It seems that both Germany and Austria have gone on annual holidays this weekend if the TV pictures at airports and on the free-ways are any indication. So down here in Graz there are now a few more backpackers getting about and there are more people on the trains. Yesterday, and just to be sure that we are keeping up train travel time, we jumped on a few trains to spend the day in the Styrian region trying to get a better feel for the smaller villages around here.
Before doing that we returned to the edge of the city and Schloss Eggenberg where Yvonne was very keen to go on a guided tour of the schloss as we had turned up just a bit late the day before for a tour. But no, no tour this morning as the place was putting on a concert. Randall suggested a consolation with a visit to St Jacob church in nearby Thal where body builder Arnie Schwarzenegger comes from. He thought that as we have also been recently doing some of our own body changing because of our recent Slovenian and Austrian meal habits, this might brighten Yvonne's feelings. Not my best suggestion.
The train system is timely and well run with plenty of trains strutting their stuff so we had no problems putting together a plan for the day.
So we headed north to the small town of Frohneiten which was very pretty and where we eventually had lunch. Sunday eating out in the small towns and villages in this quite catholic part of the world can be a bit of a challenge as a lot of places are closed but this town was big enough to have a couple of places going.
From lunch we went further north and deeper into the pretty valleys to the town of Leoben where they had an impressive special exhibition on Alexander the Great. A couple of ice creams later and we were then heading back towards Graz. Very relaxed travel through the pretty hills and by the end of the day we were home.
After dinner we watched the world cup football final. In Graz there were quite a few places with TVs going but, understandably, footy fever was not quite the descriptor for crowd reactions here in Austria.
This morning, despite the quite warm weather conditions (30 degrees) we thoroughly explored and enjoyed the inner city area. As the second biggest city in Austria it had significant Hapsburg interest leaving a legacy of great buildings. There was no real damage in WWII which is also good for us now.
As an early birthday present, we are off to an aging John Fogerty concert this evening as he is in town. Yvonne is a bit apprehensive, recalling Randall's bright idea to surprise Yvonne with a Lucinda Williams concert for her birthday a few years ago. After that event we had a very quiet household for several months. So we could be in for an interesting flight home on Wednesday.
As always, and especially in countries where you do not have the local language, you have to dig into things just that bit further to discover what might be there hiding down that laneway of through that doorway. We are getting better at doing just that.
And finally, this is the time to end this blog. We trust that any who have followed the trip enjoyed the read and are ready to buy the book when she publishes it.
On the inevitable question of “What were the highlights?” my response would be:
The bike and sail experience. Great trip, great people, great weather, great water in an area of great beauty. Croatia is a fascinating developing country.
Walking through Hallstatt area. Fantastic scenery, interesting history, great walking in such a picturesque setting.
Watching Yvonne's face as she launched from the back of the yacht into the Adriatic for the first time. Priceless.
Learning a little about the complex history and tensions in this part of the world.
Enjoying travel and contact with friendly courteous people who just want to have a better life than their parents had.
Walking in France (again) with a bunch of bleeding hearts acting like boys again and enjoying life.
Yvonne taking an opportunity to further develop her artistic talents deep in rural France.
Realising just how compatible a couple can be after nearly 40 years together. Canny how often we were thinking the same things.
Post script: The concert was a hoot. Deep southern US rock in downtown Graz. All patrons standing places only (except wheelchairs which had their own stands). Drinks available around the place and plenty of space at the rear for those who wanted a break. She (Y) survived the event and even joined in a few times. He (R) brought to the surface again a childhood of listening to very early morning country and western radio, of growing into Nashville music and the Everly Brothers, Bruce Springsteen, parts of Dylan and even Neil Young. 65 year old Fogerty delivered the goods and the local boomers were jumping and hollerin'
Monday, 12 July 2010
Good to finish in Graz
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