Medieval Crime Museum, which had witch killing devices and chastity belts.

 Celebrating my 30th birthday.  My mom got me some scarves and warm clothes, so I'd fit in the the crowd. Kate looks good in my scarve!  Bryan got me a purple Garmin watch, so we could use it with all our hiking adventures and races.

 For my birthday we hike with a group of friends to the Zugspitz, the tallest summit in Germany.  We started at the Olympic Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, walked through the Partenkirchen gorge where Kate lost her boot, and hiked a little over 9 miles to Knorrhutte. We spent the night with 16 other people in a room full of connected bunk beds.  Amazingly, Kate did awesome! Went right to sleep!

The second day was rough. Only 2-3 hours of hiking, but only going a distance of 900 meters. Lots of up. This is me on the ridge. I am standing on both Germany and Austria.

 This is Bryan at the true summit, 2962 meters. You have to get a picture with the golden cross to say you did it! The true summit is a little more challenging.  Kate did not go.

 One of the many beautiful pictures of the hike.