Experiencing the Best of Europe
Day 7: Rabbits vs. Turtles
“The journey not the arrival matters.” – T. S. Eliot
Best Moments
1. Picnic by the castles and lake with the swans
2. Climbing up to Mary's bridge to look over the castles
3. Luge ride with the luge warrior, Shelli, and the extreme rabbits Jennifer and Rene
4. Our group photo with the castle in the background
Daily Recap
*We slept in Austria, but we crossed back over to Germany for the day's itinerary.
*We boarded the bus and drove to Schwangau to explore magical castles. I was thrilled to see Mad King Ludwig's castle, but I was not as thrilled to see the scaffolding around it. Before going to this castle, we began with Schwangau. I loved the room with the stars above. The little holes were illuminated by the men above that held candles over the imitation sky. It was way cooler than glow in the dark stars.
*Climbing up to Mary's bridge was a highlight. It offers a great view of the land.
*We came together around the lake for lunch. The clear, blue lake encourages picnicking.
*The afternoon capped off the day with our luge ride. The only thing to ask yourself is: are you a rabbit or a turtle?
Personal Connections
*Today we sat on the bus, closer than ever. The buddy introductions the night before gave light to each individual a little more. We made a pit stop to capture a group photo. I don't know if there could be a better backdrop.
*Riding the luge is another way to reveal personalities. We were asked if we were rabbits or turtles and lined up accordingly. Of course I am a rabbit. Unfortunately, the rabbit in front of me went speeding off the track. Luckily I was able to stop before running her over. Warning: be a cautious rabbit.
*That night I walked with Ed and Cheryl to the downtown area of Reutte. We enjoyed some wine before returning back. I love that I can hang out with anyone from the group and feel comfortable and welcomed. This may be the best way to travel independently.
Stub Hub
The place we went luge riding also had other recreational activities. This is where the motivation for paragliding comes from. A few of us shared our interest in paragliding with Jennifer. She recommended we wait till the Alps. I was ecstatic!
I love Ludwig's eccentricity. He was a man that never seemed to grow up and enjoyed living in a fantasy. Perhaps he was mad, but at least he was interesting.