So hot, and yet so cool.

 The last time we arrived at this hotel, we were dressed normally and left lycra clad. This time we arrived lycra clad (and very sweaty) and left this morning dressed normally. The same, ferocious looking woman patrolled the breakfast tables to make sure there were no elbows on tables or talking with your mouth full and the coffee machine still waited till you were leaving with the coffee it had made before giving an extra little zzz! to alarm you into thinking you had turned your back on it prematurely. 

During breakfast, I received Happy Father's Day messages from both our children. Thought to myself how I was shirking my fatherly duties as I sat eating breakfast 1,000s of miles away. But then they are in their thirties.. .

Once we had bought something called a Vignette (online) to allow us to use Austrian roads and put some water in the engine, we were off. 

Great big landscapes with fast roads began to give way to increasingly undulating countryside and smaller roads. Then we could see a hazy blue silhouette of some seriously big mountains on the horizon. And eventually we found ourselves in the midst of the seriously big mountains. 

I love this kind of terrain. It always gives me a thrill. Kate says I have a particular expression when I am loving the drive. Nonsense, I'm sure.

We arrived at our air bnb in Zell am See by early afternoon. It's stunning. It's a typical Austrian house with wooden balconies set up a steep hill so that our balcony overlooks the lake. 

It has been 34° all day today. All we could do when we arrived was buy some milk from the nearest petrol station, then sit looking at the view as we drank tea. 

We have been caught out again by Sunday. It creeps up on us. We reach Saturday, and then wallop! it's Sunday. Every time.

Sunday is now so insignificant in the UK. In Europe, everything shuts. We knew it did in France, but we weren't expecting it in Germany and Austria. 

As we drove here, our only choice for a coffee stop was MacDonald’s. Why is MacDonald’s exempt from the Sunday thing? I have to say, this MacDonald’s was a cut above. Real great white lilies on every table! And again, if we'd wanted a meal out, it would have been a kebab. 

We have noticed that we are a fascination when on the road. This is nothing to do with having a tandem on the roof of the car. It's our number plate which causes all the excitement. When we're in a car park, people come up close and point at it. Then they tell their mates and they all have a good look. It's not what we were expecting. It could be a bit disconcerting but then I've always liked to cause a spectacle. 

The fact is that we haven't come across any Brits so far on the entire trip. Not even in Vienna.

The weather forecast promised heavy rain and thunder this evening and tonight. We grabbed the bit of time that we guessed was between the oppressive heat and the heavy rain and set off down the footpath to the centre of Zell am See. At the first peal of thunder we turned straight round. Probably a good call as, not long after we returned, it did some very impressive raining. And hail. And lightening and thunder. We loved sitting on the balcony where we had ringside seats for a spectacular show.

The birds are singing again now. And the cat has crept out from under our car. 

The weather is supposed to be a bit iffy tomorrow, and then fine. We might drive up a mountain pass or something. I'm still holding out for hope of hearing some yodelling at some point. You may see from the pictures below that I have experienced Austrian 'stirrings' for many a year. Perhaps it is time for my yodelling practice to pay off?

           Walking to Zell am See this evening. 
         Looking up at our accommodation 
     Looking down from our accommodation 

Me in my Leider Hosen with my sister, Clare, also in Austrian garb. And the cat, Tiddles.



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