Day 3 - the market

We didn't have a good nights sleep, due to one thing and another, so we rose late at 8.30am there is a one hour time difference so to us it was 7.30am really. It made a change for last evening when it was both raining and sunshine which brought out a lovely double rainbow outside our window. 

It was a lovely sunny day and we knew that we were going to the next village of Sankt Johann for the Friday market. This is our view from the window. 

This is our apartment, with the open door and all to the right on the ground floor. 

We arrived at Sankt Johann at around11am. 

Being late, it was a bind finding a car parking space, but I managed it. We went first to visit out friends who own a jewellery shop. I had bought a watch there last year and damaged the ceramic face so they were going to fix it for me. We have become friends over about ten years, when they used to have a jewellery evening at the hotel we used to stay at in the village. We chatted for a time then had to go, otherwise I wouldn't get my shopping done before the ticket ran out!

We made our way past various market stalls until I came the one I wanted, Natur Adria. Schana, the lovely young woman who sells the smellies, recognised us immediately and there were handshakes all around. I bought gifts for friends, both for now and Christmas, as the things she has are unique and so nice! 

We just back to the car in time and then left the village to drive to another favourite place, Kitzbuhel. We always park at the gondola lift car park but this time we were unlucky. We got to the barrier but there were no tickets, so I had to turn the car around and look for somewhere else. We found another one, but it turned out it was for locals, so there was no way we could stay there, so we gave up and went back to the apartment. We'll try again next week. 

I filled the car up with fuel at the best price I could find, the equivalent of 96p per litre!  The prices differ widely so you have to be on the ball to find the best price. It even changes during the day and it's best to buy fuel in the morning as its cheaper!

On returning to the farm, we had lunch then the Husband had a sleep, whilst I actually sunbathed, listening to an audio book. 

Time moved on and he soon came out, asking if it wasn't time to visit Cafe Schmid. I gave in and off we went, but then the rain started. Guess who had forgotten to pack the big brolly? So I had to get my little one out for the both of us. As this was a planned visit, I brought presents for the family on this visit. I didn't have ice cream today, just had a drink instead. The Husband was shocked!

We also thought that we heard the sound of English voices but brushed it off, as the village is off the beaten track. However, what a surprise when we left the cafe. There was a Shearings coach on the car park, off loading a mass of English visitors!  We spoke to the coach driver and asked how long they had been coming. This was a new trip for them, so that is SO good for the village. The last coaches were years ago,so it's good to see them back again. We laughed at the thought that the coach company was based only a few miles away from us at home though!

So, that was our first real day in Austria. We've decided not to travel too much here, there and everywhere this time and make time to chill. This blog might get boring! 

Day 2 - onwards to Austria!

We were up for 7am, had a nice breakfast and made rolls for our lunch, then we left by 8.15am. We were now on the German autobahns and we certainly knew it!  I love driving here, as the roads are brilliant, but you really have to have eyes in the back of your head, as one minute there's nothing behind you then zoom, a car comes from nowhere at over 100 mph!

This time there were lots of roadworks, so more often than not we were driving at 50mph. You could see that it really upset some of the fast drivers. Often they were racing each other and we saw a number of accidents, all on the opposite carriageway, thank goodness. 

We only stopped twice on our journey to Austria but that, and the roadworks, added an extra hour onto our arrival time, so we arrived in the village at 4pm. Our first stop was at the local Spar supermarket for provisions, but then it was off to Cafe Schmid!  As always, as soon as we walked in, it was hugs for the Husband and he was immediately given his usual cappuccino and massive slice of Black Forest gateau!

Most people get two forks and share the cake but not him! He scoffs the lot, every day! I had a chocolate sundae, but it filled me SO much that we couldn't go out for tea later. 

We spoke at some length with the grand daughter,who has grown up into a fine young lady. Her English is excellent, so I'm lazy and talk with her instead of practising my German. 

After spending a very happy hour, we made our way up the hill to the farm, where we have an apartment every year. Again, another lovely welcome, then we were given a jug full of fresh milk from the cows. I never have to buy milk when I stay here. This time we had brought a toaster with us from the UK, as this is the one luxury missing from the kitchen. We used it straight away since we weren't going out to eat. 

To finish of the evening, I unpacked, got everything straight then settled down to watch a film in bedon Sky Go which is on my laptop. The wifi normally isn't too good here, so I downloaded a few films to watch. However, this time they appear to have upgraded the wifi, so I'm able to write this in comfort, on the couch instead of being perched on a bench in the hallway!

Austria 2017 - Day 1

From home to Germany

We left the house at 6am and hit the M6 motorway. It was busy, as expected but not too bad over Thelwall. The road works were annoying and we were 10 minutes behind schedule when we got to Stoke. Husband drove. 

We went on the M6 toll and stopped at the services for a loo break. Very disappointed, the standards of cleanliness seems to have plummeted! Far better was our stop at the next services by Silverstone race track. They are always good. Our experience here was far better than last year because it was here that we began to think there was something wrong with the car. From here on we spent the whole trip worried until it finally broke down! This time there were no problems at all and we arrived at the Eurotunnel within plenty of time.  We had even more time than expected as our train was delayed by 30 mins due to an earlier cancellation. I took over the driving for the next nine days. 

Once our car was called to proceed, we made our way to passport control. No problems here but then we were pulled in for a security check, as were most other vehicles. I've never seen so many being processed. We were asked the usual security questions and if we had any weapons! The driver's door and the dash board were all swabbed for drugs/explosives and a man in while gloves went along the side of each vehicle, touching the wheel arches and handles. 

Once this was completed we were all allowed to make our way to boarding. We entered the train, parked up and then had our lunch. I have a travel fridge, which is wonderful for these journeys. 

I set the car up for travelling on the continent, changing the units to kilometres from miles and changing the country on the sat nav.  The Discovery has one built in but it's rubbish, so I have a really good TomTom. In fact, we use the two together, as the onboard one is only good for on the motorways, as it indicates when the next services are coming up and what's there! 

We arrived in Calais and disembarked. There was a large police presence on the site as we drove out. We saw three immigrants who had been turned away by them as they had presumably attempted to gain access. The first twenty minutes driving is always testing, getting used to being on the opposite side of the road in an English car!  However, I soon settled and got comfortable. The weather was iffy, rain clouds, then rain, then dry. It really didn't know what to do! There were lorries queued for miles, waiting to go to the UK.  I'm not looking forward to the delays on the return trip!

We got to Dunkirk and we turned right, heading south to Lille. As we had been delayed over half an hour, I knew we would hit traffic there and we did. However, it wasn't as bad as its been in the past, just slow moving. We carried on to Belgium, passing the turning for Ypres, which we'll be visiting on the way home. The land is very flat here and I don't particularly like this part of Belgium. However, we were soon approaching Charleroi airport, where we will be staying on our journey home so that we have time to visit Ypres. It will be a very long return drive from Austria to here in one day, but worth it. 

After a few hours we were approaching the Ardennes. Now this a my favourite part of Belgium, having stayed here a few years ago for a memorial ceremony for WWll. It brings back very happy memories!  We were nearing the border with Luxembourg when we stopped at our favourite services, Air de Wanlin. It looks like two tepees across the road!  We pulled in and parked, amazingly next to a transporter carrying THREE new Land Rover Defenders! They had been souped up, just like the Child's so I took lots of photos to send to him. 

It was here that we found out the cost of the loo - 70 cents.  All the loos are very smart, many have revolving toilet seats. They only do that once they are flushed and it's a way of disinfecting the seats. 

After we left these services we entered Luxemburg. It only takes 15 minutes to drive from one side to the other and I always make sure that we stop for fuel before we cross over into Germany, as its so cheap. Once this was done, we were only a few minutes from our hotel, the Sonnenhof at Perl, just over the Moselle river and the heart of wine country. 

The hotel is near to the autobahn, but in the countryside and is really lovely. In fact, we just cannot fault it and have returned for our third visit. The rooms are modern, clean and comfortable. The food is really good and the staff very nice, although English is not spoken here. 

So, we checked in, went straight down for dinner then went up to bed for a good sleep, ready for the next day's journey to Austria!