My next trip: Austria & Southern Bavaria

In April I will be attending a conference in Innsbruck, Austria. I thought that it would be nice to have a look around the area, before and/or after the 5-day conference. I've already been to both Austria and Germany, but there are many places I haven't visited in both countries, including this Alpine town famous for its ski facilities. 

Innsbruck

One of the places I'd really like to visit in Europe, but where I doubt I would go unless I am already in the area for other reasons, is Neuschwanstein Castle, built by mad King Ludwig in the 19th century, and which has inspired Walt Disney. While researching this beauty, I realized that it is much easier to reach the castle from Munich than from Innsbruck, in spite of the fact that it's very close to the Austrian border. 

Neuschwanstein Castle in Southern Bavaria (courtesy of google)

This is why I decided to spend a weekend in Munich, where I also have a friend. I was in Munich once when I was sixteen, but I only remember a rushed bus itinerary through the city, a quick visit to Marienplatz and then a long afternoon in a museum, the Alte Pinakothek. This time I intend to get a better look at this city, and to report to you of course.



A view of Munich



I always say that I'm a fan of travelling everywhere, but that I prefer southern Europe to Central Europe. In spite of that, I went to Slovenia recently, which is technically Central Europe, and I loved it! During this trip I hope to get stuffed with pretzels and weisswurst, while sipping excellent beers and looking at baroque architecture. I wonder if during the train and bus rides I will be offered beautiful landscapes. They certainly were incredible on the train ride from Venice to Vienna...

After the conference I will hop on a local train and visit Salzburg, a UNESCO world heritage site. I will spend my day exploring the town and hopefully I will be doing some couchsurfing. In Salzburg I'll also meet my friend Katarina, an Austrian girl I met during my exchange programme in Edinburgh many years ago.

Salzburg (image retrieved on google)

 

It will be a trip of first times:

• First time on a night train. I have used the train a lot in my wanderings across Europe, but I've never spent a night on a train. For this trip it was cheaper and more convenient to take a night train that leaves Venice in the evening and arrives in Munich the following morning. I have booked a place in a 3-bed cabin, so I won't be spending the whole night on a hard seat. Some people told me that sleeping on a train is unconfortable, and it can be nasty depending on who is sleeping on the cabin with you, but I'm willing to add this experience to my list. After all, some people would never sleep in a hostel, and I do!

• First time using airbnb. I usually stay in hostels or I use couchsurfing for my trips abroad. Unfortunately, hostels in Innsbruck have bad reviews, and since it seems to be a relatively expensive town, I couldn't find a suitable bed and breakfast, not expensive and still in the town centre. Moreover, since I will be attending a conference during the day, I think that using Couchsurfing could be inconvenient, because after a tiring day talking and listening about literature - and perhaps after a dinner with some of my colleagues - it is likely that I will be tired and that I will want some privacy. Don't get me wrong, I love couchsurfing and I will be doing it in Salzburg, but when you have a fixed schedule it's not the best option, since you never know what your host wants to do in the evening. Airbnb is a website that lets you book (and rent) private rooms in your flat or even a whole house if you want. It's generally cheaper than sleeping in a hotel, and you get to know some local people too.

 

I have a more exotic trip planned for May, but that's another story, and another post.