The Hills Are Alive...

It’s Friday evening already! I can’t believe it’s been such a long time since my last entry. Sometimes, internet connections are difficult, even on US Army bases. So, where was I?
Ah, yes. After seeing Red Ryder at SHAPE, Eva, one of the other adjudicators became ill. The next morning, we were supposed to leave for Nuremburg, but she could not go (a stomach thing.) We waited until noon, but then decided to go on without her. She stayed with Dan to recuperate. Poor Eva!

So, Annette and I set out on our own, with our trusty GPS (who Annette had named ). We ran into some bad weather along the way and didn’t get into town until late evening – just enough time to have dinner and call it a night. The hotel Annette had selected, The Albrecht Durer Haus, is right in the center and easily walkable to the major attractions, but it was dark already. We ate a lovely restaurant nearby, eating local specialties – mine was a veal stew with noodles.

The next morning I had hoped to have lots of time for sightseeing and work stuff, but we decided, since the weather was still iffy, to get an early start – 10 a.m. The hotel had an amazing breakfast (included) which had many types of smoked fish, cream cheese, eggs (very unusual) and fresh baked breads and cakes. At least we were sated for our long journey.

Of course the journey turned out to be even longer than we thought. Unbeknownst to us, whoever had used our GPS in the past, had set it on NO TOLL ROADS. So, she was taking us on all of these smaller, slower roads instead of the Autobahns and Autostrade. We went through the Alps, through snowstorms and rainstorms on these tiny local roads, past ski resorts, small towns and uninhabited places for hours and hours. Looking at the map, we realized something was wrong, but we figured she was guiding us this way because of bad traffic on the main roads. NOT! When we finally discovered the mistake, we got back on main roads and started to make better time. Until we got a speeding ticket in Austria and stuck behind some slow trucks in Italy.

Finally, we arrived at Aviano, the air base in Northern Italy, where we were to see our second show. We got there, late, just as the show was about to begin. It was opening night. We rushed from the car after an 8 hour drive, to sitting in the theatre watching David and Lisa, a charming play (remember the movie?) about two mentally challenged young people who meet and fall in love at a mental institution run by a compassionate psychiatrist, that was adapted from the film. Our host, Frank Lewandowski, was acting in the show, as was his wife Kathy and his daughter. The director, Pam, was gracious and sweet. She didn’t even blame us for the show starting late.

Annette and I found our rhythm as adjudicators that night. We were practically finishing each other’s sentences. I thought it went very well. Afterward, Pam and Frank took us out for an Italian dinner – to the same place he had taken me two years ago. I ordered a much-needed Prosecco (local to the area), salad and pizza. Delizioso!

The weather was much warmer with cloudless skies in Italy. It was probably around 52 in the early evening. The next morning it was clear as could be, sunny and equally warm. It made us both smile to see the sun – finally! We had a more leisurely morning before beginning our drive to Salzburg, Austria.

This time, driving through the Alps was a completely different experience. First, we were on the main roads and since the weather was clear, the mountains look majestic and beautiful with their stark white peaks contrasting the deep blue sky behind them. It was impossible not to ooh and ahh as we turned to see another extraordinary snow-capped rock formation. After leaving Italy, again the weather changed and we found ourselves in another snow storm. I think we drove through a tunnel – before entering we were under sunny skies, not a cloud to be seen anywhere – and coming out the other side, it was cloudy, dreary and dark. What a change! It wasn’t long before we hit all kinds of weather. We had to slow down and take it carefully.

We arrived in Salzburg, where it is cloudy and raining, just before 5 p.m. Since it was still light out, we decided to walk around the town and see whatever sights we could before it got dark. Our hotel, The Markus Sittkus, is again in the center of the town. It was a short walk to see the important buildings, mostly churches, that have stood proudly for centuries, in the heart of Mozart’s home town. We even stopped by the restaurant (still in existence) where he was supposed to have eaten often. Photos of celebrities – I recognized Bill Clinton – line the walls. (I didn’t see one of Mozart, though…) I took some photos which I’ll add to this site.

We settled in for dinner at a local restaurant recommended by the hotel: Stiftskeller, where I indulged in Beef Goulash, a local specialty. It was very good, but awfully filling. Meals in Germany and Austria have been too big and too heavy, but tasty. We never felt like having dessert. Now I have to read The Mousetrap (yes, the same one that has been playing in London since…when?...WWII?), which we will see tomorrow evening in Stuttgart (another 5 hour drive…)

We hear that Eva is feeling better and will meet us in Stuttgart tomorrow for the performance. We are looking forward to seeing her and sharing out adventures thus far.