Pension Berganemone Schoenau am Koenigssee

... Music. We wandered through the Christmas markets during the day and had an afternoon nap. My cold was just about gone but we were tired from not getting enough sleep in Ljubljana. After dinner we walked back to the markets to see them at night. They were just as lovely as the markets in Vienna. There were all sorts of things to buy- decorations, little presents and unique gifts as well as food stands and even a bar ...

... the tour took us all over parts of Salzburg and a couple towns outside of town. we got some great pictures! At the last town we had some very tasty Apple Stroodle! After the tour was done we walked around Salzburg seeing markets and places dedicated to and places of Mozart.
The next day we headed to Prague... and I beleive you know what happened there, so on to Germany!!


LW

... the Do Re Mi song on the steps...so in true fashion Leanne and I sang the song as we walked up the stairs. A lot of people I think thought we were crazy...but that's ok haha. After the tour we went to walk around the city for a bit...doing a little bit of window shopping, and walking through the streets they were starting to set up the Christmas Markets in...I really wish we had Christmas markets at home!! After wandering for a couple ...

... a hot chocolate overlooking the town at sunset, then caught the last funicular down to ground level.

We then went to the Salzburg Dom, an example of incredible Baroque architecture. We wandered out and spent some time taking pictures before finding a tasty dinner of Farmer’s sausage (tasted like breakfast sausage, which is terrific), pork, sauerkraut, bread dumpling, and chocolate cake. Salzburg is ...

... a slick corner as they raced their cars on a rainy day. This was a real once in a lifetime experience. I probably won’t ever drive around a racetrack again. (I’ve decided not to pursue a career in race car driving!)

After this fun we continue north to Cologne, which is a beautiful city, lit up by holiday lights and celebrations for New Years starting early. We park on the outskirts of town after having a bit of fun finding the ...

... others we had taken that day, traveling at high speed on smooth track, with full carriages and even a restaurant carriage. After walking to our hotel from the station in Salzburg we had to wait for some annoying American tourists to stop hogging the staff before we could check in. Our first activity, in the newly fallen darkness, was to walk down to Linzer Gasse and then into Salzburg's Altstadt for the last night of the Christmas Market. We lapped the entire set of ...

Drove up to the Ice Caves today, was a very hot afternoon so the 20 min tramp uphill was a killer. Took alot of warm clothes to get changed into when we got up there as the average temperature is 0 degrees, brrrrrr. Got up there and changed, I had forgotten to put shoes in the bag, dammit. Got socks though, so socks and jandals it was, ha ha quite funny. Toes got a little cold but ...

August 26-Monday
We left Kitzbuhel at 8:30. There was a brief stop in Berchtesgarden, in Germany, at 10:00. Up on the side of the mountain, we could see Hitler's Eagle’s Nest. It was rather chilling to see that part of history. The bunker is now a restaurant. Our rest stop overlooked a valley filled with wonderful homes. What a view! Back on the bus and on to Salzburg. Time 10:35.

... A video camera sure would have come in handy here.)

Finally! Salzburg! Mozart, the Sound of Music, the Mirabel Gardens! Where to start?

Well first, how about some lunch? We had lunch in St. Peter’s Cathedral. The room where we ate was one of the most elaborate rooms I have ever been in…the mural on the ceiling (wow!), the enameled mural on the piano (wow! wow!)… ...

... valley below as it got smaller and smaller. Even the giant (and I DO mean ‘giant’) pines got smaller and smaller. Whoa! We just disappeared into the clouds! We practically could not see our hands in front of our faces, the clouds were so thick. We could hear cowbells, but we could not see any cows. As nice and clear and sunny as it was at the middle station, it was just as cloud-covered at the top. I will say this, it sure was peaceful up ...