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Getting out of the Turkish heat: First to Austria

Dachstein Mountains rise steeply over Gosau Lake, Austria
Dachstein Mountains rise steeply over Gosau Lake, Austria

By late July, it gets very hot in southern Turkey.  So, like last year, we flew off to Austria (on July 24) to see our sailing friends from “Risho Maru” and then house sit their flat in Vienna while they are off sailing.  This time we flew to Salzberg and drove in our rental car to the Salzkammergut, the lake region to the east of Salzberg.  Peter, Alexandra, and Finn of Risho Maru stayed in Peter’s sisters house in Mondsee, the town made famous in the movie “Sound of Music.”  We could not find a place to stay nearby, and took a chance on a newly listed AirBnB flat in Traunkirchen, on lake Traunsee, a 45 minute drive away.  It turned out to be a wonderful experience.  We had a great weekend with the Risho Maru’s exploring Mondsee and Bad Ischl, and hiking around Wolfgangsee and Traunsee.  And the flat on Lake Traunsee was spectacular and came with wonderful hosts.  We spent an additional week exploring Salzkammergut after our friends returned to Vienna, packed up their car, and drove to their boat in Italy.  Below, are some of the photos from our 9 days in Salzkammergut.  Tomorrow, we will post photos from Vienna, the South Tyrol, and southwestern France.

Finn, Peter, Laura, and Alex pose in Gmuden at the northern end of Lake Traunsee
Finn, Peter, Laura, and Alex pose in Gmuden at the northern end of Lake Traunsee
View out from the front door of our place (Villa Otterstein) on Lake Traunsee
View out from the front door of our place (Villa Otterstein) on Lake Traunsee
Our AirBnB hosts with their daughter who was visiting for the weekend. They lived upstairs in the two story villa and invited us for breakfast, supper, and a band concert.
Our AirBnB hosts with their daughter who was visiting for the weekend. They lived upstairs in the two story villa and invited us for breakfast, supper, and a band concert.
View looking southeast from our flat on Lake Traunsee.
View looking southeast from our flat on Lake Traunsee at sunset.
The church in Mondsee where Captain von Trapp and Maria were married.
The church in Mondsee where Captain von Trapp and Maria were married.
Laura holds up a dirndl in Bad Ischl. Local women wore these. The men wore liederhosen.
Laura holds up a dirndl in Bad Ischl. Local women wore these. The men wore liederhosen.
Hallstat on the Hallstatter See. Site of the famous 2800 years old salt mines that gave Salzberg and Salzkammergut their names.
Hallstat on the Hallstatter See. Site of the famous 2800 years old salt mines that gave Salzberg and Salzkammergut their names.
On the way up to Gosausee.
On the way up to Gosausee.
At the top of the Dachstein mountains overlooking Gosausee (Lake Gosau).
At the top of the Dachstein mountains overlooking Gosausee (Lake Gosau).
Dachstein's near Gosausee.
Dachstein’s near Gosausee.
Lake Gosau (Gosausee) with the Dachstein Glacier in the distance.
Lake Gosau (Gosausee) with the Dachstein Glacier in the distance.
Gosausee
Gosausee
Gosausee
Gosausee
List of those murdered at Ebensee Concentration Camp at the southern end of Traunsee.
List of those murdered at Ebensee Concentration Camp at the southern end of Traunsee.
Remembrances at the Ebensee Concentration Camp. Both Jews and non-Jews slaved here digging tunnels to produce V2 rockets at the end of the war.
Remembrances at the Ebensee Concentration Camp. Both Jews and non-Jews slaved here digging tunnels to produce V2 rockets at the end of the war.
Before leaving for Austria in July, we rented a car and drove to the mountain village of Gombe, just one hour away from Kas. We had pre-ordered the lamb special which was eaten on a pavilion over a brook carrying snow melt. Followed by a nap.
Before leaving for Austria in July, we rented a car and drove to the mountain village of Gombe, just one hour away from Kas,. We had pre-ordered the lamb special which was eaten on a platform. The private platform sat over a fast-moving stream carrying snow melt. The meal was followed by a nap, watermelon, and coffee.
Mark at Gombe, Turkey.
Mark at Gombe, Turkey.

M.

 

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