On The Road Again...!

---

Travel day today. We left Weer and drove to Kitzbuehel - about 60kms into the Brixental.This village has had heaps of snow dumped on it..and due to the -4C temps. they have the snow making making machines working to make even more snow for a good solid base. We needed to check out a property that we are using for 4 persons who have booked Kitzbuehel for 24 Dec - 01 Jan. Normally it would be impossible to get such a time-frame because over the X-mas/New Year period, rooms and apartments in Kitzbuehel are like hens teeth to get. Their like inheritances handed down through families..!! Luckily there was a cancellation and we were able to offer it to the clients. Best part is that it is 30m from the famous "Hahnenkamm" ski piste..and thus provides a ski-in/ski-out situation. There are great views over the village - and it's only 10 minutes walk into the centre of the old town. Unfortunately we were not able to view the interior of the proeprty because it was occupied.

From here we contined via some back roads, passing through the small village of Koessen - jus a few kms from where we used to have our groups stay for the White Christmas package - in Walchsee. There is more snow than we have seen in years - and one of the reasons we moved from Walchsee to Seefeld was the chance to almost be able to guarantee a "white Christmas". A quick stop further long in Salzburg to check the hotel there for our 1 night stop after Vienna - and it was then on to the autobahn to Munich. Normally - the autobahn is quite fast - even in winter - but lots of "slow zones"...some due to roadworks, but most due to traffic and conditions. Altho it wasn't snowing...seems like the weather just slowed things up. The normal 2.5 hrs tip took 3.5 hours. I was lucky that my body is getting back to "normal" as no "emergency" stops had to be made.

The Hotel de France in Vienna is our favourite for the Christmas tour - because of it's location near the main Christmas Markets in front of the Town Hall - and also because it has free internet in the rooms, and free mini-bar, restocked daily..!!! Because we use this hotel for other tours as well..and we personally stay here at least 3 times per year - the management was nice enough to upgrade us to a loft-suite on the 6th floor. Kathie likes it because she can go to bed upstairs in the loft..and I can stay down stairs working at the desk...

We alread ran in into 2 of our clients..and of all palces..at the Christmas Markets. They overheard our accents, and were curious to know where in Australia we were from..and proceded to tell us they were joining an "Austria White Christmas" tour...!!!

Looks like all is well with me and the 24r bug (which ended up being a 36hr bug) has passed on...and I should be OK to have a "free" day in Vienna before the group arrives on 17 Dec.

---

Photos

Koessen
Village roundabout with Christmas tree

Koessen
Part of cross country ski trail

Comments

[brian sheahan]

your travels
Hi Tev and Kathie, your emails coming thru okay. Merry Xmas.