On the second afternoon we decided to explore the little town of Bad Gastein. This is the city of thermal baths, just like Bath in the UK. Previous kings and queens would take a little holiday here to enjoy the thermal baths known for their healing properties. Unfortunately - to our surprise - today it is becoming a somewhat derelict town compared to it's days of former glory. There are many empty hotels and properties owned by foreigners that have not been refurbished to what they should be. The local council is lacking funds to repair or improve the existing buildings. Thankfully there is still a small and steady stream of tourists coming to this little town: in summer for the walks and hikes in the mountains, and in winter this is ski wonderland. There are many good slopes all around here in the Alps.
We took a map and gave ourselves 2h for a walk, giving us enough time to return for a shower and then *running hands on tummy gleefully* time for another sumptuous dinner! Being in the mountains, the weather was quite wet and the air felt cool and moist.
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| Found the same spot which M and I took a photo previously |
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OMG can I say the similar actions were totally not planned!
I think I have not changed in these 3 years lol |
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| That is the church behind me |
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| Looking at all the hiking trails |
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| The first waterfall we saw |
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| Listening to the waterfall crashing down |
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| Woohoo no work!! |
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| I agree!! |
On the third day, I think all of heaven came down this time round. I couldn't stop admiring the scenery in front of us. K insisted of going on another hiking trip even though it was raining. The clouds were constantly moving so it was an ever changing landscape. While K was away, I sat on the arm chair looking at this picture and started writing. And thanking God with a grateful heart.
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| Valley seems to have disappeared |
It was another superbly lazy day. K continued with his book and I brought mine too. And I got bored and made K pose for some pictures with me.
I am quite a city girl at heart. Though I didn't want to leave this heaven on earth place, I was also excited to be visiting one of my favourite cities: Salzburg. The closest city from Bad Gastein is Salzburg, home of the Sound of Music. I was shocked when K, who always brags to me about how much he has traveled, has not been to Salzburg? This, my K, is the mecca place for all Sound of Music lovers.
We bade goodbye to the Gastein mountains and took a 1.5h train to Salzburg where it was pouring down buckets. We hurriedly hailed a cab in the storm who brought us to our hotel. We checked in and knowing it was our honeymoon, they very kindly decorated the room for us.
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| with our own jacuzzi! |
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| Going out for our Mozart concert dinner |
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| Some Mozart live music and opera |
The next day I brought K for a Sound of Music tour, my second time and still enjoying this somewhat cheesy tour.
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| Familiar scene? Boating lake where the kids fell into the water? |
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| The majestic Hohensalzburg castle up on a hill |
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| Familiar gazebo? Sixteen going on seventeen? |
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| Stopover at Wolfgangsee, en route Mondsee |
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| Arriving in Mondsee. The last time I was here was with Cynthia, on the identical tour. |
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| I recognised this cow haha |
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| Familiar? Do-re-mi... |
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| Loving Austria |
I will be honest to say it was tough going back to work even though this mini-moon was a short 5 day trip. Austria remains one of my favourite countries, I can't wait to go back again...
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