15th May 2016 (cloudy and cold with rain 9C) 6km

Woke after a nice night’s sleep.  Today we were intending to head to Chiemsee to see the palace of King Ludwig II, the same guy who built Neuchwanstein.  The word is that he really went overboard decorating this place, so that should be interesting. As Harald was going to the rock climbing wall this morning, Elvira suggested that we breakfast around 10.30am. This suited us fine as Julia wanted to get into Rosenheim to take some photographs. This particular town means something to her as her Dad was sent here at the end of 1944, to a forced labour camp.  

Julia at the site of the forced labour camp with the mustard coloured Auerbrau brewerybeyond

He had however, fond memories of the place and the people who lived here and had discussed certain landmarks, which we hoped to find. Outside it was 6 degrees at 9am and after a long hot New Zealand summer, it felt freezing.  

Cycled a short distance and located where the labour camp used to be by the side of the railway tracks.  We weren’t absolutely sure if it was on one side of the bridge, or if you had to pass under the bridge, but there was a cycle track that took us to both positions so we photographed both to show Karel when we get home.  To be honest, it doesn’t look like it has changed that much from those days as the land is just derelict but apparently there are going to be houses built on this land soon. 

The brewery Dad walked past every day from his work at the railways back to the labour camp

Off up the road to locate the Auerbrau brewery, which still remains to this day, some 71 years later and is still the same colour as Karel described it.  Onto the railway station where the old air raid shelter had been situated and had just been destroyed last year after much local debate as to whether to keep it or not.  We took some more photos of a building we both presumed would have stood in that era and would have been impressive, but now was derelict.  The old town was next. 

The rain was threatening and it was cold riding along. Took a number of photos here of buildings that Karel would most likely have walked past many times. The rain had finally arrived as we rode through the streets snapping here and there. I could tell it meant a lot to Ju, to be in the town her Dad had spent part of the war in. After a couple more shots we headed for the warmth of the house.

The heat hit us as we stepped inside and it was nice to be warm again. The ride today would be a long cold one. The guys had discussed riding to the palace with us, which would ease our direction problems. It’s been strange, but we have had more problems finding our way out of smaller towns, than larger ones. Elvira was cooking breakfast downstairs and it smelled delicious. Over breakfast she suggested that because the weather was going to be really miserable today, that we stay and maybe take the train to the Palace and come back to Rosenheim and then stay another night with them.  We have been blown away by people’s hospitality and friendship on this trip so far, long may it continue!  The three of us sat talking and were still going when Harald arrived back from climbing after 12pm. He took us to the station at 1 pm where, after some discussion with the lady in the booth, got us the best priced tickets. Stood in the warmth of the shop there until the train came at 1.34pm. First time travelling by train for years and these are plush compared to the trains I used to travel on in my youth, in England. After a 15 minute ride, we arrived at our destination.

Herrenchiemsee Palace

Took a 20 minute walk down to the lake. The palace is situated on one of the islands in the lake and we timed it perfectly, stepping aboard a packed boat.  Short stint to the island and we disembarked and bought tickets for an English tour.  This was beginning at 3.15pm, it was now nearly 2.40pm. 

King Ludwig was very fond of fountains

Took some shots of the gardens and magnificent fountains before wandering inside for the tour. No other English folk there, although there were Norwegians and African etc.  We had heard from various people, including some back home, how extravagant this place was, but it was really over the top and no surprise that he ran out of money.  Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos, even without a flash so that was a bit disappointing. 

Like Neuschwanstein, he never finished building and it seems such a waste to begin a project like that, to only half finish the job.  Obviously never learned about budgeting in school? Our guide Eva was rattling off the info and very interesting it was too. You cannot begin to describe how lavish it is with painted walls, porcelain chandeliers, bohemian crystal chandeliers, huge mirrors, clocks, suites of all varieties. But at the end of 

the day, it was all based around a fetish 

An example of one of the lavish rooms

that he had for Louis Fourteenth. Very strange, as he had lived two hundred years earlier…and was French?  So really it was no surprise to discover that Ludwig and his doctor were found dead in the lake. Never discovered what happened, but theories exist!

After visiting an exhibition adjoining the palace we ventured to the monastery, but this was just ok, compared to what we had just seen. 

Leaving the dock of the island the Palace is located on - glad we weren't cycling today!

The boat left shortly after we reached it and we walked back to the railway station. Had to wait half an hour for the train before we were whisked back to Rosenheim and completed the afternoon with a walk back to the house. Decided to visit a Greek restaurant, owned by some friends of Harald and Elvira, where we enjoyed a delicious meal over good company, before returning home to look at some photographs of their cycling adventures in places like Rwanda and Argentina. They certainly go off the beaten track and are true adventurers. Usually spending five or six weeks on the road. By the time we’d finished and got into bed it was 1am.