Austria-our last weekend this chapter...

 

It was our last weekend living in Europe and luckily, it was a long holiday.  A few months back, we booked this holiday in the Salzburg, Austria area at a Wellness hotel on Fuschlee lake.  We thought it would be a great last weekend filled with sunshine, mountain views, fresh air, lake swimming, and a little touring.  

Torential rains decided our last vacation would be other... as the news media reported.

"torrential rains lash central Europe, triggering floods and landslides and disrupting transport. "

OK...so our drive home turned into a whole day affair due to the many detours around flooded roads and autobahn, however, the few days before our return journey, we did what we always TRY to do when circumstances are beyond our control.  We put on our bathing suits and swim.  

We decided to make the best of the weekend despite the cold pouring rain....We took advantage of the 'Wellness hotel' and got well for our return to the U.S. 

We swam, sauna'd, ate fresh meals, played pool and checkers in the lobby by the fireplace, we petted the ponys in the barn (and for some reason I AGAIN got bitten), swam some more in the heated outdoor pool while sitting in bubbly massage chairs under the water that made you forget your face was freezing as the rain fell, we warmed up by dancing as the evening bands strummed, we popped up the umbrellas with confidence as we went for a walk in along the lake and ventured out in the cold rain to hike up the mountain to tour the salt mines (and afterwards drying the kids socks and shoes in on top of the Mine's heater)

Tonight, while I was doing our laundry in our "home hotel", it dawned on me how representative this weekend was of our adventures here in Germany.  They weren't always easy, but we always had a choice of our mindset.  Our choices led to a great 2 1/2 years in Germany and it also led to a great last European vacation in this chapter! 

nice fire by the pool

some afternoon checkers

Inside the salt mines on the slide down

a break from the rain

heading in the Mine

all dressed and ready to head in the mine

Thank goodness we get to ride some of the way up the mountain

View from the room

all different honey with homemade yogurts

dancing the night away..