SANKT GILGEN - AUSTRIA 29th April - 2nd May

Travelling along the autobahns was a little scary - open speed limit - we made sure we stayed under 125kph. The countryside of Austria, like Germany was beautiful. We arrived at our hotel which was actually more like a B&B. Marion the owner was lovely & very friendly.

View from our bedroom window 

On our first morning it was raining, so we decided to catch the bus to Salzburg

                               "The Hills are alive with the Sound of Music"

Rob & Doug went off to explore on their own & also to find a new rain jacket for Doug.

Cliff & I caught the funicular rail up to Hohensalzburg Castle to escape the weather. 

great views

When we emerged from the castle the sun was out - obviously Rob had bought Doug's new jacket & the rain stopped - good work Rob. 

We wandered around the old town for the afternoon, checking out the incredible shop displays

An ornamental egg shop (Christmas eggs),

 painted cows

When our  bus arrived back in Sankt Gilgen, Rob & Doug walked home but we chose to stay in town to watch the traditional raising of the Maypole -  what a difficult process, it was done by hand with poles & supports

a family event - the kids seemed intrigued with the process

So after 3 hours the Maypole was finally upright, then they lit a big bonfire to guard the pole just in case men from a rival village came during the night to cut it down - which apparently happens.

Next day Rob & Doug were going to the village for the May festival, so Cliff & I took the car & drove to Hallstatt - a  beautiful village on another lake

cable car to the top of the mountain - fantastic views

We joined a tour of the oldest salt mine in the world - it dates back 7000 years -  very interesting.

we got to wear very attractive clothes

good thing we weren't claustrophobic

after almost 3 hours we emerged from the salt mine looking forward to lunch. We sat on the balcony of  the restaurant overlooking the lake.

lunch was a meat & cheese platter of local produce - yum yum

leaving the mountain top we wandered into the village - so beautiful

We hired an electric boat - it was like a dream 

When we arrived back Rob & Doug had enjoyed their day on the lake. We were leaving early next morning - It was sad to leave such a beautiful place.

ITALY HERE WE COME - CIAO CIAO

BADEN BADEN - GERMANY 26th April - 29th April

We arrived in Baden Baden in the Black Forest mid afternoon on 29th April. Getting through the city would have been impossible without Rob's NavMan. We ended up driving to a square where traffic was forbidden - luckily a lady who spoke some English came over to lend us a hand, we reversed, avoiding pedestrians AND finally we found our hotel. First thing to do was sit down, unwind & have something to eat. While we were having our late lunch we had a guy playing saxaphone, he was very good. Soup was yummy. (Our hotel in the background) 

View from our hotel room

Next day Doug & Cliff walked to the ruins of an old castle high above the city,  Rob was resting trying to recover from her cold, I, on the otherhand participated in some retail therapy -  very expensive spa town - look but don't buy!

View of the town from the top of the ruins.

What a beautiful city - flowers everywhere & wonderful old buildings

Flowery view from Lowenbrau Keller Restaurant

Wonderful displays in shop windows - believe it or not - CHOCOLATE which looked like fruit & vegetables.

On our final day we went to the thermal spa for a couple of hours of swimming & relaxation (luckily at this spa clothing was mandatory, unlike the other spas) We arrived feeling very old from our travels

Within 2 hours we felt 40 years younger

Doug looked particularly refreshed

This is a city we would love to return to one day  - Auf Wiedersehen Germany. 

Next stop Sankt Gilgen (Austria).

FRANCE - ANZAC DAY

FINALLY SOUTHAMPTON 

disembarkation from Aurora was very organised, but let me tell you, once we were in the terminal it was so chaotic, trying to find bags, very little help from the frazzled staff. Once we were out of the terminal, the chaos extended to the roads, it took Rob & Doug 4 hours to reach us from London.

The Eurostar from London to Lille in France only took 90 minutes. The next morning we picked up our hire car - we drove round & round & round the car park trying to find the exit - everything was in french, we thought 3 months will pass & we will still be stuck in this carpark. Finally we figued it out & we hit the road - Driving on the opposite side of the road is fun (not) I was sure we were going to be killed everytime we turned a corner & drove onto the wrong side of the road.

On the way to Amiens we stopped at Arras for lunch & a bit of sight seeing.

Cliff was very excited with his beer

Here they come, walking down the street, they get the funniest looks from everyone they meet

Anyway, we finally made it to Amiens to attend the 2015 ANZAC ceremony in Villers-Bretonneux. 

3am we were at Amiens train station along with hundreds of other Australians waiting for our coaches to shuttle us to the service. While we waited the buildings were lit up with Australian flags. When we boarded the bus we handed out the "poppies" Nanna Connor made to other Australians travelling with us. A mother & her 2 young daughters were very excited to have received them - Good work Nan.

Even though it was cold, rainy & windy, the dawn service was very moving, compared to what the Anzacs went through, our morning was a walk in the park. 

The local towns love Australians, there were flags everywhere

Even wooden kangaroos in front of the town hall

Doug & Cliff about to enjoy a local pub

Rob gave the local Gendarmes (police) some of her homemade Anzac cookies which they enjoyed.

Au revoir France (for the moment) and hallo Germany - Baden Baden here we come.