Day 3 of our holiday was Thursday, the 17th of September. Needless to say, it was yet another beautiful sunny day and rather warm.
Earlier this year, when it had become clear that we could not stay at the hotel in May as originally planned due to the lockdown, they had written to us, asking for us not to cancel our booking, if possible, but shift our stay to a later date. As we did this, they gave us a voucher for spa treatments, and so we had booked a massage each for 3:00 and 3:30 that afternoon.
This did of course limit the length of our hike; you do not want to turn up for your massage at the last minute, all sweaty and still in your hiking outfit, do you. So we calculated that we wanted to be back at the hotel by 2:00 pm or not much later, and chose a shorter tour than the day before.
It was another one from the hotel's leaflet and indicated as "family-friendly" - sounded easy enough! Actually, it turned out to be rather rough terrain and steep ascents and descents in parts, certainly not something I would want to do with young children. But as there were only the two of us to consider, we managed quite well and even had enough time for a rest (and a shandy) at the Burgl-Hütte. This hut is in Austria - we crossed the border somewhere along the ascent without any indication and became only aware of it when we noticed that the sign on the building showed an Austrian postcode.
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| Looking back towards Burgl-Hütte |
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| Another Alpe or Hütte (hut), not open to the public but looking very idyllic. |
We arrived back at the hotel with enough time to shower and change into our bath robes. The massage was good, and a round in the sauna made its effect even more relaxing.
With all that, we felt so well rested that after dinner, we went out again for a walk - no uphill this time, just westwards along the road where we had not yet been. A bit further on would have taken us into Austria again, but we turned round at the last farm house on the German side, and walked home.
Interesting that you can just walk back and forth across the border with no fuss at all. It is always complicated here with passports required now, I think, and some people wanting walls built! Lovely hike!
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't always like this, Ellen, and during the peak of the corona pandemic in spring, there were border controls, too. After everything this continent has been through, the freedom for its citizens to move about as they please is an enormous progress and something very precious, not to take for granted or easily given up again.
DeleteI love these mountain views! I imagine the massage and sauna felt especially good after your hike.
ReplyDeleteThey did! We deliberately choose such hotels for our holidays where we can enjoy the spa after the day's exploring and hiking, it is the perfect combination of effort and rest.
DeleteHello. How have you been? This and the previous post show the autumn clouds. I love them all.
ReplyDeleteHello roughterrain crane, it's been a while! Thank you, I have been well. Glad you like the autumn clouds; I never tire of looking at the skies, no matter the time of day, year or weather.
DeleteSome of these photos make me think of 'The Sound of Music' ... :)
ReplyDeleteMonica, I was waiting for Kay to come up with a "Sound of Music" related comment :-)
DeleteYes, it is rather like that there.
It's taken me until now to settle down again in the living room to catch up on the big screen. I shall continue wallowing in your beautiful walks. As for the massage and so on I shall simply and quietly be envious.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to thin that my pictures are viewed on a big screen! That reminds me - my upstairs neighbour said she would like to see them, too; I should ask her in for a cup of coffee and show her the pictures on my TV. That would also make it easy to sit well apart, she on the settee and I on the yellow armchair.
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