Blogs from Austria, Europe - page 301

We spent the day in Salzburg at the Salt Mines. They were a lot of fun. You have to dress up like a moron, but the big slide inside the mine was fun! F.Y.I. It is a salt mine, so if you touch the walls, don't put your fingers in your mouth. Sadly I learned this the hard way. Don't ask me why I had my fingers in my mouth. All I know is that it didn't taste good.... read more

As the small train approaches the magnificent culture Mecca of Europe, I gather my things and I take note at how amazing the architecture changes in just a one-hour train ride out of an old satellite nation into Western Europe. As the train comes to a halt inside Sudbahnhof, my travels continue. Austria has a population of just over 8 million, Vienna is the capital, and music, art and architecture reach extravagant in Salzburg. A wonderful range of outdoor activities- skiing is some of the best in the world is what Austria is known for. It borders the countries of Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland making it an easy stop. I had a bit of a panic attack "I am in a far off land and want my own bed and ... read more

Although Zurich was a good start to assimilate our Italian customary into German, entering Germany via Austria is a different story. Flash back at the statas a couple month prior our European trip, we purchased our six-day Eurorail tickets that only allow us to visit five countries: Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Benelux (Belgium/the Netherlands/Luxembourg), and France. The most direct route from Zürich to München is passing around a lake which borders Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, thus we need to enter Austria, one of the countries NOT listed on our tickets. We don't have any other alternatives but purchasing an additional ticket for our ten-minute ride passing Austria. The good thing about rerouting via Austria is that we are entering back EU from Switzerland via Austria; and this cheery plump Austrian immigration officer stamped our passports with ... read more

beautiful country! reminded us of sound of music - rolling hills, green forests, lakes, etc. it wasnàt as grand as other palces, but still very charming. it was nice and calm, clean, and pleasant. we did, however, see awesome cathedrals like st. james and wilorn (sp?) then we also kicked it in the main square where emporer maximilian I sat in his balcony with a golden roof, and watched his knights joust below him. ... read more

The bar is not bad. Standard interior, not overly fancy, but certainly not shabby. The crowd is mature - in the sense that the average person graduated high school long time ago - and trendy/artsy, if that is a legitimate combination. We get a corner table. A perfect spot, we're able to overlook the whole field. Complete control. The beer is good, German/Austrian or something. Works for me... The company is good, brains and beauty. Still, there's something in the air. Not tension, hate, love, or anything to that effect. Something more tangible. Smoke. Not cigarette smoke. This substance irritates my eyes. Cigarette smoke does not. Having no sense of smell, I have to guess. Considering the fact that it would take a lot of something to get to someone's eyes, and the fact that we're ... read more