Chapter 2: Austria
Accommodations
Upon arrival at Vienna airport I recommend being swiftly transported on the efficient road system out to a little village in the valley which should be your base of operations for the few days that you will take to explore Austria. The valley is wonderful and green, there are mountains all around and the view from the back porch of the house you are staying in should look something like this.
If you have connections like I do then you could get to freeload in the house of Irfan of Irfanview fame.
You should also expect to meet the other guests and be plied with food.
Activities
Mountain Climbing
It is a little known fact that the best way to recover from jetlag is to climb up a mountain. To that end we wisely chose to allow our hosts to drive us all through the valley to Schneeberg (Snow Mountain). An hours walk took us to Hengsthütte, a bier hut halfway up where we stopped for some beer. The Men continued on to the summit while the women and children fled back down to the village and shopping.
Another hours walk took us to the cake hut, which also had bier, and a view of the summit with it's church. Clouds began to obscure the summit so we decided to head downwards. Suffice to say that a thunderstorm in the mountains is a beautiful thing when you can find shelter on the tourist train on its way back to the village after only twenty minutes of being soaked to the skin.
The Hohe Wand
The "high wall" is a large plateau that dominates the northern skyline from Muthmansdorf, the village we were staying at. A day trip there has many things for you to do:
You can be dragged around the open zoo by Tina's nieces, see many animals (I saw a squirrel!), feed and pat deer...
Climb the play equipment...
Gaze out over the valley from the top of the Hohe Wand...
Or pose precariously close to the edge of the Wand. (and possibly a little too effeminately, what was I thinking with that bag?)
Visiting Castles
Phill's Tip
When visiting castles it is best to not go on a children's day as thousands of kids running around makes it harder to pretend you are back in mediaeval times. Also be aware that kinder means children in Austrian, not nicer.
Austria, like most of Europe, has castles everywhere. A group visit to a restored castle is recommended - although they can be crowded.
And you may not be able to get close enough to be knighted by the king.
Older castles that are just lying around, because the family can't afford to restore them, make for an interesting visit. Although Tina opted to return to the house and have a beer instead.
And you can have them all to yourself (well plus Karin my photographer).
World Cup Soccer
A great way to end a day of castle exploring is to watch the World Cup final while sinking a few Dunkels beers.
Vienna
No stay in Austria would be complete without a visit to Wien. An early train trip in from the valley, followed by Ubahn hops and a little walking will get you to many of the sites of Vienna.
Schönbrunn
You can start with the beautiful gardens of the Schönbrunn palace with it's impressive fountains.
The Rest of the City
Touring the rest of the city begins with the Stephanplatz and the main shopping street which may take you to the Hotel Sacher were you can enjoy some original Sacher-Torte.
You can then move on to see sights like Karlsplatz...
Before Tina finishes your Vienna visit with a meal and some beer at the Weiner Brau establishment.
Phill's Tip
While you may think you can handle it, that second stein of beer will probably be too much for you after a hard days walking around Vienna.
Before you know it your short stay in Austria will be over and you'll be winging your way to Croatia.