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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 13-15) Peñíscola & Barcelona

We left Valencia and headed along the coast to Peñíscola (🤭) for some mediterrean sea views. The town and castle of Peníscola played the role of Valencia in the movie El Cid, and is now a popular tourist attraction and popular family holiday resort. After hiking around the cliffs and castle, we walked along the beach before getting back on the bus. We then continuer along the Costa Dorada to the Cava Bodegas at Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, where we enjoyed a tasting as we learned the sparkling secrets of Spanish bubbly. After trying a few samples (I had fresh grape juice instead), we got back on the bus and headed into Barcelona. Our first stop was Gaudi’s Park Güell. Originally started as a housing project, Gaudi was asked to create gardens around the houses. Unfortunately, being too far from the city centre only two houses were ever built and sold, so the gardens became a park. Gaudi uses creative liberty and an imaginative, ornamental creation in organic shapes resembling nature (no geometrical shapes). It was very odd. We then stopped by Olympic Port for supper. I had Galacian Octupus and a Passion Fruit Pina Colada. Apparently this marina has become an upscale neighbourhood since the 1992 Olympics, as my meal was over €40.

The next day we headed up the mountain of Montserrat to the Abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict. It is notable for enshrining the image of the Virgin of Montserrat (Black Madonna). The monastery was founded in the 11th century and still functions to this day, with over 70 monks. Monserrat literally translates to serrated, as the mountain looks like it has been carved with a saw into various formations. After checked out the views and the abbey, we headed back to Barcelona for a panoramic bus tour around the city, finishing at the famous Sagrada Familia (Basilica of the Holy Family). Construction began in 1882, however its first mass was not held in it until 2010 (128 years). Now 12 years later (140), many aspects are still incomplete and scaffolding still dominates the unfinished towers. Gaudí's original design calls for a total of eighteen spires, representing in ascending order of height the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ (only 9 are completed). There are to be three grand facades: the Nativity façade to the East, the Passion façade to the West, and the Glory façade to the South (yet to be completed). The Nativity Façade was started by Gaudi before his death in 1926, and completed in 1935. Dedicated to the birth of Jesus, it is decorated with scenes reminiscent of elements of life. Characteristic of Gaudí's naturalistic style, the sculptures are ornately arranged and decorated with scenes and images from nature. The Passion Facade, was created by by Josep Subirachs, who used rigid, angular forms to provoke a dramatic effect to show the severity and brutality of Christ's sacrifice. Inside the church, there are massive columns and kalaiscopic glass wIndows that shine in colors representing nature. It was beautiful, but a little odd.

After our tour, we headed for our final group supper. I had Andalusian-style calamari with Raz al Hanout mayonnaise, Entrecôte (steak) with fries, and Tim Baon – Ice cream nougat with Catalan cream & hot chocolate. Yumm!

The next day most of my travelmates flew home, but I still had one last day. I decided to do a hop & off bus tour to see any of the sights that I might have missed the last couple days. It was hot day, so I only managed two routes and 2 stops. I did get off at the cable car up to the top of Montjuïc to see the castle.

Final hours in Spain before flying home tomorrow!

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 12) Valencia

Today was a long drive from Grenada to Valencia. We arrived in the late afternoon with temperatures in the 40’s. We had a little free time to explore the City of Arts & Sciences located across the street from our hotel. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is a cultural and architectural complex designed by designed by Santiago Calatrava (designer of Calgary’s Peace Bridge). It is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia and one of the 12 Treasures of Spain. The Hemisfèric, also known as the planetarium or the "eye of knowledge", is the centerpiece of the City of Arts and Sciences, and is meant to resemble a giant eye. The Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe is an interactive museum of physical sciences that resembles the skeleton of a whale. The L'Umbracle is an open structure enveloping a landscaped walk with plant species indigenous to Valencia. L'Oceanogràfic is an open-air oceanographic park built in the shape of a water lily. L'Àgora is a covered plaza in which concerts, conferences and sporting events are held, and it is in the shape of a giant clam shell.

We walked across to see some of the buildings and statues. We saw some people dipping their feet in the fountains, so we were about to take our shoes off when we saw people on strange water toys in the other fountain (clear canoes, step paddle boards, electric paddle boards, jet bikes). We jumped at the chance to try something new, so did some paddling around the fountain before heading back to the hotel. It was very entertaining.

We then headed out to the town centre. We stopped first for a sample of Horchata (nut sweetened milk). Then we headed to the Metropolitan Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia, which is said to contain the Holy Chalice, believed by many to be the true Holy Grail. Our next stop was La Cigrona for our paella cooking class and supper. The most famous paella of all is the Valencian Paella. This typical dish has rabbit, chicken, beans and green beans, as well as a good sofrito made with tomato, onion, and garlic. After seeing a demonstration of how they prepare the paella, we were served it for supper. I always thought paella was more tomato based, but very little went into the dish. Instead it had many beans like chili. It was a interesting. We headed back to the hotel for evening views of the City of Arts & Sciences.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 11) Granada

Today was my 50th birthday. I left the beaches of Costa Del Sol and headed into the Andalucian hills famous for their olive & almond trees. We stopped by a farm cooperative to learn about the process of making olive oil, and then we tried a few varieties with pieces of bread. We then headed into the town of Alfarnatejo, a quiet whitewashed village with a population of less than 500 people, surrounded by stunning mountainous landscape. It was here we were divided into groups and taken into their homes for a delicious lunch. We had salad & meat & cheese tray, followed by chick pea and potato soup, pork stew and potatoes. We then had fruit, coffee and liquor and they brought out a birthday cake for me!

We then headed to our hotel and had a free night. A few of us headed out for burgers and gelato.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 9/10) Costa Del Sol

After arriving at Costa Del Sol, I immediately went to check out the water views. My room had a semi-sea view and also overlooked the neighboring pool. I went up to the rooftop pool and bar to take some photos. We then headed to our Mediterranean Feast, which consisted of salad, roasted red pepper, calamari, fried anchovies, tempura fried grouper, micro clams, and sea bass baked in salt. It was Kathy’s birthday so we also had birthday cake. We walked home along the promenade where many beach side bars were located.

The next morning, I chose not to the optional tour to Malaga, instead had a day of relaxation & fun (as it was my last day as a 49 year old). After catching up on emails and blog entries, I then walked to the laundromat. After finishing my laundry and walking back to the hotel, I went across the street to the beach and checked out what activities they had to offer - jet ski and parasailing combo seemed like a good choice. I then had massage at the hotel which had access to the private spa pool. When my friends got back from their tour, we headed out on our jet skis. I had so much fun. We had a break before parasailing so we went to the pizza restaurant on the beach. Before i finished my pizza, I had to run back for parasailing. We spent over 50 minutes waiting for the boat to arrive. I would have had time to leisurely finish my lunch, use the facilities and apply more sunscreen had I known. When the boat finally arrived, they crammed 18 of us on (I am sure no safety rules were followed). Each group of 2-3 people had about 10 minutes in the air. We weren’t allowed to take cameras, but the views were amazing. Our time in the air was fantastic, but the 2 hours sitting in the boat in the hot sun was excessive. When we were dropped back on shore we spent a while swimming and floating in the warm Mediterranean waters. It was so relaxing. That evening we had our final dinner and drinks at the hotel. After supper, we headed down the beach and played a round of mini golf. A great end to a great day (though I lost by one stroke). We leave in the morning for Grenada.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 9) Gibraltar

We left Seville and headed to the UK, well not really we headed to Gibraltar. This tiny piece of land at the southern tip of Spain is actually owned by the British since 1704. It is only 6.7 km2, roughly the same size at Heathrow Airport terminal 1&2, and the landscape is dominated by the 426-metre-high Rock of Gibraltar (made of Jurassic limestone), and the narrow coastal lowland surrounding it.

As it is not part of Spain, we had to clear customs in Spain before walking into the UK, and the reverse when we left. Once we were all through (easy for the Canadians and Australian), we boarded mini bus to take our tour. We stopped at a few lookouts for photos before heading up to the Rock's upper area which is covered by a nature reserve. It was here we saw some of the 230 Barbary macaques, the famous "apes" of Gibraltar, which are actually monkeys. It was quite hot out again today, so many of the apes we resting in the shade but we did see a few where we were getting off the bus. This stop was also at St Michael’s cave, a series of limestone caves with massive stalagmites & stalactites. Once done our tour, we had free time for lunch. A bunch of us had the famous fish & chips at Roys.

After lunch we headed back in Spain and continued along the coast to the town of Mejas with it white-washed houses built into the mountainside. We stopped for some photos and a drink before heading to Torremelinos, our home on the Mediterranean Sea for the next two days.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 5) Fátima, Odibos, & Lisbon

Our first stop was the town of Fátima, where in 1917 three children, Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, said they were first visited by the Virgin Mary.

On the site was the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário), the Chapel of the Apparitions (Capelinha das Aparições), and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity.

Our next stop was Obidos, a town located on a hilltop, encircled by a fortified wall. Óbidos remains a well-preserved example of medieval architecture; its streets, squares, walls and its castle. Each July Óbidos castle hosts a traditional 'Medieval Market'. For two weeks the castle and the surrounding town recreate the spirit of medieval Europe. Unfortunately we were there a few weeks too soon.

When we arrived in town we had the famous Ginjinha de Óbidos (sour cherry brandy in a small chocolate cup). This gave us the fuel or fueled our craziness to walked the walls around the town. The walls have no railing, so it was a little scary at times. The entire circle took us just shy of 90 minutes and we had to come down and walk around a portion of it as they were filming a telenovela.

We then continued into Lisbon. Once at our hotel, I had a brief swim in the pool before our Fado evening. Fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation, fate and melancholy. Our evening started dinner but then they dimmed the lights and preformed between courses. I had sea bass, it was quite good but hard to see the bones with the lights low. After our evening of dinner and music, we headed back to the hotel.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 7&8) Seville & Cordoba

We left Lisbon using the April 25th bridge (copy of the Golden Gate) and got our final views of the city. The landscape of trees and grass soon became more barren as the olive trees which dry the surrounding soil became more frequent. When we arrived in Seville we stopped at the Playa de Toro and walked to the city center for our tour. We started at St. Mary of the See Cathedral. It is among the largest of all medieval and Gothic cathedrals, in terms of both area and volume. La Giralda is a tower attached to the Cathedral that dates back to the twelfth century. It was originally built as part of a mosque when the Moors ruled in Spain and was later added onto by the Christians. It has the tomb of Christopher Columbus. We then walked around the city centre and passed by many landmarks made famous in literature and music - Tobacco factory referenced in Carmen, Rosina’s balcony from the Barber of Seville, and Hostelia del Laurel from Don Juan Tonoria. We then headed to our hotel for free time. As it was 45 degrees outside, I had a quick dip in the pool. We then headed for a supper of various tapas dishes - cold tomato soup, tempura fried white fish, creamed spinach & chick pea, slow cooked loin & potatoes, and spanisn tiramisu. It was good, but a very odd collection. Our evening ended with a horse & carriage ride back to our hotel. 

The next day we had an optional tour to Cordoba. Córdoba is home to notable examples of Moorish architecture such as the Mezquita-Catedral, which was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and is now a cathedral. The UNESCO status has since been expanded to encompass the whole historic centre of Córdoba. Córdoba has more World Heritage Sites than anywhere in the world, with four. The main site on our tour was the Mosque-Cathedral. Originally constructed as a grand mosque in 785, it was later converted to a Cathedral in 1236. When you walk into the cathedral you see hundreds of pillars and arches, and in the center is the nave and altar. It is quite a sight to behold. When we finished in the cathedral we walked through town and had lunch. We had potato tortilla (made from 6 lbs of potatoes and 40 eggs), lemonade and gelato. We headed back to hotel for a brief swim before heading to the Triana district for Flamenco lessons and a show. Our lessons showed us some clapping and stomping basics, however I don’t think any of us will become professionals. The evening concluded with a show featuring a guitarist, vocalist and two dancers.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 6) - Lisbon, Cascais & Sintra

We started the day with a bus tour of Lisbon. Seven cinematic hillsides overlooking the Rio Tejo cradle Lisbon's postcard-perfect panorama of cobbled alleyways, ancient ruins and white-domed cathedrals – a captivating scene crafted over centuries. We stopped for photos at the Monument of the Discoveries, a group of sculptures that represent the prow of a caravel (a small sailing ship constructed by the Portuguese to explore the Atlantic Ocean). Leading the ship is Prince Henry the Navigator and behind him are many other great Portuguese discoverers. The next stop was the Belem Tower (Torre de Belém), used to defend the city. Years later, it was transformed into a lighthouse and customs house.

We then headed to the Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos), one of the most visited sites in Lisbon. UNESCO declared both the Monastery and Belem Tower as World Heritage Sites in 1983. Attached to the monastery is The Church of Santa Maria . This is very unique and completely different from the rest. The temple has a single nave that is held up by six beautifully sculpted columns and the church seems to go on forever. The Church houses the tombs of Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões, a Portuguese poet and writer.

Located next to the monastery is the Pastéis de Belém, where the famous Pastéis de Belém tarts are baked. Developed by monks who lived in the Jerónimos Monastery centuries ago, it may be 200 or more years old. There are many variations of pastéis de nata but only one Pastéis de Belém.

After our morning snack of tarts we got back on the the bus and headed to the Portuguese Riviera, the affluent coastal region to the west of Lisbon. The region is internationally known as a luxury destination for its history as a home of the wealthy, the famous, and European royalty. Our first stop was Cascais for lunch, photos and shopping. We headed to the beach to stick our feet in the Atlantic Ocean and then headed for lunch. We tried piri piri chicken and the gelato from the famous Santini’s (over 70 years old).

We got back on the bus and headed to Sintra. A major tourist destination famed for its picturesqueness, it has several historic palaces, castles, scenic beaches, parks and gardens. Unfortunately, I thought we were going to the famous colorful Palais de Pena, however instead we went to the National Palace or town palace. This palace is a medieval in decor and the facade is white with two giant smoke stacks. After touring the castle, we headed up the hill to the old Jewish quarter, which was basically just souvenir shops.

For supper, we headed to Restaurante Vale do Rio for a seafood feast. It started with seafood croquettes and prawns, then shrimp soup, sauteed shrimps in butter, clams in garlic, soft shells crab you got to hit wi to a hammer, seabreen fillet, and fresh fruit. What a fun evening filled with lots of seafood. To come home, we took the ferry across the river with views of the April 25th bridge (copy of the Golden Gate), and the Christo Rei statue (copy Christ the Redeemer).

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 4) Porto

We left Salamanca and headed to Portugal. The landscapes changed from dry barely fields to lush green hills with fruit trees. Actually Portugal apparently has more tree varieties that anywhere else due to its climate and rainfall. We passed my miles of cork oak trees and grazing under them we Iberian pigs. Cork is a popular item in Portugal, first for their wine and ports, but also for souvenirs (purses, wallets, and even clothes).

We arrived in Porto just before lunch, so we were given free time to eat. We found this neat library that was serving port and sandwiches and had a piano/organ playing to entertain you while you ate. After lunch we headed to the Sandeman Portery (might have made up the word, but the winery for port), for a tour of their facility and of course to taste their product. Porto is the birthplace of Port Wine. The English used to buy their wine from France but they were continually at war so England began to source its wine from Spain and Portugal. Unfortunately, the wine didn't travel well and was undrinkable by the time it reached England, so they added sherry before the fermentation had completed, thereby preserving the wine - and creating Port. I didn’t particularly like the white, but the ruby was not bad. They also had tawny and rosé.

After the tour, we headed to the other side of the River Douro to our hotel. The hotel is an old post office, so carpet and walls all had a postal theme. We had a few hours, so I walked around to get photos of some of their iconic sites - train station covered in tiles, Cathedral and Bishops Palace and of course the library that JK Rowling based some of Harry Potter on (long line ups to go inside, but I took a photo). We had supper at the hotel (hake with rice), and then checked out the views from the bridge after sunset.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 3) - Segovia, Avila & Salamanca

Today we left Madrid and headed to Segovia. The city is famous for its midtown Roman aqueduct, cathedral (one of the last ones to be built in Europe following a Gothic style), and the medieval castle. The city center was declared of World Heritage by UNESCO in 1985. Once in Segovia we stopped for a picture of the castle which served as one of the templates for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle. We then headed up to the center of town for our walking tour of the aqueducts and historic buildings. These aquadects are one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts, over 17 km long, and used absolutely no mortar. We walked through the city to Plaza Mayor to the Cathedral stands. Unfortunately it was Sunday, therefore we were not allowed to enter the church. While we were in Plaza Mayor, many small music groups paraded past us, as it was the weekend of their folkfest.

Our next stop was Avila for a panoramic photo of the complete and prominent medieval town walls, built in the Romanesque style. Orson Welles once named Ávila as the place in which he would most desire to live. Various scenes of his 1965 film Chimes at Midnight were filmed in the town. Ávila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

We then headed into Salamanca, one of the most important university cities in Spain. The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest western university. With 30,000 students (1/5 of the total population), the university is, together with tourism, a primary source of income in Salamanca. It is also on the Via de la Plata path of the Camino de Santiago.

After we dropped our bags at the hotel, we went on a walking tour of the city center. We walked passed the Pontifical University, the New and Old Cathedrals (both are working churches connected to each other, one is used for masses and the other for weddings and funerals), Plaza Mayor (town square), and university buildings. There are some interesting additions to some of the ornate inlays on buildings - a good luck frog, an astronaut, and a dragon eating ice cream. After our walk, we headed back to Plaza Mayor for supper (veal medallions). We grabbed gelato after supper and walked back to the hotel, to then walk back aftet sunset to see the place lit up.

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Europe 2022 - Spain & Portugal (day 1 & 2) - Madrid & Toledo

I left Nürnberg and took the airport bus to Munich. When I arrived at the airport, they were having IT issues so it was very difficult to check in my bag and then my plane left almost 2 hours late. When I arrived in Madrid, I was late so missed my provided shuttle and tour and had to take a taxi. Upon arrival at my hotel, I dropped off my luggage and headed straight to the rooftop pool as it was 38 degrees outside. I met my tour mates at the orientation supper at a local restaurant.

The next morning, I took the optional tour to Toledo - one of Spain's most magnificent cities. Dramatically sited atop a gorge overlooking the Río Tajo, it was known as the ‘city of three cultures’ in the Middle Ages, where Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities peacefully coexisted. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage. It is the home of the Spain’s finest Gothic cathedral - Catedral Primada Santa María de Toledo and the Alcázar of Toledo (fortress). The town also a long history in the production of bladed weapon, Damascene jewelry and marzipan.

We first stopped at a workshop to see the forging of swords and making Damascene jewelry pieces (steel inlaid gold and sterling silver). We then went to the top of Toledo for panoramic views of the town and the giant Alcazar (fortress with four towers built in 1085). We then headed down to the bus stop and took escalators built camoflauged into the side of the hill up to the town for a walking your. This town took us through the skinny streets (small cars barely squeezed through) to the magnificent Catedral Primada Santa María de Toledo. We stopped for lunch, however Spanish people don’t eat until after 1:00, so we struggled to find a place open serving food.

We returned to Madrid for a bus tour around town seeing the key sights and stopped at the Prado Museum. At the museum, we saw works from El Greco, Goya, Diego Velasquez and Peter Paul Ruebens.

That evening, we headed to La Castaiore for an evening of opera singing, piano playing and supper (salmon papillote). When I returned to the hotel they had already prepared my bed for sleeping with a chocolate on my pillow and a cloth on the floor for my feet.

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Europe 2022 - Germany (Nürnberg)

I took the train from Vienna to Nürberg and was met at the station by my friend and roommate from Iceland, Dollie Jayani Staudt. The ride was picturesque as the landscapes changed from town to town. I was a little scared when 5 German police came through the train and demanded to see my passport but they let me go after a few questions. He struggled to find my EU stamp in my passport with all my other stamps.

The next morning we took the train into Old Town and walked around its maze of historical lanes connected by stunning bridges over the river, half-timber houses, and even a 1000-year-old castle. Old Town starts at the Frauentorturm (tower gate in the city wall), once through we saw St. Lawrence Church, The Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), Main Market Square, Beautiful fountain (featuring a golden ring to turn and make a wish), St. Sebaldus church, preserved historical building on Weissgerbergasse, Albrecht Dürer House and ended at the Imperial Castle (medieval castle from the Roman Empire). We climbed to the top to take photos and walked around before heading back towards to the city gates for lunch. Our lunch stop was actually a restaurant sitting on the city walls. I had spinach dumplings or pirogies.

Nuremberg was one of the main centers of the Third Reich (Nazi Germany). We headed to the Nazi Party Rally Grounds – the largest still intact monumental structure built by the National Socialists. It was completed in 1933 and hosted six of Hitler’s biggest Nazi Party rallies. We also checked out the half built colosseum which also holds the documentation centre. We then climbed the 250 steps to get to the top of Alte Veste tower to get stunning views of the surrounding towns. After climbing in the hot sun we nended to stop for ice cream at the best shop in town. This is also where Playmobil was created, so there was characters throughout the town, and even a fun park.

The next morning we headed out for a hike through the Franconian woods. This hike featured sandstone cliffs similar to Petra. After over 3kms of walking we came across a Bavarian Beer Garden (only accessible by foot), and had some Apfelstrudel with ice cream before hiking back of the car.

We then headed to the Palace of Justice. When World War 2 ended, the Nuremberg Trials were held here (between 1945 and 1949, 13 trials in total). One of the darkest chapters of German history were openly discussed here, resulting in major penalties for the leaders of the regime. Nowadays, the Nuremberg trials are considered a milestone in the establishment of a permanent international court, which deals with topics like genocide and other crimes against humanity.

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Europe 2022 - Austria (day 8/9) - Vienna

This morning 8 members of the group headed back to Canada. After saying goodbye to them, I had one last dip in the pool and a rest in a thermal lounger before taking the train to Vienna. I met Karine (friend who I met in Rio) at the train station and we headed to the hotel to drop off my luggage. We then headed straight to the Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn. The 1,441-room Rococo palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country. The history of the palace and its vast gardens spans over 300 years, reflecting the changing tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. I remember visiting the palace back in 1986 when the Regina Lions Band toured Vienna. After strolling through the gardens and getting some photos, we took the train to the Naschmarkt. Some of the stalls had started to pack up but we did have a chance to look around and then stop for an elderflower cordial (water steeped with elderberry flower heads). Next we walked through some of Karine’s favourite quaint neighbourhoods filled with secret gardens, small cafes, old chutches and picturesque walkways. We stopped a few times for a drink at little cafes as it was 34 degrees outside. We also stopped at a restaurant on the 6th floor of a mall for views of the city. Our final stop was supper for the best chicken cordon bleu schnitzel & potato salad and an improv show. After the show we took the train back to the hotel.

The next morning, we headed to a quaint outdoor breakfast cafe for breakfast then we headed to Prater for a ride of the Giant Ferris wheel for high views of Vienna. After the highflying ride we headed to the most popular ice cream shop for a mandatory scoop (or 2) of gelato. We then walked over to the famous St. Stephen’s Cathedral - an awe inspiring Gothic Cathedral with two spires and a mosiac tiled roof. For a quick bite, we stopped at Trzesniesky’s for their famous small open faced sandwiches. Trzesniewski sandwiches are simple: fresh, dark rye bread, cut into small rectangle shapes and smothered in various spreads, from tomato and paprika to egg mayonnaise, or salmon and cream cheese. I tried the egg & tuna, egg & mushroom, and egg & crab. We then headed to the Innere Stadt (center or 1st district) to see the Imperial Palace, Musuems, Library and Opera house. After walking around in the heat for a few hours, we stopped at Volksgarten Park and sat in the shade of the rose garden before heading back to the hotel. Unfortunately, there was a medical emergency somewhere on the tracks, so we were removed from the train before getting to the hotel. We quickly grabbed a taxi back to the hotel to grab luggage and then to the main train station to catch my train to Nuremberg. Thanks Karine for being an excellent tour guide of this wonderful city.

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Europe 2022 - Austria (day 7) - Schladming

I cancelled my hike for today as I was still sore from the hike yesterday. Instead we borrowed bikes and headed up the hills across the valley towards Ramseau. Once halfway up the main road, we turned back as there was no shoulder to safely ride. We road down and took another way, but after a bunch of switch backs that led to nowhere to turned back again and just cycled by the river. The weather and great and the views were amazing. We went back up the hill to the Shutterhof and spent the rest of the day at the pools and spa. I splurged and also booked a massage. As 9/27 are heading off tomorrow, we had a final group supper of pork snitzel. A final night swim in the pool before packing for Vienna tomorrow.

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Europe 2022 - Austria (day 6) Schladming

Today we rented an electric car from the hotel and headed back to Wilde Wasser to finish the hike that we started on Wednesday. We got stopped in a traffic jam on the way, but it wasn’t cars that we were waiting for - it was cows going for a walk. We wanted to see the amazing waterfalls and views from the six suspension bridges, however we didn’t realize that the climb would be over huge steps, steep staircases and giant boulders. My Fitbit logged 200 floors but only 5.38 km because it was straight up. Once at the top we stopped for a drink at the little hut. We joked with the another hiker that we wanted an Uber to take us down (but we weren’t joking). We headed down using the road, it wasn’t as crazy as the up but still tough on the knees. Once down to the car we headed back to Schladming, we stopped in Rohrmoos for some shopping before a late lunch. We then headed back up the gondola to Hochgurzen with our group to race go-karts. I was the first down, but was almost passed in the last few seconds. We headed back down and grabbed our bikes for a quick ride before supper. After the buffet supper, I did some laps and relaxing in the thermal loungers and medyjet beds before bed.

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Europe 2022 - Austria (day 5) - Salzburg

Today we took the train in Salzburg. We only had a few hours, so we took a hop & off bus around to all the important sights from the Sound of Music and Mozart. Once we had go around once, we got off the bus and walked from Mirabellplatz around old town and central square and up the funicular to the Fortress. We then walked down the footpath to catch a bus back to the train station. We had a drink at the train station before taking the train back to Schladming for supper (chicken with hot potato salad). After supper was mandatory spa and pool time (another night with the pool completely to myself), and then drinks with friends.

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Europe 2022 - Austria (day 4) - Schladming

Today we left early to take the bus to Ramseau for the gondola upto the Dachstein Glacier. Unfortunately, it was raining when we left Schladming and there was fog and cloud cover at the top. The glacier was really hard to walk on, as it had about 5 inches of slush at the top. There was also a skydeck (panoramic viewing around the gondola station), stairway to nowhere (glass bottom stairway), and an ice palace (filled with glacier themed ice sculptures). We spent a few hours exploring the top, and then headed down on the gondola. The gondola has a open air viewing platform on the top, unfortunately it was not available going up or down - too bad, would have been some cool photos.

Once back in Schladming, we had lunch and some pool & spa time. Then I grabbed a bike and headed down to town and road along the river a bit before heading back up the hill for supper - brazed beef with mushrooms, potatoes and gravy. After supper, I did some more pool and spa time before bed. Tomorrow off to Salzburg for the day.