Just us and a small team of car enthusiasts in a 5 star hotel. Restaurant closed, no room service, Austrian 'Big Brother' on the TV in our room was the only thing that didn't involve lots of interviews of people speaking German. I have never watched it in English, let alone in German. Couldn't understand a word but it looks a bit different to the promos I have seen in OZ.
Mostly it seemed to involve bad actors and incredible sets (take it as you want) doing stupid things - oh, and one presenter who looked as though she must have been picked for her niceness, not her looks
http://www.seebrunn.com/
Wonderful hotel - good breakfast, but one wonders why they take bookings in the off season when they are not really fully open. Might be explained by the amount of alcohol consumed in the bar by the car enthusiasts, who gaily drove the next morning (at vast speed off the property) nary a thought of Polizei with breathalyzers
We wended our way across Austria. A neat country, very pretty but without the extravagance of Switzerland. I did enjoy it
Maize drying in formation
The first rain on our trip
We stayed in Igls just outside Salzburg. Most of these photos are from there
We had a wonderful meal in this restaurant - crammed with local art.
I have sink envy. This is in a craft shop and they wash their artists materials in there every day
The interior of the church is full on
...and this is a clinic in the middle of nowhere
Meanwhile - down the road,
in true neat Austrian fashion
Getting the kerbside pickup sorted
Oh Deer
Every Autumn in Lauterbrunnen they have a special day when they bring the cows down from the mountain to save them from the winter weather. At first we couldn't work out why there were so many people with their cameras lining the street. After a short wait we saw this procession and a visiting American lady explained what was going on. She saw it last year as well
Led by a young boy in traditional dress with his mother
The tradition is to have decorated Christmas trees on their heads. The younger cows just wear a ring of flowers
My favourite girl
We were very fortunate to be there for that day. The shepherds had a little gathering in a field by the church and gave anyone who wanted it a shot of hot sticky drink, that you wouldn't want to have too much of. They partied on quietly whilst the cowbells clinked and chimed and no doubt the cows breathed a sigh of relief - especially when they could get those bells taken off
Again
we were seduced into staying another night - but not at that hotel! I
found one in a place nearby called Lauterbrunnen. Well, what can I say
DM went up to the mountain top on the cable car
End of summer and not much snow
Everywhere we go in Europe there are Chinese and Japanese leaping about in front of cameras
This is an avalanche shelter - gaily decorated I suppose, to take your mind off the fact that you are covered by tons of snow
A Swiss woodpile - lovely
...and a Swiss window display. Don't think they would get a job in Harrods
