Frankenstein's Castle

10/25/2014

Although Burg Frankenstein is not the exact location where Mary Shelley actually wrote Frankenstein, this was the actual castle that inspired her story.  We thought that since we were here, in Germany, why not choose an ultra cool, once in a lifetime, place to celebrate a spooky holiday?

Next year, we will go to Romania and spend a couple days in Curtea de Arges, right next to Castle Poenari, or Vlad Tepes's castle.

Castle Poenari

Our last Halloween in Europe, we will go to Cologny, Switzerland by Lake Geneva and visit the actual place where Mary Shelley spent the summer and wrote Frankenstein.  We aren't into the fantasy of the novels, more that we will grasp any opportunity to adventure about in historically significant places while we have the chance!

The Villa Mary Shelley stayed in while writing Frankenstein

So the day finally arrived for us to visit Berg Frankenstein!

Trying to get a selfie before we headed out.  Jack was NOT cooperating.

We drove to post to meet up with our friends and catch our bus to Darmstadt, Germany.  We met up with our friends Sabrina, Curtis, and their daughter TyBrea and our friends Nick & Jayde Antonio.  The bus ride was about 4 1/2 hours there because we stopped at a McDonalds on the way over.

Our McDonalds and "liquid courage" lunch!

Sabrina & TyBrea on the bus...or I should say Samara from The Ring & Wednesday from The Adams Family

Our slightly crowded bus

Jayde & Nick...or the back of their heads :)

These pictures don't do the sunset justice...it was spectacular!

I sure wish the bus could have stopped for a sunset pic...

When we arrived in Darmstadt, we got off the bus and took a shuttle up to the castle.

It was just getting dark and as we walked down a dark forested path, we couldn't help but expect creatures to jump out and grab us...did I forget to mention, in Germany, all the creatures are allowed to grab you.  Not just grab you, but put you in a box, coffin, cage, a pile of hay...what ever tickles their fancy...not to mention they are allowed to tickle you too!

Just random spookiness!

Heading into the haunted portion

We walked into the Vampire section first but honestly, I didn't see many vampires since there were so many people there and they had so many other creatures out...

More random spookiness

Creepiness

These guys jumped off their posts and could grab you!

Yes, they could put you in a coffin...

This very scary lady was on a bridge and would hang down and touch people

We stood in a very long line for about 25 minutes and waited for, what?  We had no idea but while we were standing there to go into what could be our imminent demise, a creature walked down the line and what was Jayde's reaction?  She turned her back to the creature, stood face to brick wall and yelled, "No!".  It was hysterical as defense reactions go!  :)

We finally made it to a brick room and were shuffled in and put against the walls.  Then the super scary, leather clad, dungeon people started growling at us and grabbed a lady to put her on a torture cross.

Poor lady

Strapping her in!

Luckily, they were actually pretty nice and only smacked her around with a whip a little bit...and tickled her mercilessly.  Next they grabbed her partner and he wasn't so lucky!  They pulled up his shirt, jiggled his abdomen fat, and put ice down his pants.  It...was...awesome!  We were so relieved that they were funny and not out to massacre us all in a very old dungeon!

Getting ready to put ice in the poor fellas pants!

One thing I have been impressed with is the joyfulness and playfulness of the German people.  This was the best haunted house I've ever been to.  There was so many scary moments but in the end, the creatures either tickled you, gave you wet willies, or tapped you on the butt which made the whole event fun and made my stomach hurt from laughing so much!  Here are some pics of just a few of the "creatures" that were roaming around...

Pinhead from Hellraiser

Creepy guy chopping things

I think she was one of the zombies

Zombies!

Another zombie!

Devil dude

The Headless Horseman

Frankenstein's creature

The devil from Labyrinth

Frankenstein's creature putting some poor lady into a box

When we were done with the haunted portion of the castle, we made our way to the shops and of course beer tents.

This was actually a pic from when the crowds were thinning out

The Candy Coated Nuts tent smelled amazing!

Trust me, they tasted as good as they smelled!

Nick taking a breather

Beetlejuice and his bride

When we were ready to be done with our very fun night, we made our way back to our bus and slept the four hours it took to get back to post.  It was beyond fun and once again, I am humbled by this, once in a lifetime, experience.  It's no wonder I am deeply in love with Germany!