We were in Pertisau to see the village that inspired Elinor Brent-Dyer to write the Chalet School series of books. There is a plaque in the library commemorating this.
The building that became the school is still standing though it has been empty for some years.
The little church is probably much the same as it was when Elinor visited it in, I think, the 1930s or maybe late 1920s.
On our last evening at 6pm I heard music and rushed out. Ave Maria was being played over the loud speakers in the sharp spire of the church. There was no time to retrieve my digital recorder from my bag so I whipped out my trusty, ever-ready iPhone and recorded the sound. It was beautiful listening to music that filled the valley with birds doing there best to join in.
Earlier we had seen an extraordinary fence made out of split pine and held together with flexible branches.
So then it was back to Salzburg. Getting to the Hotel was a struggle as all the roads seemed to be closed because of a marathon the next day. I had to throw through a fit, beat a tattoo on the steering wheel whilst Valerie held her head in her hands. The guard was so impressed he let us through the final 30 metres. We had driven past him several times over an hour!!!
The Golden Hirsch was a great place to be for Valerie’s birthday and for our last evening in Salzburg.
The next day we left for the airport and home.
