A very pretty morning greeted us on the banks of the Danube. I got
the Blue Danube song in my head as I watched the murky gray waters
flow past. I wonder how many years it has been since the Danube has
actually looked even remotely blue??
Then it was on the road, up and out of the Danube Valley and into
beautiful fertile green rolling countryside with our first amazing
view of the Alps. With this scenery we would be stupid to speed along
on the Autobahn, so with no real idea where we were headed, we took
the country roads for the hills.
Once surrounded by stunningly green mountain pastures, we made a quick
stop at a non-manned information place where unfortunately we couldn't
find one piece of information in English?!? But we did find a map of
a National Park that looked to get us out into the hills.
Feeling the heat of this very sunny day, we came across a choice - go
for a swim in a crowded water park, or paddle about in a freezing cold
mountain stream. The tranquility of the crystal clear stream had to
beat hundreds of screaming kids!!
Then it was into the heart of the national park we'd chanced upon: the
Kalkalpen National Park. We found some smaller walks around
Windischgarsten that lead us up to some pretty outcrops of chalet
style houses, with geranium filled window boxes, sitting in the
hillsides. With the odd cow bell jingling in the distance (and yes
Mum, I thought of you and your rugby team), freshly cut grass, the sun
dropping down closer and closer to the mountains that surrounded us,
and Marea's enjoyment at taking photo's at the little (actually large)
green grasshopper that took a fancy to me - it was a very pleasant
evening just taking in the sterotypical Austrian vista.
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