Day 16: Mountains and Lakes (Eric)

Day 16: June 12th, 2019. This was a day of awe. We purchased hop-on hop-off bus tickets to explore the mountain and lake region east of Salzburg. This area is absolutely beautiful with one amazing view after another. The region has four large lakes of which we explored parts of three for a short period as we were limited by the bus schedule. 

We started with a short exploration of Fuschlsee. There was a charming, little town alongside a fabulous alpine lake. 

The next stop was St. Wolfgang and views of the lake of the same name. 

The highlight of the excursion was the cog train that takes you to the top of the Schafberg Mountain for a panoramic view of the whole region. The train ride itself is a little bumpy, but the views are nothing short of spectacular. 

There were a few unexpected surprises at the top as well. 

A hotel and restaurant...

Snow...

Girls taking graduation photos in their robes...

After returning to the bottom, we stopped one more time at Mondsee to explore the town and lake. This is another stop for The Sound of Music fans as the wedding scene was apparently filmed inside the local church. The exterior shots are apparently of a different church as this one was undergoing renovations at the time of shooting. Even if you’re not a fan, the town, the lake, and the church are all worth a visit if you’re in the area. The town has some charming cafes, and we stopped at one for a delicious iced latte and a snack. 

After an awesome day, we returned to Salzburg for a late dinner. I have to mention this particular meal because it was amazing. Carpe Diem is a Michelin Star rated restaurant, but don’t let that intimidate you. It has a fairly casual bar area that serves what the restaurant calls “finest finger foods,”and Jenny and I both agreed that this was one of the best meals we’ve had in Europe. The finger foods are all small, creative dishes that were all delicious. We tried six different items and shared two desserts. Everything was amazing. 

After dinner, we had a nighttime stroll through the city and took a few pictures on the way back to the hotel. The city is amazing at night too and actually less crowded. The first picture is of a church right next to the restaurant. We sat in the outdoor area, and it was a beautiful backdrop for our meal. 

That’s all for now. I hope everyone is doing well!