Zurich to Salzburg

Sept 10

We haven't had internet for a few days so we are going to catch up here....

Accommodations:  You really won't believe this, but for two nights we stayed in the smallest room yet!  It was a BEAUTIFUL 6x8 tiny room with a bed that was 4x6 and it had 2 full walls of windows looking at the Swiss Alps.  COZY and wonderful!!!  Then we went to Salzburg, Austria and stayed in a baroque style room with fancy schmancy curtains and Wayne didn't like it at all.

Food Highlights:  Austrian pancakes with plum sauce & butternut squash soup - delicious!

Adventure:  Two days ago we were super sore after our 6 hour hike and we decided to take a short stroll...which ended in a 2 hour hike to a beautiful river...now even more sore.  Yesterday we traveled through 4 countries on a train.

Humor:  Wayne ordered some hot chocolate in the Swiss Alps and we had the nerve to ask if it was "Swiss Miss".  Kelley was gently reprimanded by a very old woman who told her that in Austria we don't put our feet on the train seats.  She wasn't wearing a habit, but we're pretty sure she was a nun from the Sound of Music.  

Rest: Wayne finally got his wish!!  We rested for 2 full days in Switzerland.  Rest, rest, rest.  We had a great long walk sightseeing through Salzburg yesterday.

After staying 2 extra nights in Gimmelwald, we left the tiny and very untouristy town full of hay balers and swiss cheese makers, and went to Zurich.  Sad the leave the quaint town, but excited to meet up with Andi Pupato, we backtracked north to meet for lunch.  

Andi is the phenomenal percussionist for Grammy Award winning artist, Andreas Vollenweider, other artists, and his own band, Ronnin.  After hearing Andi play in Virginia 4 years ago and meeting him after the concert, Wayne has kept up with him via Facebook.  When we invited him to meet us for lunch, he agreed, and we had a great meal and a tour of Zurich.  Thanks Andi!!

After Zurich, we headed to Salzburg, Austria where we walked the streets of Mozart's birthplace.  We took a tour of his home and listened to Sonata #50 in D.

We enjoyed Mirabel Gardens, the Dome (huge cathedral built in 1689), and the beautiful baroque (whatever that means) city.

We made it to Hallstatt, Austria last night and we'll update you soon.