This is the 27 April 2005 edition of this page, showing the updated summary for this visit.
After previous visits to Austria, where I had only covered the Tyrol, this time I was to investigate their Lake District, the Salzkammergut.
'Austrian Lakes' Visits
(July 1999) - Roy S. Peters
Fri 9 July
Got Rail to Worcester dep18.30 and arr 1839. Barbourne Hotel by 7pm
Sat 10 July
Got Feeder Coach which departed from Grandstand Rd at 0600hrs.
Joined another Coach at Dover..
Travelled in ferry to Calais - then another, the main, coach to Belgium.
(we departed Dover at 15.15 and arrived Calais 17.30 after advancing
watches by an hour)
Checked in at Novotel, Brussels Airport , for overnight stop!
Sun 11 July
Coach continued to GALLSPACH in Austria. All day in Germany!!
Welcome drink and discussions with other travellers.
The Parkhotel is my 'home' for the week.
Mon 12 July
.. walked around the village.
.. and I found this 'bird' in a Park!!
Later, visited STEYR and then returned to Gallspach's Parkhotel.
Tues 13 July
Visit to VIENNA by Coach.
I had 2 books on Vienna in case info was needed!!
It was here that I met my mates JOHANNE STRAUSS and WOLFGANG MOZART:-
Wed 14 July
Day of exploration of GALLSPACH village.
Thurs 15 July
Visited Lake MONDSEE & lakeside town of St GILGEN.
(Also the over-commercialised St WOLFGANG - just like
CAPRI on an earlier trip!!)
Afternoon to HALLSTATT - THAT's beautiful!!
(Said to be the Worlds best lakeside village)
Coach onto BAD ISCHL, Lake TAUNSEE plus GMUNDEN.
Fri 16 July
(Whilst some of the rest of the group visited Saltzburg, I further
explored the 'surrounding scenery to GALLSPACH village [on foot] -
before finally leaving it.)
Evening candlelit dinner in the Parkhotel
Sat 17 July
Coach travelled to Belgium with most of the day in Germany.
Had a late afternoon snack in Holland.
Belgium Hotel again was the Novotel in Brussels.
Sun 18 July
Coach returned to UK
dep Calais 12.30
arr Dover 12.45
Then another Coach which arrived at Worcester apprx 19.35
Bus to Malvern: Initiated the Zanussi [washing machine] into its post-visit
washing cycles!!
Home again!!
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRIA
I camped several years ago in the Tyrol (relatively close to the enchanting town of INNSBRUCK) - and it was taken at a quite gentle pace - that being easy in Austria!!
On that occasion, we visited amongst other scenic delights, the fantastic ski- jump which overlooks the cemetery!! I climbed to the base of the take-off ramp - whereas the wife climbed up the 'slowing-down' hill. The TYROL incorporates what most visitors expect of Austria.
By contrast, the Saltskammergut is more like a spread-out version of the English Lake- District. Like our Lakeland, it too has a damp and soggy climate. Our Lakes are far less commercialised than their Austrian counterpart, with St Wolfgang being the 'pits'! It really is terrible and prevents walking visitors from seeing the lake!! It's OK if all one wants to do is visit gift-shops, which are crammed into every square centimeter of land.
Return to Roy's home page for full list of books, travelogues and other writings either finished or under preparation.
or return to The 1999 Index
EMail (?) to: Roy's Location.