(From Rob) Yodel-Ay-Hee-Hoo
Goodbye, Vienna! Early this morning we schlepped ourselves out of bed and caught an early train to Salzburg and then to Dorfgastein. Along the way we played "Go Fish" and "Can You Spot Castles if I Bribe You with Haribo Gummy Cherries?" The ride is pretty, but 4 hours is too long for little Po-pos to handle. We had exactly 7 minutes to switch trains in Salzburg. Whew!
This picture below explains why we bothered leaving Vienna and dealt with the trains. Dorfgastein is a wee hamlet way up in the Alps. I took this picture about two hours ago from a hillside trail. I am here setting things up for a Study Abroad group next year, and we love it!
Every time we come here, we stay with a supremely nice family in the "Haus Tirol." Maddie Lou says it was worth the trip just to hold Charlie, the resident floppy bunny who runs wild in the huge, grassy garden here. There are swings, slides, and berries to pick. 
While Maddie and Charlie bonded, Will-O and I decided to take a bike tour through the village and down farther into the valley. Will was a trouper, never complaining and always wanting to go "just a little bit farther, Pleeeeese?" We stopped at a skate park in town & he hit the ramps.
After the village runs out, they have a broad, tree-lined path just for bikes and walkers. I love our Provo River Parkway at home, and I call for many more miles of car-free paths. This rolling, shady road seemed to be downhill both ways. For car-haters like me, a paradise!
Well, at least I held on to most of my hair until I turned 40. Now I cannot begrudge it if it decides to fall out. Will-O is turning out to be quite the photographer!
Back home, Maddie was hanging out with the big family from the United Arab Emirates who stay at the house Tirol every summer. She and Latifa, Ahia, Abdul, Miriam and Sef hit the ice cream place in town and then hung around on their balcony.
Until the Rain drove all of us inside. There was a huge thunderstorm, and we sat on our (protected under-the-eaves) balcony and watched rain gush out of the wooden gutters. Unbelievably clear, cool air, the smell of pines, and the sound of cow bells--Welcome to Dorfgastein!
This picture below explains why we bothered leaving Vienna and dealt with the trains. Dorfgastein is a wee hamlet way up in the Alps. I took this picture about two hours ago from a hillside trail. I am here setting things up for a Study Abroad group next year, and we love it!Every time we come here, we stay with a supremely nice family in the "Haus Tirol." Maddie Lou says it was worth the trip just to hold Charlie, the resident floppy bunny who runs wild in the huge, grassy garden here. There are swings, slides, and berries to pick. 
While Maddie and Charlie bonded, Will-O and I decided to take a bike tour through the village and down farther into the valley. Will was a trouper, never complaining and always wanting to go "just a little bit farther, Pleeeeese?" We stopped at a skate park in town & he hit the ramps.
After the village runs out, they have a broad, tree-lined path just for bikes and walkers. I love our Provo River Parkway at home, and I call for many more miles of car-free paths. This rolling, shady road seemed to be downhill both ways. For car-haters like me, a paradise!
Well, at least I held on to most of my hair until I turned 40. Now I cannot begrudge it if it decides to fall out. Will-O is turning out to be quite the photographer!
Back home, Maddie was hanging out with the big family from the United Arab Emirates who stay at the house Tirol every summer. She and Latifa, Ahia, Abdul, Miriam and Sef hit the ice cream place in town and then hung around on their balcony.
Until the Rain drove all of us inside. There was a huge thunderstorm, and we sat on our (protected under-the-eaves) balcony and watched rain gush out of the wooden gutters. Unbelievably clear, cool air, the smell of pines, and the sound of cow bells--Welcome to Dorfgastein!
Comments