The hills are alive.
AUSTRIA
(And Back to Germany)
“Jaw-dropping” is the best way to describe what we felt when we caught our first glimpse of the majestic Austrian Alps.
We were extremely pleased when we arrived in Reutte at the Hotel Maximilian, where we managed to get a load of laundry done and enjoyed a lovely self-serve spa experience.
At this point, we were really starting to get into the groove of of things. We realized that a week had already passed by and made sure to keep our minds focused on the experiences that lie ahead.
Hohenschwangau, with Neuschwanstein Castle in the background
Hohenschwangau Castle
The view from atop the 15 minute hike up to Neuschwanstein Castle
The view from atop the 15 minute hike up to Neuschwanstein Castle
Side view of Neuschwanstein Castle
The Front View of Neuschwanstein Castle: Fun Fact: this castle was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland
The interior courtyard of Neuschwanstein Castle once you've entered the grounds; it has been kept in the same family since being built in 1884.
Some great balcony views in Neuschwanstein Castle!
A hillside luge
Group member, Chris (right), and our guide, Tim (left), on the luge
Norm on the luge
Going up the luge!
Our view from the Hotel Maximilian
Notable Moments
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Group Stretching
As we were leaving Austria, a kind stranger snapped our first gruppenfoto that wasn’t taken “selfie-style” after Autumn had led some basic yoga stretches for the group.
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Perfect Photo-Op
Obviously, the tourism department knows what they’re doing here.
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Jacob's Family Business
We both have very German-sounding last names—Hock and Vallandingham— so we kept our eyes peeled throughout our trip for potential kin. We found it hilarious when we saw Jacob’s last name spackled in bold on another tour bus!