Day 13 - Hiking the Alps

Looking down on the first Alp we climbed. Below is the Alpine hut where we ate lunch.
see all photos »

Aunt Heli woke up me today at about 8:30, which was actually 9:30 because Daylight Savings Time starts earlier here. That was the longest I had slept in weeks. My own bed in my own bedroom with my very own (clean) bathroom! I feel like a princess. After a lovely breakfast, with the best coffee, we headed off to Bad Ischl, to hike the Alps. The trip included a ride on the Auto Bahn!! Can you believe it?! The Austrian Auto Bahn actually does have a speed limit. Some areas it's 180 kilometers per hour (about 111mph) and in some areas it's over 200 kilometers per hour (over 125mph). It was very fast. Needless to say, it didn't take us long to get to Bad Ischl. Bad Ischl is a valley spa town that Emperor Ferdinand fell in love with and built a huge palace. His wife Sissy used to climb the mountains near the palace (I'm sure her guards loved that). We drove through the picturesque town and caught a lift up a mountain (over 1500 ft) in a cable car.

The Alps with Bad Ishcl below.
see all photos »

Once we were up the mountain, Aunt Heli and Rene decided we'd better have lunch first, so we headed over to an Alpine hut. Along the way, we passed men dressed in traditional Austrian wear. Women as well! Aunt Heli said that people still wear the traditional outfits and it is still fashionable to wear them about town because they are so flattering on women (I want one!).

Clients!!? Family!? Friends!? I nag you all about this

Even the dogs were hiking the alps! Seriously! That's Rene up there on (the one that isn't a dog).
see all photos »

After lunch (I had goulash and cider), we headed up a smaller mountain, so that I could get my bearings. It's not like you're just walking up a mountain. There are lots of little rocks and nooks and crannies you have to get through - it makes for a very slippery trail. Rene gave me his cane to use which helped. Once we were done with that one, we headed over to the next mountain (much bigger and lots more people). I forgot to mention that this was National Celebration Day - meaning that the Austrians all go out and walk or hike. Anyway, the trail is narrow, so we constantly had to step aside for faster hikers (okay, I was slowing us down... A lot). We hiked for quite a ways and Aunt Heli and Rene encouraged me to take breaks (it's not as easy as it looks, going up hill for 2 hours or more). I thought I was doing pretty well, until I was passed by a 4 year old little girl (I'm not kidding) holding a teddy bear. Great. Here comes yet another small child walking in front of his parents. In fact, I was passed by many kids, who had magically boundless energy, and apparently, bionic legs. We got to the top and headed back down, stopping for a snack of apples (they have an apple tree) and fruit cake. My favorite meal so far in my journey was eating atop the Alps and looking down on the villages below. You just can't beat that.

Aunt Heli and I on the way down from the tallest Alp we climbed.
see all photos »

We stopped for coffee at the neighboring Alpine cafe. Here, they served us water with our coffee. When I inquired about this, Aunt Heli said that Austrians all drink water with their coffee because coffee depletes your body of necessary water. AHEM! Did some people (who I won't mention) hear that? Clients!!? Family!? Friends!? I nag you all about this and apparently, everyone in Austria knows it, so nah! :) Oh, and it was the best water I've ever had - from the Alpine springs. I wish I could bottle it up and take it home (but I'm so not carrying that).

Rene and I.
see all photos »

After our trip down the cable car, we drove over to Aunt Heli and Rene's apartment in Bad Ishcl. It's such a sweet little studio and I took lots of pictures for the fam (which, again, i won't post here).  We walked about town for a bit just after the sun had set. It's a really lovely town and I can see why so many Austrian's have weekend homes and apartments here, in the shadows of the Alps.