PERTISAU

Once we had negotiated the roadworks in Salzburg the journey to Pertisau was very pleasant.  It was strange driving surrounded by mountains and I suppose these were the cause of all the traffic.  Less roads due to mountains so heavier traffic.  To get to Pertisau we drove down the mountain road to Maurach where there was a cable car to the top of Mount Rofan.  We travelled this the next day, the first time on a cable car for me, and it was good fun.  The view down from the mountain was desolate as most of the snow had gone.

View from Mount Rofan
View from Mount Rofan

We could see the edge of Lake Achensee.

In Pertisau we stayed in a very comfortable apartment on the ground floor, the Fortuna.  The family who owned and ran it were extremely friendly and we were made to feel most welcome.  Pertisau was once a small village with a  few shops, a hotel and church.  Now it is crowded with apartments for all the energetic who ski and climb mountains.  As for us, we wanted to wander around and it was great for that.  I was fascinated by the way clouds rolled around the mountains. Pertisau Cloud and Lake AchenseePertisau Clouds, mountains, lake Achensee

Mountain's edge Pertisau
Mountains’ edge
Anthony in his Tyrolean Hat
Anthony on top of Mount Rofan wearing his new Tyrolean hat.
Pertisau Marching band
What a fabulous band leader!
Pertisau Marching band 2 cropped
An amused flute player.

 As well as this natural beauty I found a tourist shop that sold hats and many fitted, some were too big!  Normally I struggle to find one to fit so I had to buy one.  In the Afternoon we drove to the cable car at the foot of Mount Rofan in Maurach.  On the way we had to stop for a band marching to the beat of a single snare drum.  I love the sound of a drum and the band looked great.  Later we were to hear them playing from the other side of the lake.  Here they were just marching amused by the Englishman with his iPhone camera.

 

 

SALZBURG

Salzburg.  Bridge of locks from afar.
Viewing the pedestrian bridge over the Salzach River from the south.

Early May was Valerie’s special birthday and we went to Austria to celebrate.  First Salzburg where we stayed in the family owned Bristol Hotel which was comfortable and being family-owned felt special.  We had arrived on an early flight so had time to wander across the Salzach River over a pedestrian bridge with lover’s locks fastened to the modern stainless steel mesh at the sides. From here we could see the Fortress we later visited. 

Pedestrian bridge over the Salzbach river.
Viewing the Fortress from the bridge

The old town was almost a maze of crowded narrow streets which were great fun.  One shop sold nothing but decorated eggs

Decorated eggs in Salzburg
This shop sold nothing but decorated eggs.

and others Mozart memorabilia. 

We used the funicular railway to get to the fortress, Hohensalzburg Castle, with its great views of Salzburg and a museum with armour clad iron soldiers just as the skeletons were in a Sinbad film I once saw. 

Old armour in Slazburg Fortress.
Iron soldiers arisen to fight.
Salzburg. Chastity belt.
Heavy iron chastity belt.
Salzburg.  Iron mask.
What a weird mask.

In the next room was an extra-ordinary iron chastity belt and weird iron mask.   

Next day the breakfast was fabulous in a wonderfully lit room with over-head mirror.

Breakfast table Hotel Bristol, Slazburg, Austria.
Breakfast table Hotel Bristol

  Cold meats, cheese, boiled eggs, rye bread all in the way of Austrian breakfast and delicious bacon, scrambled eggs, tomatoes for usWe checked out and set out in the hire car to Pertisau.