Europe 2010 - Part 4
Sunday, 18 July 2010 04:20
Hallstatt was a perfect way to end our vacation. Although technically we still have two nights in Munich, those are just "decompression" days until our flight leaves from Munich on Monday. We had an absolutely wonderful time in Hallstatt, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the idyllic Hallstattersee and neighboring mountains. We rented a boat for a couple of hours, and even visited the salt mines of Hallstatt. The town was only mildly overrun by Koreans, fans of Spring Waltz making their pilgrimage to the filming location, I assume by the wistful way they pose for their pictures. The locals seem to have catered to them, with some signs and menus appearing in German, English, and Korean.
Vanessa and I have had an absolutely wonderful time these past three weeks or so. We feel so fortunate to have had the privilege of traveling, and traveling so extensively. We're probably sticking around the house for the next few holidays, which might be a welcome change of pace. We haven't celebrated a Christmas at home yet, which means we haven't had a chance to put up a Christmas tree with the ornaments we've picked up on our travels!
I've got a busy two weeks when I return, and then it's already August, which is my time to prepare for the new school year. Many thanks to all who prayed for our safe travels, and we look forward to seeing you all very soon.
Homeward bound,
Brian & Vanessa
Hallstatt train station
A view from our balcony
Hallstatt town square
On the way to the salt mines
Ready to mine for salt!
The view from the top of the funicular
Instructions on how to slide ("Don't break!")
After returning from the bottom of the mine via the miner's train
The local fish from the lake, Reinanke, grilled
Caviar from said fish
Hallstätter Bräupfandl - filet of pork, mushroom sauce, Spätzle (egg noodles) and vegetables
Our hotel (center) from our boat ride
Auf Wiedersehen, Hallstatt…
…Hallo München!
The oom-pah band at the Hofbrauhaus
Europe 2010 - Part 3Wednesday, 14 July 2010 07:03
We left Venice yesterday, beginning an adventure of trying to get to Salzburg. No one at the bus terminal seemed to know anything about a bus going to Austria, and only after going to the train station did I figure out how to get to Salzburg. It's not a particularly interesting story, so suffice it to say we're in Salzburg now. We came here mostly for the Sound of Music tour, but the city and surrounding areas are beautiful enough to make the trip. Some pictures by Vanessa, some by me.
The [evening] view from our hotel room at Hotel Colombina
A water taxi ride through the canals of Venice
Our visit to a glassmaking workshop on the island of Murano (expensive…)
Another water taxi
St. Mark's
Insalata di polipi alla veneziana (octopus salad Venetian-style)
Carpaccio di branzino (carpaccio of sea bass)
Vanessa, somewhere in Venice
Gragnano linguine with fresh seafood
Tasting of fish starters (clockwise starting at bottom: smoke salmon, fried sardine, octopus, shrimp, white bait, two more kinds of sardine, and smoked tuna)
On the train to Salzburg
The traditional Tafelspitz (boiled beef)
Wienerschnitzel
There is no escape…
Two kinds of Mozartkugeln (pistachio center, marzipan, chocolate)
The view from the Festung Hohensalzburg
The Sound of Music Tour Bus
The gazebo from the Sound of Music
Overlooking the Mondsee (Moon Lake)
The church the wedding in the movie took place
Mirabell Gardens - One of the Do-Re-Mi song filming locations
Now to Hallstatt for two nights, then Munich for another two, then finally home...
Europe 2010 - Part 2Sunday, 11 July 2010 10:59
Paris
I left the camera at the apartment for most of the week, which is usually permanently connected to my hip. Vanessa took most of the pictures you see in this entry, and I have to say it was nice not to have those extra six pounds weighing me down. The week in Paris was casual, maybe one monument a day, the occasional sorbet, and daily macaron or two, of course. For Vanessa and me, coming to Paris always means eating as well as we can. Here are some of the gastro-highlights from the week.
Ladurée
Roast Lobster with artichoke and potato with Espelette pepper
Religieuse a la Rose - pastry filled with raspberries and rose-flavored cream
clockwise, starting bottom left: Caramel à la Fleur de Sel (Caramel w/ sea salt), Cassis Violette (Blackcurant Violet), Pétale de Rose (Rose petal), Réglisse (liquorice)
Roland Durand's Passiflore
Cote de bœf with a red wine reduction and potatoes cooked in salted butter
Pierre Herme's macarons - can't recall exactly, but there are combinations of strawberry, wasabi, apricot, saffron, blackcurrant, and chocolate are (or were) here
Berthillon - some of my favorites were passion fruit, rhubarb, raspberry and rose, and melon (cantaloupe)
Even McDonald's sells macarons. BTW- they're terrible.
Next blog post - Venice!
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