Austria
June 17 - July 14, 2009
Saturday, June 20 - Brixen
This morning we decided to go do groceries since the stores are closed on Sunday. For lunch we went to Uri's where Oma made spaghetti (with homemade sauce she'd brought along all the way from Canada!)
Sick and tired of the rain already, we decided we needed to get out a bit. The clouds were still covering the mountain peaks but it was cleared enough in the valley that we headed up into the woods and headed over to the next town Brixen. Oma came along for the first bit until the fountain and then she and Sammy headed back while the rest of us continued on. We walked along the forest and field paths until we came to a road and then headed down into the town of Brixen. We picked up a cache at the lift station and then continued along past the fishing pond "Erlensee" and back up into the woods to find the cache "Noah in Brixen". We continued along the path and then headed down to the road again to go back to Westendorf. Along the way we met Klaus and his wife Greti who walked us back to the hotel. In all, we walked about 11 km.
After the kids were in bed, we kept an eye out for the "sonnwend" activities - bonfires up on the mountain to celebrate the summer solstice. The mountain tops themselves were clouded over but lower down on each of the 2 Westendorf mountains they had set up torches in a heart and cross design in the fields.
To end the evening we watched the movie "Good Will Hunting" on TV... the dutch channels show the movies in their original language with dutch subtitles.
Christopher having breakfast.
The view from outside our hotel...
another day of clouds so we can't even see up the mountain.
A house being renovated -
this is the nicest looking and quaintest scaffolding we've ever seen.
Christopher liked the horse out in the field.
Doing groceries... lots of ready made soup mixes and pre-mixed spices. Knorr everywhere.
The kids are enjoying Austria... everyone has chocolate to give them!
Visiting their great grandfather's grave.
A candle dispensing machine and watering cans available with deposit.
Christopher getting brain freeze from a popsicle... but still enjoying it.
A visit to the fountain commemorating the fresh spring water that supplies the town with its drinking water.
Elderberry blossoms which the locals use to make a refreshing summer drink.
Some farm equipment along the path on the way from Westendorf to Brixen.
Although the houses are often clad with stucco and wood, the houses are mainly constructed of bricks.
A pear tree growing along the house wall.
Christopher enjoying the walk to Brixen.
A display advertising Tirolean milk and for people to buy local products.
At the Brixen lift station we saw some kids doing some training for what looked like the fire department.
An orchid.
The "noah in brixen" geocache where we dropped 3 coins.
Hazelnuts - unfortunately they won't be ripe til the fall.
The slugs here can get really huge!
The sign doesn't really match the house decor!
For the summer solstice, there were several bonfires up on the mountain but the peaks were covered in clouds. However we did see the lit designs on the 2 local mountain fields... a heart with a cross.
Close-up of the lit up design on Hohe Salve and at Zieplhof on the Nachtsoellberg.