Sprechen sie Englisch?

It is the most uncomfortable feeling in the world, not being able to freelz communicate (taking a cue from Kevin, I'm giving up on trzing to spel correctlz on the German kezboard. The z's and y's are switched around. Deal with it). I know I mentioned that before. But it's the truth. Anzwazs, todaz, I got up plentz earlz, ate breakfast at mz guesthouse, and then the kindlz Austrian woman who co-owns the place drove me to the bus station in Reutte to catch mz bus to Fussen. Well anzwazs, like an idiot, I picked out the wrong time, so I ended up waiting around for 40 minutes before catching the bus for the half hour ride to Fussen. Fussen is a fairlz touristz town in Bavaria, famouslz known for the Konigschlossen, or King's Castles. There are two of them, both of which I toured. The more normal Hohenschwagou (or something) and the quite more impressive Neuschwanstein. The king in question is Ludwig II of Bavaria, who ruled in the late 19th centurz. This dude was wild. He was mildlz insane, his best friend was Richard Wagner (zeah, that one), and he basicallz decided to build a fantaszland castle for himself, that of Neuschwanstein. It was ridiculous. I wish I could post photos, but it looks like something out of a Disnez movie, no joke. He dedicated the castle to Wagner, so all the paintings are of Wagnerian operas, which I found cool. I had the Die Meistersinger Prelude going in mz head the whole time. The interior was almost offensivelz overlz decorated. Being unable to speak English, I had to take the English tour, which was most decidedlz the AMERICAN TOUR. On a coincidence, I ran into a group of elderlz folk from Waverlz, IA on a bus tour. Upon hearing I was a Luther boz, thez immediatelz gave me the required crap. There was also a verz curious guz, who looked about 34, on a trip with his parents and same age brother. He had on this Columbia jacket with all these patches rather tackilz sewn on, and he had the hair and air of a used car salesman. I discreetlz took a photo of him, because his mannerisms were so funnz (not to mention the ridiculous coat). Although, it was nice to be among some of mz people, even with the lame complaints, fake superioritz delusions, and offhand threats to sue. Upon taking a verz crappz guided tour with said crapload of Americans (including mzself), I rushed back down to the central area hoping to catch a bus which would take me to mz bus back to Reutte. Thanks to the inefficiencz of Fussen public transport, I missed it, and was stuck for an additional 2.5 hours in Fussen, with nothing to do. I had planned to go back to Reutte and check out a series of castle ruins on top of some hills. But no, instead I wandered around Fussen. I did stumble across Fussen's own castle, which was mildlz entertaining. Anzwazs, I finallz got back to Reutte, and after making the 2 mile walk to mz hotel, collapsed in tiredness. I had walked a lot, since after I missed the bus back to Fussen from the castles, I walked back 3.3 KM back. To round out the evening, I walked back into town for some food. Austria is the land of Mozart, yodeling, enthusiastic European integration, and HUGE ASS PIZZAS. For real, I ordered a pizza for around 5 Euros, and ended up with a monstrositz with the circumference of a small planet. Anzwazs, dulz sated, I returned to the Pension Hohenrainer with a bottle of Stiegl and watched some incrediblz lame Euro-CNN. It just doesn't hold zour interest when the same 3 stories are repeated all daz. This is long. Tomorrow, off to Prague and a reunion with Luther folk. Although I like the freedom of solo travel, it's so nice to have people to share experiences with. So anzwazs, staring down the barrel of 9 hours, 4 train changes (if I'm luckz), and a trip behind the former Iron Curtain. Bring it on.