Day 30

Salzburg

The view from the window this morning

at 3:30 A-stinking-M when I gave up trying to sleep.

& at the more civilised 8:30 AM

Remember MGM on the train?

 

The snow was up to my knees when we walked out the door this morning.

One of the really excellent things about studying is that amazing rush when you hand in your paper and you know it’s the last one for a while. That’s what was keeping me awake…knowing that very soon internet access is going to come down to Maccas free WiFi. I have till Saturday after that it was going to be a problem – not insurmountable but nevertheless niggly and so after lying awake thinking all sorts of dire things I realised the solution was a my fingertips, literally. So I spent 4 hours writing and watching the skyline lighten while my gentle friend kept me company. Submitted it around dawn sighing big sighs of relief.

(not so) Black Betty this morning.

Yes we went out in it…why do you ask?

Monica says it’s actually warmer when it’s snowing and of course she’s right, it was only
–2˚ (remember it was –6˚ yesterday in the sunshine) when we headed out and it got up to 0˚. I know it sounds cold but everything’s relative, I can honestly say I wasn’t cold, haven’t been for the whole trip. It odes pay to dress appropriately and have a good hat and shoes, but if you do that you won’t be cold – trust me.

We went to Salzburg. I’d like to say for all the truly breath-taking sights, but it was actually an excuse to put Betty through her paces on snowy roads and to visit a favourite AllanAbroad sight - Christmas in Salzburg. THE most amazing place for people who love Christmas (it looks like the Guru’s house just before Christmas only on steroids). If you apply rule #1 (always look up) you’ll see that Salzburg is dominated by this rather impressive piece of fortification - Fortress Hohensalzburg that dates back to the 11th Century.

I didn’t take a lot of photos but here are a few

                

We parked near Mozartplaz, found the statue of the man himself and followed his gaze to the Christmas shop – at least that’s what we would have done if MGM had followed his instincts, instead we took the scenic route (I may have had something to do with that).

MGM had his work cut out complying with rule #2 (don’t run into anything) on the way back, once we got off the A roads. There’s regular snow ploughing going on but on the smaller roads near Grundlsee there really was a lot of snow falling. Everyone is very considerate on the roads there’s this unspoken “now we’re not going to hurt each other” thing that goes on that you’ve got to see to believe.

Now let me tell you a bit about Black Betty. MGM is in his element, she really is elegant. She knows when you need the windscreen wiped (MGM had a conniption the first time the wipers came on by themselves) , the lights not only turn themselves on/off they look around corners and dim the high beam when a car comes the other way, Suzy and Sally seat-warmers very cosy, Mrs Peabody (sat nav) is so polite, the mirrors move to accommodate other parked cars,  she tells you when you’re slipping on the ice and corrects for it…there’s a lot more about this little Merc but MGM will have to tell you later.

(Note from editor: What Wendy failed to tell you is the car is a black 2010 Mercedes E200… Mike)

We arrived back safely to the still snowing Grundlsee – oh my but this is a pretty part of the world.