The title of this episode is credited to a favourite waiter of ours from Austria, who arrived bearing the best apple strudel we have ever tasted (and we have tasted a few!)
An overall theme from our time in Europe has been the friendliness of the European people. On at least three occasions we have attempted to jettison some excess luggage in public areas (books, glasses cases, snorkels etc) only to turn around and find a helpful person running along behind us waving our neglected item. Of course we then feel too embarrassed to tell the truth, so we accept gratefully and are lumped with the unwanted item again.
On another occasion, we attempt to kill a couple of hours in a train station over a long lunch at Burger King (oxymoron?). We strike up a conversation with a couple next to us, and before long Oli finds himself examining Hans' sore knee. It turned out Hans had a bad case of pre-patellar bursitis, and is very happy to avoid a trip to the local doctor. Hans and Regina are "proud to have met us" and invite us to stay with them at their farm whenever we are in Austria. They give us the addresses of themselves, and their parents in case we have trouble finding them.
Anyway, we digress, back to Prague, the beer drinking capital of Europe...
Arriving in Prague at night, the sight of the Charles bridge and the castle all lit up is spectacular. If we thought Amsterdam was cold, we were in for a rude shock in Prague.
Over the course of four days we did not catch a glimpse of sun, and the mercury never came close to troubling double digits. Our puffer jackets become a permanent fixture, but we gamely venture out for short sight seeing bursts, interspersed with regular stops in pubs and restaurants. It is easy to see why the Prague locals drink so much beer! We find a food market in a nearby square and enjoy local delicacies such as our favourite, the fried smoked cheese sandwich.
From Prague we head to Salzburg, Austria. The main attraction of this stop is the fact that one of Sarah's favourite movies, the Sound of Music (SOM) was filmed here. After some research, including a screening of the film (Oli had yet to see it), we embark on a SOM tour. The tour takes in all the main sights of Salzburg including some of the more famous filming locations. Cheesy, but fun and informative the tour gives a good oversight of Salzburg and includes enforced sing-alongs to the film sound track.
Aside from the SOM, Salzburg is actually a very attractive little town and we are glad to have stopped here. We find a hilly walking track around the town, affording great views. We are told rumours of an abbey where one can hear the nuns singing at vespers each day at 5pm and we seek this out. We wait in the cold and impending gloom but the closest we come to any vesper is a scooter rider zooming past.
We leave cursing the nuns and find ourselves a pub serving beer from ceramic mugs - a happy consolation prize. We spot a large number of locals wearing the traditional lederhosen and wonder if it is a fancy dress night. We are surprised to learn that this is in fact fashionable and is seen as a symbol of national pride.
Our next stop in Austria is Innsbruck, a ski town in the Alps, about two hours out of Salzburg. We had come here hoping for some snow, and would have been in luck most other years. Instead we strike unseasonably warm sunshine. Most things in Innsbruck seem to be closed for repairs for the upcoming ski season, but we spend a pleasant couple of days exploring the town and enjoying the fresh mountain air.
The train from Salzburg to Ljubljana is one of the most spectacular journeys we have done. We pass through the Austrian Alps, over valleys filled with fog and through tiny ski towns. We resolve to return for a ski trip one day!
Ljubljana is the penultimate stop on the European leg of our journey and is on the list due to some rave reviews from friends.
We are staying in a beautiful hotel in the heart of the old town. This is lucky because a freezing fog settles over the city on our first evening and barely lifts. The temperature is around -2deg for most of the day.
Our favourite day is a visit to a nearby town on the shores of Lake Bled, which is often lauded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. On this day it lived up to its reputation, with the sun shining we spend a day walking the 6km around the lake.
Our final stop in Europe is Venice. We decided to return here as we had liked it so much 4 years ago. The fog is a recurring theme here, but it just adds another layer of mystery to the already murky canals. We have a hotel room with windows opening directly onto a canal, and enjoy the sounds of the passing gondoliers playing the accordion and singing Frank Sinatra classics in Italian. We spend a couple of days wandering the canals, getting lost and exploring until it is time for our next meal.
After a mere three weeks of cold weather, we are excited about the prospect of ditching our puffer jackets and flying to Thailand!
We split our 8 days in Thailand between Phi Phi Island and Karon beach, Phuket. We try to do as little as possible, and spend our time on the beach or by the pool topping up our tan. We have foot massages in the evenings after dinner and shop for cheap clothes in the markets. We are completely relaxed, and glad to end our trip on such a high note.
After 13 flights, 32 hotels/apartments/B&Bs, 87 delicious (mostly) dinners, 28 books, a few extra kilos (not all in our packs), 1 diamond ring, and innumerable amazing experiences it is time to fly back to Australia. It has been the trip of a lifetime!
We are excited about the upcoming month in Australia, and looking forward to the next chapter of our lives starting in NZ in the new year!
Salzburg, Austria
An overall theme from our time in Europe has been the friendliness of the European people. On at least three occasions we have attempted to jettison some excess luggage in public areas (books, glasses cases, snorkels etc) only to turn around and find a helpful person running along behind us waving our neglected item. Of course we then feel too embarrassed to tell the truth, so we accept gratefully and are lumped with the unwanted item again.
Last sighting of book, for now..
On another occasion, we attempt to kill a couple of hours in a train station over a long lunch at Burger King (oxymoron?). We strike up a conversation with a couple next to us, and before long Oli finds himself examining Hans' sore knee. It turned out Hans had a bad case of pre-patellar bursitis, and is very happy to avoid a trip to the local doctor. Hans and Regina are "proud to have met us" and invite us to stay with them at their farm whenever we are in Austria. They give us the addresses of themselves, and their parents in case we have trouble finding them.
Anyway, we digress, back to Prague, the beer drinking capital of Europe...
Arriving in Prague at night, the sight of the Charles bridge and the castle all lit up is spectacular. If we thought Amsterdam was cold, we were in for a rude shock in Prague.
Charles Bridge and Castle by night
Over the course of four days we did not catch a glimpse of sun, and the mercury never came close to troubling double digits. Our puffer jackets become a permanent fixture, but we gamely venture out for short sight seeing bursts, interspersed with regular stops in pubs and restaurants. It is easy to see why the Prague locals drink so much beer! We find a food market in a nearby square and enjoy local delicacies such as our favourite, the fried smoked cheese sandwich.
Charles Bridge by day
Selfie on Charles
And again, Charles. Cold.
Hot snacks, icy night.
From Prague we head to Salzburg, Austria. The main attraction of this stop is the fact that one of Sarah's favourite movies, the Sound of Music (SOM) was filmed here. After some research, including a screening of the film (Oli had yet to see it), we embark on a SOM tour. The tour takes in all the main sights of Salzburg including some of the more famous filming locations. Cheesy, but fun and informative the tour gives a good oversight of Salzburg and includes enforced sing-alongs to the film sound track.
Lake and castle used in SOM
Gazebo from SOM
Scenic scenery
Sarah doing her best Julie Andrews
Aside from the SOM, Salzburg is actually a very attractive little town and we are glad to have stopped here. We find a hilly walking track around the town, affording great views. We are told rumours of an abbey where one can hear the nuns singing at vespers each day at 5pm and we seek this out. We wait in the cold and impending gloom but the closest we come to any vesper is a scooter rider zooming past.
Abbey where SOM was filmed
The only nuns we could find...
We leave cursing the nuns and find ourselves a pub serving beer from ceramic mugs - a happy consolation prize. We spot a large number of locals wearing the traditional lederhosen and wonder if it is a fancy dress night. We are surprised to learn that this is in fact fashionable and is seen as a symbol of national pride.
Salzburg at dusk
Our next stop in Austria is Innsbruck, a ski town in the Alps, about two hours out of Salzburg. We had come here hoping for some snow, and would have been in luck most other years. Instead we strike unseasonably warm sunshine. Most things in Innsbruck seem to be closed for repairs for the upcoming ski season, but we spend a pleasant couple of days exploring the town and enjoying the fresh mountain air.
Innsbruck
Note the lack of snow
Heading in for a dip
The train from Salzburg to Ljubljana is one of the most spectacular journeys we have done. We pass through the Austrian Alps, over valleys filled with fog and through tiny ski towns. We resolve to return for a ski trip one day!
Comfortable bed for a rest
Austrian Dog
Ljubljana, where is everyone??
Ljubljana is the penultimate stop on the European leg of our journey and is on the list due to some rave reviews from friends.
We are staying in a beautiful hotel in the heart of the old town. This is lucky because a freezing fog settles over the city on our first evening and barely lifts. The temperature is around -2deg for most of the day.
Dreary Ljubljana
Rare moments of sunshine
Arty
Our favourite day is a visit to a nearby town on the shores of Lake Bled, which is often lauded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. On this day it lived up to its reputation, with the sun shining we spend a day walking the 6km around the lake.
Castle on island in Lake Bled
I had to run fast for this shot...
As close as we came to snow
Autumn, Lake Bled
Trial run wedding
Our hotel is bottom left of photo
Foggy Venice, not good for gondoliering
Spot Sarah
Classic Venice
Phi Phi Island
Storm coming
We split our 8 days in Thailand between Phi Phi Island and Karon beach, Phuket. We try to do as little as possible, and spend our time on the beach or by the pool topping up our tan. We have foot massages in the evenings after dinner and shop for cheap clothes in the markets. We are completely relaxed, and glad to end our trip on such a high note.
The pool outside our hotel room
Goodbye!
We are excited about the upcoming month in Australia, and looking forward to the next chapter of our lives starting in NZ in the new year!
