GERMANY – AUSTRIA – SLOVENIA

This year has started a bit different for me and I guess I should have started writing about it from the beginning. But let‘s say, even though lots has happened in the past few months (summary will follow) the real adventure has started a few days ago. I am writing this sitting in Bled, Slovenia, a small room, blue skye and spring in the air (+ idyllic as it should, although with the smell of stinky agriculture and cow shit outside the room). I did a 10km walk this morning around the Bled lake and up to the castle and am resting now before heading out again.Tomorrow I am off to Ljubljana (main city in Slovenia).

So how did I get here? You will see as you read more about my adventures but I am calling this trip my summer holiday. Maybe because the weather is finally warm and sunny and I survived three months of vey cold winter. Maybe also because I have settled everything in Brisbane, sold my house and paid of all debts. And maybe because the days are longer and more than three months passed since my mum passed away and life is ok at the moment.

So, a few days ago I ventured off on this trip that will take approx 2-3 months. I have left Thiersheim on Thursday (19.04.) and went straight to Salzburg. Salzburg is a nice city (old town only) but has not much to offer otherwise. I have seen it, I walked it, I liked it and I don‘t have to go back there again (for a while anyway).

Early morning the next day I went back to Germany to go for a walk around the Königssee. I have never been there and its a short drive from Salzburg. (Everything is close by in Germany).

The mornings still have a fresh chill in the air but it is warming up pretty quickly. I did a nice walk around the lake, grabbed a quick coffee and made my way to the third country on that day, Slovenia! Oh, I forgot to mention the quick detour up the mountain to get as close as possible to the ‚Eagles Nest’ (Hitlers Holiday Home). It is up on top of the mountain, and the road is tolled. I didn’t know what to expect, besides the steep drive, but the drive and being on top of the alps (altitude 1150m) was amazing. Still covered in snow the view down to the valleys was stunning. Especially with the blue sky. The ‚Eagles Nest’ was clearly visible although not close enough to see any details and not possible to visit. Nice to see but even more exciting is arriving in Slovenia!

And how amazing is it to be in three countries on one day!!

Thiersheim

The Alps

Salzburg