May 13: We arrived in Munich after an overnight flight on Continental. We straggled out of the airport and onto the tour bus for a private city tour that included the Bavarian State Opera House, the Nymphenburg Palace, the Olympic Park and the site of the famous Oktoberfest. We checked into the Hotel Regent across the street from the Munich train station. It was clean and okay for our one night in Munich. We dined the first night at the Augustiner Tavern near the hotel. Great beer and good German food.
May14: After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we boarded the bus for three spectacular venues--Cloister Ettal, Linderhoff Palace and Neuschwanstein, the "new swan" castle of mad King Ludwig II. The hike up to Neuschwanstein had not gotten easier with the years, but it was a spectacular view from the top. This castle, which inspired Walt Disney in creating the Magic Kingdom castle, continues to charm millions of visitors. A buggy ride back down the mountain was easier than the climb up.
May 15: For the Sportshotel in Innsbruck, we headed out on a city tour of the Baroque-style Dom St. Jacob and the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum. We lunched at McDonald's before heading out to Wattens for a visit to Swarovski's Crystal World, a museum, art gallery and showroom for the famous crystal. Prices in the showroom are not significantly cheaper than in the U.S., but the selection is enormous.
May 16: The 8-hour Passion Play was very moving but the weather was icy. A fleece jacket bought at intermission helped. The package bought for the play included lunch at a local restaurant, followed by the first four hours of the play. At intermission, dinner is served at the same restaurant and then the audience returns for the second half of the play. The play is beautifully staged and acted. The problem of following the story in German is mitigated somewhat by printed copies of the dialogue in English. Overall, a wonderful experience.
Our hotel for the two-night stay at the Passion Play was in the nearby village of Bad Bayosein. I was assigned to the Kurbad Am Park, a small bed and breakfast in. My roommate and I were served a wonderful breakfast each morning in our suite by the proprietor and her husband. The menu included homemade preserves, and best of all, homemade cheese.
May 17: We drove through the Bavarian Alps to Salzburg where we visited Mirabelle Gardens, Mozart's birthplace and shopped for Mozart chocolates. The highlight of the all-too-short visit was the evening at the Augustiner brewery where we enjoyed beer made by monks and authentic German food. Our hotel, the Mercure, was not exactly centrally located but worked well for the short stay.
May 18: We found Melk Abbey after a quite and adventure, which included backing the bus down a hillside with cars parked on both sides. At the Abbey, our tour featured the baroque library and chapels of one of Europe's most beautiful monasteries. We then boarded our boat for the Danube River cruise to Krems. Along the way enjoyed wonderful desserts. We arrived at Vienna's Hotel Regina late in the afternoon. Our room overlooked the magnificent Votiv Kirche. Dinner was at a local pizzeria
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May 19: We toured the Vienna Opera House and Schoenbrunn Palace, summer home of the Hapsburgs, before stopping to see the famous Lippinzzaner Stallions at their stables. After the official tour ended, we visited St. Stephen's Cathedral and had lunch at McDonald's. Then it was off to the Imperial Winter Palace where we saw the spoils of the Hapsburg Empire. Quite a display. The day concluded with a concert at the Musikverein Brahms Hall with the Vienna Mozart Orchestra dressed in period costumes.
May 20: The day began at 6 a.m. with a phone call telling us that our flight had been canceled. We went on to Frankfurt where we were re-booked on a Lufthansa flight the next day. Continental kindly put us up at the Steigneberger Hotel near the airport--perhaps the best hotel of the trip. Our dinner that evening was also complimentary and we enjoyed a terrific meal in the hotel's German restaurant.
May 21: After a flight from Frankfurt punctuated by a lightening strike as we landed in Atlanta, we made it home at 10 p.m. A great, but exhausting trip.
