Before Oktoberfest let me share my impression of Salzburg's much lower key Rupertikirtag. Just the thousand or so drinkers needed good organisation if it was too flow smoothly. That organisation was provided by a production line process. Workers had just one job and they did that time after time. Firstly

It's St. Rupert's day today. Who? None other than the patron saint of Salzburg and so excuse for one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Trouble is it's a bit wet again today. The morning's OK so we wander into town and stumble across the house that was Mozart's

The forecast for today and tomorrow are poor. Shame because a major outdoor festival starts here in Salzburg tomorrow. It's raining when we leave the van this morning and hadn't really stopped all day when we returned tonight; at best it was drizzle, at worst it was pretty heavy. We've

Back 400 years or so ago it was common amongst part of European society (often high,-ranking Catholic cardinals) to have gardens that were a fun escape from the humdrum everyday life. Often the fun element was supplied by water, with unexpected fountains and even water-powered tableaus. Sadly most of

Well, high lunch actually. Over a mile high! But I'm getting ahead of myself. Vienna had a Vienna card that gave us free public transport and discounts on museums and attractions. We just about broke even on the three day card. Salzburg has similar but rather than discounts it gives

So far we've been really lucky with the weather. If anything is been too hot rather than cold and wet. I can only recall 2 days in the last 6 weeks where it was wet enough to make us change our plans, one day in Hanover we stayed in the

A city of rubble and shortages. The black market thrived. The currency was revalued and overnight people's saving evaporated. Food was scarce and you could pay a fortune just for a simple loaf of bread. We may not have any understanding of this but we did experience the price of

Remember back a couple of days ago when I commented that the problem with Vienna is that there are just too many museums and art galleries. Seeing them all would take a couple of weeks and a couple of week's salary. So choices have to be made. Two choices: #1

Another "bucket list" tick! Ever since seeing "The Third Man" for the first time, probably 4 decades out more ago, I have wanted to go on the Vienna Ferris Wheel, The Reisenrad. Trouble is Carol Reed's film was shot in 1949 and I had no idea whether the venerable and

... and the tree where doves go to die.  From the Leonard Cohen song 'Take This Waltz'. Now if you are thinking "it means nothing to me", perhaps you are an Ultravox fan. Or maybe just a fan of Rigsby's cat. Anyway today's theme is about finding Vienna. Day one in