NYE - 31st December

Today we have caught a train from Geneva to Annecy.  Luckily there was one train leaving at 10.47am - and I say lucky because, just for something entirely different, some group in France is on strike and the knock on effect is that several trains into France have been cancelled.  Patrons on the train were slightly bemused when we pulled into Annemasse .... we all sat waiting for the trains departure when somebody suddenly discovered the train was cancelled!   Yes .... we were now in France.  Thankfully there was another train to take us the remainder of the journey.  We knew the AirBNB was not far, so after asking a few questions - hardly anybody spoke English so my French was really tested to the max - we finally made it to the address.... right next to a gun shop!!!    The apartment is on the first floor - no lifts of course - not a bad size considering the size of French accommodation and it has Netflix!

We set off to explore, and across the road we discover a restaurant happy to squeeze us in for dinner.  Note to self .... always book ahead, which I usually do but didn't for some reason this time.  Annecy is a beautiful little town with canals everywhere looking like a French 'Venice'.  There are lots of restaurants, cafes and little shops and we soon discover the Christmas markets which will remain open until the 5th January.

It's New Year's Eve so hope everyone is having a good one.  We are hearing about the bush fires decimating parts of Australia.  Our thoughts are with you .... keep safe .... and let's hope 2020 brings peace, safety and happiness.

Christmas decorations on the balcony

Canals everywhere

Lac Annecy

Interesting graphics

More canals

Christmas Markets

30th December

The train departs Geneva at 10.12am and pulls into Montreux in just under an hour.  We immediately catch a cab to Chateau de Chillon - an unbelievable example of a Middle Ages fortress, it is also the inspiration for the castle in Disney's 'Little Mermaid' although Lake Geneva, on which it sits, is fresh water not the sea!  The audio guides we hire give a well paced and very informative description of the chateau.  This is an exceptional construction and I would definitely recommend the visit to anyone.  A cab back to 'centre ville' and walking alongside the lake, we find a restaurant for lunch before catching the train home.

A view from Chateau de Chillon

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Looking out to Lake Geneva

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29th December

A 200 mtr walk to the bus station where we join a tour to Chamonix. Some wonderful scenery on the way and when we arrive our first adventure is a cable car to Aiguille du Midi - the first leg is ten minutes, followed by a ten minute wait for the next cable car and the final ten minutes is an almost vertical climb to the summit - 3,842m above sea level.  The views across the Alps and to Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, are nothing short of breathtaking.  The walk up to the viewing area on the metal grate steps on the side of the mountain with a sheer drop on the side is a petrifying experience made worse by the thinning air which causes slight dizziness.  On the way down we discover internal stairs - wish I'd known about them first!

We spend an hour or so wandering through the township of Chamonix which is a very pretty Alpine village - and there are dogs everywhere!  We then take a train up to La Mer de Grace at Montenvers, a huge glacier which, unfortunately is decreasing an average 5m in depth per year and 30m in length.
Today's journey was fantastic and well worth the effort.

Dinner is at Chez Phillipe was splendid and only ten minutes from the hotel.

Dogs everywhere!

Chamonix - Mer de Glace

28th December - Train to Geneva

We decided on the train rather than flying to Geneva - the train leaves Salzburg at 10.00am and, after a change in Zurich, we will finally arrive in Geneva at about 6.20pm.  A long day, but the trains are so well equipped and it's a great opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery.   We also meet Keith and Judy, who are sitting in the seat in front of us, who have just moved into Clayfield a few weeks ago .... small world.

We are staying at Hotel Rotary - part of the Accor group - with all the expected extras, including Swiss chocolates on the pillows each night :).  After check-in and a quick drink at the bar, we head out to the Christmas Markets which are in operation until 31st December.  Every second stall is a bar and there is a huge variety of food stalls - Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, American, Neplaese ... you name it ... there are lights everywhere and music binding the whole experience together.  Its a wonderful market and only about a 10 minute walk from our hotel across the river.

Hotel Rotary - Christmas markets

27th December

Today we are heading back to Salzburg.  I deliberately planned the trip this way so that I could leave our big suitcases at the same hotel save lugging them around.   It's very misty this morning, though still magical.  The ferry runs twice every two hours at quarter past and quarter to the hour.  They are timed to coincide exactly with the train timetable and a return ferry trip is 12 Euros.

Of course now that we are leaving it is starting to snow!  Soon on the local train we change to the regional train and are on our final leg to Salzburg.  The train system works perfectly - easy, effortless, comfortable.  Once checked back in we head out again to do some exploring.  Our hotel is not right in the 'old' town but it is well positioned and it's just a short stroll across one of the many bridges spanning the Salzach river to a myriad of little laneways and cobblestoned roads teeming with pedestrians.  The weather is not great today but there are still people everywhere!  We head up to Hohensalzburg which we reach via a funicular that takes you to the castle.  Perched high above Salzburg it has a commanding position and in its history was never taken by any opposing forces however was handed over in the early 1800s to Napolean without a fight.   The very nature of this structure defies belief as to how it was even possible to build on the peak where is sits.   We then head over to Salzburg Cathedral .... photographs can't possibly capture the majesty of this church.  First built in 774 it has obviously undergone many 'upgrades' to be the amazing example of Baroque style it is today.  The last work was completed in 1959 after a bomb damaged the central dome during WWII.

There are still markets operating in Salzburg so we spend the rest of the day just wandering the many little streets that make up the 'Old Town'.  Dinner is at the restaurant right next to the hotel .... an Italian restaurant that sells good basic food and is jumping the whole night!  It's only 9.00pm when we finish so down another little alley into an Irish bar that specialises in whiskey tasting and stout.  Finally leave at 11.00pm after spending the evening chatting to a couple from Alabama and, when we pass the restaurant, it's still busy!

Streets of Salzburg

Walkway through to museum

A view of our hotel as we sail away :(

One of the many laneways

Outside the museum

Stalls in Salzburg

Chapel in the castle

Leaving Hallstatt - finally some snow!

One of several naves in the cathedral

Unbelievable 

View sailing away from Hallstatt

Sculpture in square where you go to funicular

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On the train to Salzburg

The detail is unbelievable

Display in the fortress

Part of the archway into museum

In Germany and Salzburg their heaters were
beautiful porcelain structures.  This is a
particularly beautiful one in the castle.

Looking down the cathedral

Such detail

This was where all the Christmas stalks were

Part of a wall hidden beneath further layers