Vacation in Austria summer 2003

The Planning

Vacation summer of 2003 was planned and ordered on the internet. On previous occations we had driven through Austria, and had agreed it was a beautifull country. This was the reason for spending the vacation summer 2003 in Austria. Having read about Austria, we decided upon a vacation of 2 weeks: 1 week in  Tirol and 1 week in Kärnten (English: Carinthia). This way we covered two different areas of Austria.

For planning internet helped in this way:

Toll highways in Austria

Before leaving Denmark we bought highway tax stickers (Austrian: "Autobahn Vignettes") for Austria. The Austrian highways as not freeways, and we bought the tax stickers at FDM in Lyngby. The stickers may be bought however at the border, both at the German or the Austrian borderside.

The trip to Austria

To avoid weekend traffic through Germany and Austria we had planned to leave Farum in Denmark at 7AM monday morning. We had a reservation on the Rødby-Puttgarden ferry for departure 9:30AM where we had to be in Rødby 9:15AM. We arrived in  Rødby at 8:45AM, and drove drictly onboard the ferry. Coffee and our morning meal were eaten onboard the ferry.

Arrived in Germany we went towards Hamburg, first by countryside roads and then by highway (German Autobahn). In Hamburg we ran into the first traffic jam (German: stau) caused by roadworks on the Elb-brücke (the bridge over the river Elben) with only 1 lane for traffic. We lunched south of Hamburg, and right after lunch did we run into the second traffic jam. It was allmost unbearable since temperature was approaching 30 degrees cebtigrade. Each of these traffic jams took an hour to get through.

We ran into the third traffic jam just before reaching Kassel and at the same time it started to pour down with heavy rain. We therefore left the Autobahn at junction "Kassel Nord" to find a small hotel "Zur Stadt Kassel", Kassler Strasse 69, 34266 Niestetal where we spent the night.

While Lone took a nap, Christian and Per-Johan went to the restaurant for something cold to drink. For dinner we had schnitzel Wiener art, and after a short walk around the town we went to sleep for the night. Christian practically lived on Schnitzel Wiener art in Germany and Austria, despite the fact that he had promised to eat other things too. In return for this we are eagerly awaiting the story: "Schnnitzels Wiener Art I have eaten in Germany and Austria" wirtten by Christian.

Breakfeast at 7AM, and at 8AM we hit the Autobahn direction München. We encountered moderate traffic jams only and very little rain before stopping at a Burger King in order that Christian would get someting besides Schnitzel Weiner Art and Pommes Frites for lunch. All of a sudden we ere in Austria. Our route plan was not quite good, but we drove afster the signs in the direction  St. Johann witch we located without problems. We has a piece of luch: At the very moment we would stop and ask directions to "Gasthaus Gruber", Lone spotted a sign pointing towards "Gasthaus Gruber", and at 3PM we went into the Gasthaus.

St. Johann

The Hotel

Gasthaus Gruber is a cozy not too large hotel situated in the outskirts of St. Johann, approximately 10 minutes walking distance from center square and the church. The rooms are spacious and cozy. At the hotel you can get breakfeast only but since the town with its restaurants is close by this is no problem. The hosting couple Erika and Franz Gruber makes sure your stay is pleasent, and they have allways a suggestion for what to explore in the neighbourhood.

	Breakfeastbuffet at Grubers.	Lovely fresh bread. To the bread all you desire from Leberwurst to cheese.	All residents have reserved tables, with the roomnumber at a sign on the table. Freshly made coffee or tea is served..

Wilde Kaiser

	Wilde Kaiser looks different depending on the weather. This picture is taken from the front of the hotel	Same scene from our balcony.	From the road leading to the hotel.
	From the garden	From the balcony on a cloudy day.	Both sun and clouds over Wilde Kaiser. Seen from balcony.
	At a small chapel a little uphill Wilde Kaiser.	Same	More clouds over Wilde Kaiser

Kitzbüheler Horn

Kitzbüheler Horn is pointing through the clouds.	Evening pictures of Kitzbüheler Horn. Image is taken during a stroll from the hotel to the city.	Same as previous	Same as previous

The city St. Johann

Town square in the middle of the city.	The Restaurants around city square. You eat well and not too expensive here.	Same restaurants from an other angle.	The church is adjacent to the town square. Right opposite the church is a monument over the dead during ww1 and ww2. Both wars were hard on the young men in the city.
A concert on town square.	This young lady sold snaps made of pear.	More concert	same
The houses in the city was beautifully kept and painted as this picture clearly tells.	Oldest house in the city, now hotel,	Postal office and church	Funny looking very nicely painted house.
	We have dinner at town square. Christian and Per-Johan eats Schnitzel Wiener art while Lone enjoys a fish.

Hubert Brau brewery

Christian with salty bread.	We have got the beer freshly tapped. Now we are waiting for the food.	View from brewery tower.	The restaurant is small but cozy.
Now we have got the food: salty pork with sauerkraut and knödel.	Here the beer is brewed	Closeup of the kettle	The ingredients in the beer
	The brewery building was nicely painted. Compare to next image.	Here you clearly see what is painting and what is house and pavement.

Salzburg

In this house Mozart was born.	The birthplace of Mozart seen from the square in front of the house.	The street with the house Mozart was born in. End of street is on next picture.	At the end of the street you find a steep rock. On the rock you find a covered staircase leading to a building (a church?) on top of the rock.
Lone and Christian in front of the river Danube (German: Donau).	The yellow 2 storey house is the house of Mozart in Salzburg.	We found this cozy restaurant in Salzburg.	Lone enjoys her "Suppe mit Knödel"
	Christian with one of the many Schnitzel Wiener art he enjoyed that summer. The rest of us had risotto.

Schwartzer Silberberg silvermine

Lone and Christian in protective clothing. We are waiting for the train to carry us into the Schwartzer Silberberg mine.	The Mine consists of many long and narrow tunnels like this one between the rooms where ore is mined.	This is how mining was done in the past..	Some tunnels are wider than others..
A display of a workman drilling a hole for an explosive charge.	A display of mining in the past.	Tunnel inside the mine	Christian and Lone listens to the guide explaining.
On the next pictures you see the structures of ore in the mountain.	same	same	same
Samples of ore from the mine	Yet another display of mining in the past.	Tunnel	Clearly visible ore
	Christian on his way further into the mine	Display of mining in the past. Quite a lot of these were made to show how conditions were in the past.

Kristallenwelt

The famous Austrian producer of glassware and devices utilizing glass (like binoculars) Swarovski has established a magnificient exhibition centered around cristal glass. Visit and enjoy the Kristallenwelt's impressive website!

	Kristallenwelt's main display	Not a diamond, but a cristal of glass	Kristallenwelt is beautifully located in the bottom of a valley.

Zillertal railway

	Train on Zillertal railway ready for departure.	Same train at station showing the surroundings too.	Old railway carriages, used recently for a tour with railway-friends according to the sign on the carriages..

Ellmau and Hartkaiser

You have to take the Hartkaiserbahn to get up on the Hartkaiser if you do not want to walk forever uphill the mountain.	As seen on the picture, the Hartkaiserbahn is a cable railway.	Next pictures is from a walk on top of the Hartkaiser. Lots of the lifts used during winter for are operated during summer to tranport guests up and down the area. This one is not operated though.	Fantastic view.
Same	And yet more view	Clouds are close to the mountaintops.	And are constantly moving.
Here you clearly see where skiing is being done during winter.	view	more view	view framed by trees
The target for our walk: A restaurant in 1650 meters above sealevel.	Fine view over Wilde Kaiser, at the sign in the front you can read names of the places in the Kaiser.	Christian is trying to recognize St. Johann from above.	Lone and Christian enjoys the view.
Down again with the cable rail	Ellmau is deep down in the valley, approximately 800 meters down.	The view from Ellmau city.

Velden am Wörther See

From Tirol to Kärnten (English: Carinthia) the easier way is to drive from Tirol through Berchtesgaden in Bayern (English: Bavaria) until you reach Tauern Autobahn (Highway) close to Salzburg. From Salzburg you drive on highway down through Austria till you reach Kärnten.

Tauern Autobahn started at level close to Salzburg and ended in Kärnten a built on shelves on the maintainsides. Between Salzburg and Kärnten highway were connected to ordinary two-lane roads through tunnels from 400 meters to 6 kilometers of length. 

Having driven the better part of the day we reached Velden am Wörther See. The map looked very simple. Unfortunately we took the wrong exit of a roundabout and had to follow a very, very long one-way street leading us all the way out of the city again. Despite this detour, we located the hotel.

For the stay in Velden we had no other plans than relazing and enjoy the lake and the city. The weather was fine, and we had just the relaxing week, we had planned. Added to the fine weather we quickly located the bookshop, the computerstore and the  internet café thus adding to the pleasures.

Hotel Carinthia Velden

Hotel Carinthia seen from the lawn between the hotel and the lake.	The Hotel is in a charming well preserved state with stunning details like this bathroom sink.	Hotel Carinthia seen from the Casino.	Hotel Carinthia at evening seen from the pharmact shop across the road.
	In the cellars you find different kinds of baths and a small fitness center. Christian was using the running machine a lot like he is here..

The city Velden

Schloss Velden, previously used as  hotel, now owned by Gunter Sachs, who has used lots of money to restore the building. The intention was to use the building for hotel again but apparently it turned out to be too costly.	Schloss Velden in the twilight. This particular evening a perfume company had en event at the site.	An impressive building, now in use as bank in the ground floor. Both this building, Schloss Velden and hotel Carinthia was created by building constructor Anthon Bulfon, a name you find quite a lot in Velden.	Nearby hotel Carinthia you find another hotel, having tennislawns and mini-golf, witch is open to the public against a fee. Here Christian and Lone is undertaking a match of tennis.
Evening at the town square close by  hotel Carinthia. Shops, cafe's and restaurants adjacent to the square was open untill 10PM.	Around the city at early evening hours you could enjoy lots of street artists. This dancer kept her position untill coins were dropped in her bucket.  By the sound of coins she started to move.	A belly dancer and a fakir sitting on a carpet of nails on the promenade along the lake.	A magician performs in front of the casino.
The magician balances a sabre.	The view of main street from our balcony.	Same a previous picture, angle shifted a little.	And the you find German and Austrian  Euro ... Hmm ... How is now with the exchange rates for the Euro?

The Restaurants 

By this restaurant you find a well shaped dinosaur cut in a bush.	Same dinosaur at night in spotlight.	Town square with reasturants both under open sky and indoor.	2 icecafe and a banana-split on the restaurant opposite the square from previous image.
Ice, beer and cake at same restaurant, picture not from same day as previous though.	Goritschnigg is an ancient family in Velden. For more than 110 years the family have owned a butchers shop, and are now also operating a hotel. This image is from the Goritschnigg's Wursterei (English: Sausage shop) in mainstreet, our favorite lunch restaurant in Velden.	You know what you eat. You select your food yourself and it is being prepared while you are waiting and watching.	Same counter from an other angle.. At evening time the restaurant is transformed from a lunchtime restaurant with affordable prices to a steakhouse with higher prices - But then there is a tablecloth on the table - as opposed to the lunching tables.
	At Goritschnigg you may dine under open sky or indoor according to your likings and the weather conditions.	Enjoy the the meal of the day: Reasonably priced, well prepared and generous in size. Lone and Per-Johan enjoys Meatballs in tomatosauce with mashed potatoes. Christian gets ...Schnitzel Wiener Art - a big surprice!

The Lake Wörtersee

Along the lake a promenade is laid out. Painters offers to paint your portrait from model or from picture.	Evening on the promenade.	More evening by the lake.	From a boat trip on Wörthersee.
View from the promenade	At the shores on both sides of the promenade you find beaches to bathe from for a fee. As guest on hotel Carinthia Velden you have free access to "Bulfon Bath", where this picture is taken..	The steamer for Klagenfurth seen from Bulfon Bath.	Wörthersee seen from the park between Hotel Carinthia Velden and the lake.
Same view as previous picture this time from our balcony.	Same.	The steamer for Klagenfurth	Error here: Same as first picture. I will correct this later:-)
Wörthersee seen from a plateau above the city. Velden is at the shore in the righthand side of the picture.	More Wörthersee from same plateau, angle shifted to the left	Wörthersee stretches out as far as you can possibly see to your left.

Klangwelle

At the seashore lightening device. It is being used for light shows accompanying music during late evenings.	Next pictures are taken during a show.

The cars

From 500 cc meeting  in Velden.	A selection of the 500 cc cars.	A few used larger automobiles	A closeup of the white Rolls Royce from previous picture.
Yet others used faster cars	You are allowed to drive at 30 km/hour within city limits ...	But you still drive your girlfriend ...	to the jewellers shop.
	And some used motor bikes. This one has done the trip from Denmark to Velden.

War museum

In the city Kötschach-Mauthen near the Austrian-Italian border you find a  war museum, telling about the Alpine war horrors. The Museum is found in the townhall of the city.	You find a number of displays, showing scenery from the Alpine war with emphasis on soldiers conditions and sufferings.	same	same
same	same	Letters from the soldiers in the alpine war.	Between Kötschach-Mauthen and Plöckenpaß (the actual border) a war cemetery is found.
It is not like the soldiers cemetary in Normandy, but never the less many soildiers have died here.	same	View from the cemetary	same
Plöckenpaß - Italy to the left and Austria to the right.	I connection with the museum walks to the old trenches are laid out in the terretory.	The walls of the Plöckenpaß	It is dangerous to work here during winter. Here is a memorial for a road worker killed by an avalanche.
Direktly uphill from Plöckenpaß.	same	You can either arrive by motor bike or by foot ... We used a car though.	The city at below the mountain.
	We were hungry and enjoyed this meal after the trip upphill.

Bowling 

The trip home from Austria

Tuesday morning we left Velden am Wörther See to drive back same route we had arrived at. With no big problems we reached Fulda where we looked for a hotel we had used previously in 1999. The city however was too large, with too much traffic and without parking possibilities so we decided to continue towards Hannover. In "links und rechts der Autobahn" we had located a small city with more accomodation possibilities. We found the city and a nice hotel, where we enjoyed a sunny evening diding under open sky.

Next morning immediately after breakfast we departed for a nice ride to Farum with no traffic jams (German: Stau) - We reached Farum late afternoon having a few days further rest untill work started again after the vacations.

gb_sommerferie_2003.asp er sidst opdateret d. 9. april 2005