Nai-publish: 16.08.2021
Day 5 of the trip and I had already started writing an entry earlier, until we were surprised by a thunderstorm including hail and had to change our location. The weather is calming down a bit and we can only see the lightning in the distance.
After leaving the beautiful Almsee on Saturday, we have already driven through Austria almost once. Here are some highlights of the weekend:
Saturday - Pure nature!
A hike was on the agenda. The one we had chosen before cost money, which we didn't think was justified. By chance and due to a gloomy mood, we found the hike to Hochsalm. Well, and after a Grandma explained to us where to go :D. The hike at 1495 m altitude was great (hot) and along the way to the summit, there were some delicious things to discover, such as raspberries, but also strawberries, wild garlic, mushrooms, and thyme that the forest had in store for us.
When we arrived back at the car, it was already late afternoon and we felt like swimming! Basti's dad recommended the Gleinkersee, where we not only cooled off but also had Kasknockerl (cheese spaetzle). Freshly "showered" and full, we headed towards our sleeping spot, which was a small gravel area right next to a river that evening. Similar to the Almsee, the river in the mountains was freezing cold, but thanks to the limestone of the limestone alps, it was beautifully clear.
Sunday - Culinary adventures
We felt like going to the city and shopping. Unfortunately, it was Sunday and also the Assumption of Mary. Well, then we just had coffee, cake, and schnitzel in Vienna, as well as a great view at night.
The café we chose was called "Vollpension" and it was a generational café. This means that young and old people (Vollpansionierte) work together there and the cakes are always freshly baked, just like at Grandma's. Despite the strange menu concept and the slightly overpriced prices, it is still worth a visit. Especially because Grandpa Xari shouts at every guest who comes with "3-G" (vaccinated, tested, recovered, otherwise nothing works in Austria!), I suspect he has poor hearing.
We had schnitzel at "Fromme Helene". A quaint place in the Josefsviertel (... or städtla, I'm not sure anymore). Note from Basti: "Of course, original Viennese veal schnitzel fried in clarified butter, with potatoes! What else?"
Thanks to the holiday and probably the school vacations, Vienna was deserted and after our six-hour stroll, we drove to our sleeping spot in the Cobenzl district. Stunning view over Vienna, but really many young people showing off their fancy cars and listening to loud music, including a Hollywood-worthy driveway.
Monday - first relaxation
After the rather turbulent night, swimming and chilling on the Danube Islands in Vienna was on the agenda in the late morning. It is really beautiful there and reminded me a little of the Bamberger Bug. With this cozy feeling and fries in my stomach, we embarked on the three-hour car journey to Teichalm in Styria, where our (free) next hike starts tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.
P.S.: Basti is currently playing the guitar and singing songs to calm me down, as the weather is still crazy and we were briefly worried that the hazelnut-sized hailstones might have destroyed our solar panel.
P.P.S.: The pictures are sorted chronologically.