We flew out mid afternoon and so arrived in the morning. Better this way?
Our first trip to Salzburg is in the afternoon on Saturday 27th of September. After breakfast on Sunday, we ride out to Untersberg and beyond to the bio pool. Unfortunately, it is shut and so we have lunch just around the corner, at about the highest point before returning back to the apartment. We catchup with Willie at Cafe Bazar on Monday morning and he rides with us most of the way to ZweiRad, a massive bike shop just the other side of the Austrian/German border. It is dark by the time we return toVienna.
At the back of the loop around Untersberg, with the mountain Herr Waltzmann and Frau Waltzmann and the kids in the background.
Both Suz and I get sore throats and take the rest of the week very slowly, the overcast weather does not help. On the Wednesday, we feel well enough to get the car serviced while enjoying a very long brunch at Anna's place which is nearby.
On Monday, Gerlinda drives us out to see an exhibit on the Titanic with lots of Virtual Reality visuals which I found a little ordinary .
As part of developing ownership of the house in Vienna, we drive out to Ikea on Tuesday and buy an induction cooktop, which Niki helps us install over the next few days - the previous cooktop was as old as the house. On that Wednesday, we go and see, with Verena and Niki, "Noch Lange Keine Lippizaner" the movie about getting Austrian Citizenship (I now know can never get Austrian citizenship . . . ) then a lovely dinner at very busy cafe, Cafe Stein.
We feel recovered enough to ride up to Haeuserl Am Stoan for lunch and back, on Saturday, 11th of October. Sunday is a quick ride out to Manameierei for breakfast with neighbours on the south side of the street; Gerold and Kirsten, and Marina. Anna and Christian turn up later and we go through the paintings, then go for a walk through the park and a very late lunch. Verena and Niki then turn up for dinner at the Schafberg restaurant.
It is Riki's birthday on Monday, 13th of October and so after meeting with Niki and Verena at the Museum of Natural History to see a 3D Plants exhibition, we return home to cook dinner for Marina, Riki and Gerlinda. The following day we ride past Haeuserl Am Stoan, down the other side of the hill to Weidling to visit Peter's Mum and go through Peter's photos with her. In the evening, we see Killing Carmen with Gerlinda at the Volksoper Wien. They had subtitles above the stage and was easy enough to follow. We miss the last bus home and have to a catch a taxi.
The dishwashing machine gets replaced on Wednesday (at 43 years old it is the second oldest the guys have ever replaced) and we leave for Salzburg with the electric bikes; I take the cargo bike, the Tern, and Suz borrows Verena's bike. On Thursday, we see a hovering moth at breakfast on the balcony before we catch the train to Lend, and then it is straight up a very steep mountain side, 15%, and through three tunnels to Hof Badgastein.
Suz on the way from Lend.
We recover at the sauna.
View from Anna's Cafe
Friday is a relaxing walk up the side of the mountain where we dine on Gulash and Kaiser Schmann at Anna's Cafe looking out across the Gastein valley before the sauna again in the afternoon where we see that hovering moth, again. The weather is superb.
Saturday is a very posh lunch with Willie and Rostwita at the Hotel Dorter in Golling. Unfortunately, I get a flat in the rear tyre just outside Dorf Gastein, and I walk it in to town. Suz arranges a taxis to take us to Lend where we catch a train to Golling. We lock up the bikes at the station as it is short walk to the hotel. Afterwards, we catch the train to Salzburg, where we again lock up the Tern at the station and I catch the bus back while Suz rides back.
After breakfast on Sunday, we pack up, I catch a bus to the station and meet up with Suz. We unlock the bike and catch the train back to Vienna where Gerlinda picks us up in her car. We meet up with Niki, I fix the rear tyre and then we go and pick up Deidre. She is the neighbour from number 1 in Fremantle but left for Alice Springs over 5 years ago, now. She has retired and was mountain biking in Scotland when she called. We go for a walk in the park before dinner at the resturant there.
After we pick up Deidrie, we go for a walk in forest behind the house, the weather, the trees, it is simply stunning.
Susanna still has a few things to sort out regarding the house, so after lunch Deidre and I ride out to the Kundst Historisch Museum where we enjoy coffee and cake before we visit the mummys in the Eyptian section. After another slow morning, there is lots to catch up on, I take her to St Stephen's Dom and we climb the tower there. Cafe Deglas has the best Gulasch in town, so we catch up with Suz there, afterwards.
On Wednesday, after yet another slow morning, all three of us ride into town; Deidre and I checkout the old Roman ruins before meeting up with Suz after she met up with the notary to sign documents and pass on the 'last bits'. After a drink, we go and see the movie, "The 3rd man".
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On Thursday, we took the tram into town to lunch at the French restaurant and a walk around the town centre. Then on Friday, I stay in while Deidre and Suz go into town, Suz to see the banker and Deidre to see more of Vienna. I ride out to see Niki at 3pm and meet up with George to ride across the Danube and up a small mountain we have been up before. We have dinner at a local Heuriger after Suz and Deidre turn up. It is about hour back home, about 50km, 600m climbing. All three of us catch the train to Salzburg, with bikes. But we leave the keys at home, so Suz hops off with the Brompton, trains back to Vienna then catches a taxi back home and we meet up at the Salzburg station at 4pm.
In the meantime, I take Deidre to Cafe Bazar for lunch and then a tour of the main square
and the St Peters complex. After getting some fresh milk, Suz and I return to Vienna. The Brompton stays in Salzburg with Deidre. |
On Sunday, 28th of October, Niki and Verena turn up for pancakes, and afterwards, Suz and I go for a walk in the park in the afternoon where I develop another cold. So on Monday, I take it really easy while the Berliners (Volker, Anke and Mitja) turn up around 8pm.
Wednesday was the long anticipated Lock Change Party. Though Suz had actually changed all the keys by then except for the outdoor gate on the eastern side. We had Wolfgang, Gerlinda, Kirsten, Marina, Verena, Niki, Anna and Christian along with ourselves and the Berliners.
Above, saluting at the lock changing party, note the brand new induction cooktop. Right, Wolfgang, Christian and Volker changing the last lock. |
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Thursday is another beautiful but cold day and we all walk up to Haeuserl Am Stoan for lunch then onto Manameierei for coffee and cake. We play cards in the evening, and it is quite enjoyable.
Volker and Enke at Haeuserl Am Stoan looking out across Vienna.
On the Friday, it is another beautiful day and I catch the tram in with Mitja. Volker and Anke meet up with us and we take the underground to Prater where we go on a number of rides. Deidre returns from Salzburg in the afternoon and dinner is at the Schafberg restaurant with all six of us.
After breakfast on Saturday, Suz drives the Berliners to the station. We drive over to the graveyard to visit Suzanna's parents, followed by a big walk and lunch at a Heuriger near where Niki and I have come up on the bikes near Klosterneuberg.
Vineyards near Klosterneuberg.
It is Sunday and so pancakes for breakfast, then Suz and I drive Deidre to the main station. We have a final dinner at the Schafberg restaurant with Niki, Verena, Gelinda and Wolfgang.
On our final Wednesday, we visit a bank (always one final thing!) and then the concert hall for a piano concert at the Musik Verein. Gerlinda drives us out to the airport the day after.