EUROPE TRIP - SALZBURG AUSTRIA

We enjoyed visiting Austria where Kel's dad Pete grew up for a few years as a youth - we took the Sound of Music tour, visited a local salt mine, and many more adventures.

A few pics of the Austria journey.

 Swimming in the cold mountain river across the street from our house. The water was crystal clear!

 Pete remembered this castle - we drove by trying to see it night 1 and the gate was shut.  We drove back by the next night and it was open so I drove in so Pete could see it again - to then be confronted by the homeowner who had just pulled in and wondered why we were on his private property. We kindly retreated but did manage to snap a couple of amazing pics.

 Bridge from Sound of Music

 Sound of Music Mansion

 Sound of Music scene where Julie Andrews goes with her suitcase toward th Baron's house.

 Sound of Music gazebo

 Church where the wedding took place in Sound of Music

 Famous Do Re Mi Gardens from Sound of Music

 More Sound of Music reenactments.

 More Sound of Music reenactments

 Pete's old high school

 Close to Pete's home in Austria

 Salt Mines here we come

 Alpine Slide Time

 

We spent time in Berchtesgaden a place that is quite beautiful today but has a sorted past when the Nazi’s controlled it and Hitler spent a lot of time in the city and around the area.  You can read more about it at http://www.thirdreichruins.com/bgaden.htm.

You will see some old photos along with the ones we took from modern day – hard to believe the history was so dark based on how it looks today.

 

EUROPE TRIP - PRAGUE

We are just returning from our trip touring around Europe with Kel's folks.  We flew to Prague, Czech Republic where we spent a few days, then on to Salzburg Austria for a few more days of touring. From there we drove south through Slovenia (formerly Yugoslovia) and onto Venice Italy for a few nights.   After Venice we found our way through Milan and onto the Lake Como area in a place called Bellagio.

Despite the weather being unseasonably warm for Europe - so unseasonable we didn't think to book places with AC until we got to Italy...so we have all been a bit toasty.  The pictures are deceiving calm at times - we were a bit hot and it seemed the only thing that kept us going was liters and liters of water along with mandatory Gelato at least twice per day.

Enjoy some pics of the trip.  Prague below.

 Unfortunately my Czech isn't very good - how was I to know this was a no driving road when all the cars were headed that way and the GPS told me to?  It started out at an 80 euro fine paid on the spot - then he reduced to 40 euros and then gave us 20 euros back (about $25 was the cost).  Not sure if it was legit - but glad to get out of town otherwise unscathed.

 

BATE