2017-09-16 Car? You have a car?

Today was an exciting day for the group and Germany.  They picked up a car.  No more trains for this group.  No, they are now independent.  While they are independent, there was some adjustment issues.  The car agent was surprised to have 4 wet American tourists and their assorted bags show up in her office at 8:00 AM.  It is not a big office and off the beaten path.  It took them 20 minutes to get the bags stuffed in the car and two calls to the agent to come outside and show them how to do something all in the pouring rain.  The group is pretty sure that the agent went home that night and said something to the effect “You are never going to believe who rented a car from me today”.  Eventually, they were off in their BMW sports wagon for their next destination with not one but two navigation systems guiding them.  Ida is the insistent American portable GPS with a rather insistent voice that likes to shout out “Recalculating” and take us through towns.  Helga is the BMW included GPS with a calm British accent that takes a more direct route.

Joyce had planned an introduction to castles on the way to the next stop.  The first castle was one of King Ludwig II’s castles, Herrenchiemsee.

History Moment: Ludwig the II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. He is sometimes called the Swan King, Mad King Ludwig or der Märchenkönig (the ‘Fairy Tale King’). He succeeded to the throne at age 18.  Bavaria became part of the new German Empire led by Prussia.  Ludwig increasingly withdrew from day-to-day affairs of state in favor of extravagant artistic and architectural projects.  Ludwig spent all his royal revenues (although not state funds) on these projects, borrowed extensively, and defied all attempts by his ministers to restrain him. This extravagance was used against him to declare him insane, an accusation which has since come under review.  (More than you wanted to know?)

The only way to get to Herrenchiemsee was via boat.  (Debbie almost had an incident on the boat as a lady cut  the bathroom line – Debbie delivered a stunning stink eye as she stomped back to her seat).  Once to the island, there was a 20 minute walk in the rain.  (Debbie pointed out that they could have taken a covered wagon, if they weren’t so cheap.  Joyce pointed out that walking provides better views.)  Once they arrived at the palace, the line for the tour was also outside in the rain.

Ludwig admired the Sun King, Louis XIV of France.  Herrenchiemsee was in honor of the Sun King.  Ludwig called himself the Moon King.  Anyway, the rooms that were finished before he ran out of money were over the top.  The palace was even more extravagant than Versailles.

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By the way, Helga, the GPS, was abandoned.  Joyce says that she likes Ida better.  (Debbie just thinks that they have a working relationship and that Ida will yell at Joyce.  Joyce knows who is going home with her.)