Part 3- Pinzgau
Day 4: Sunday
The drive from Vienna to the Alps took us approximately 6 hours including gas/bathroom stops. Now, most gas stations with not allow you to use the WC unless you pay. This posed a bit of a problem as we did not change money so we literally didn’t have cash. we somehow had about 2 EUR so that was enough for 4 bathroom uses. Most places had a machine where you put the coin and it prints out a coupon for the same amount, which you can use as a voucher, for gas. Then you can enter. One place, however, had a little old lady sitting in the bathroom area, with a table and a woven basket where I had to put in the coins. And she was very strict about it. No using the bathroom otherwise!
I’ll try to describe the place we were staying at. Basically a big house, but it had a private bathroom for every bedroom, which made it feel a bit more hotel-like. It had a commercial kitchen, a bar, a lounge (which we used as a shul), and a tremendous porch with glass railings overlooking a valley. Across the valley we were able to spot the Krimmel Wasserfalle, the biggest waterfall in Europe IIRC. The décor of the place was cedar colored wood, etc as is common in the mountains in Europe.
It was a family trip, with relatives from a few countries joining, totaling over 40 people including kids.
We had a truck with food and supplies for the next week, so the night was spent helping to unpack all the pantries (which took quite a while considering the amount of food/supplies we had), kashering the kitchen, and a “Hachnosas Sefer Torah” in the “shul” (lounge) for the Torah we brought along. We grilled food for supper and headed to bed.
Day 5: Monday- Zillertal Arena
We took the chairlift up, enjoying gorgeous views on the way. Once up there was this all-wood huge playground. The kids enjoyed the actual slides, etc. while the adults made own fun. (Example: going on swings, seesaws, turny things, and other silly stuff which we hadn’t done in years…) It was the company and watching the kids enjoy that was the main attraction. There were also hammocks in the woods to relax.
The highlight of the trip, however, was the Alpine Coaster.
Day 6: Tuesday- Wildkogel Arena
Again, chairlift up, enjoyed the stunning mountain views. Once up, we did an extreme hike, literally not breathing, all the while sweating buckets, to a point even higher up. Once up the efforts paid off, the view from there was really something.
After that, the kids played in the playground. We took walks with them to get some hands-on interaction with the free roaming cows.
Instead of going back down with the chairlift, we zoomed down with Mountain Go Carts. This is not for the faint of heart as the paths are not gated. The ride is steep, curvy, and a sort of gravel, making it dusty and bumpy. Awesome!
Day 7: Wednesday – Großglockner
Don’t have much to say about this trip. It was a very curvy drive up the mountain, with places to stop on the way. Think lakes, gift shops, etc. Once up, there was a nice view of snow-capped mountains and what I think was supposed to be a glacier somewhere. The was a short hike up where you can’t go with a car anymore. I didn’t join the hike so I am not sure about the details of that. (I think there was a glass building there with some stuffed real animals and more randomness)
Day 8: Thursday
It was a rainy, cloudy Thursday. The family was staying in the place, resting up from the week, preparing for Shabbos; kids were doing arts n crafts. We decided to try to visit the Krimml waterfall as we were leaving on Sunday and the family had it planned for later in the week. We set the GPS and headed out. Alas, it was not meant to be. We ended up in what I think was, but hope not, private property on some unpaved narrow road. We took some pictures and went back to the place. After that we joined the family for cow-milking at the farm down the road.
Day 9: Friday - Wildkogel Arena Again
Some of the men wanted to use the mikva before Shabbos so they drove about an hour to Hinterglemm. Meanwhile, the women and kids returned to Wildkogel for a different activity. This time it was the chairlift up and rutsche down! It is a trail (not good for strollers) where you walk a bit and then you reach a slide. They are long and curvy, some covered, some not. Really fun. Ironically, some of the children were quite scared! “Scared? Of a slide?” I know! Shocking!
Day 10: Shabbos
Just indescribable! Eating Shabbos seuda outdoors overlooking the mountains, together with extended family…. Ah! Just fabulous!
Day 11: Headed to Hungary!
Sunday morning we got up early to drive back to Vienna to return the car and catch our 5:40pm train to Budapest. We got into the city early enough (or so we thought…) to “chap” a fresh pizza in Prego. Jewish Vienna was deserted then. Everybody goes to the mountains. There wasn’t even a minyan that day. We placed our order for the pizza, chose drinks, and sat down to wait… Now, being that we are from NY, we are not used to the out-of-town we-make-it-fresh-as-soon-as-you-order idea. It took a while for the food to be ready, and the clock was ticking, but finally we got it, ate, and headed to the Hauptbahnhof. Once there, we were circling the place, searching for the car-rental-return. We literally had no clue where to go. At the same time, the clock was showing 5:30, 5:35 and even if we find the place RIGHT NOW, we still need time to gather our luggage and go upstairs and figure out which platform to get to…. At that point, I was oh-so grateful that I bought the time-transferrable ticket for a few euro more….
Finally, we just entered the regular parking lot and found the car return there. BTW, there was not a single garbage can in the parking lot. Having used the car for a week, we had some things to dispose of before exiting the car, but alas, we were forced to litter….. ☹
Finally getting upstairs, we take a look at the timetable and lo and behold, our train was delayed!!!! We still had to wait about half hour. Finally train arrived and we were off to Hungary!
A note about the long distance trains: we were told by the locals that the long distance trains are gorgeous, very comfortable and have proper air conditioning… We got on the train, and nothing doing. Only when the train finally started moving did the air go on. At every stop, the air shut off once again. We arrived around 9ish at Budapest-Keleti.