AUSTRIA

            Austria is a small country but so beautiful. Lovely view of the River Muir and the old town. Had a glass of Orange Schnapps and cold cuts. Have been snacking all day. Supper of Roasted Pig, red potatoes, Salad, Bread, and vegetables and Soup. Bottle of Heuriger. Dessert of Rice pudding with cherry sauce.

            Graz population of around 226,000.Visited Glockenspiel a giant Musical Clock. Outside restaurant with a glass of Pineapple and tonic of schnapps watching people. Here in Graz after a breakfast of a cheese omelet with pork and beef, juice, Bread and Jam and coffee.

            Visited Die Burg Castle built in 1438. Also palaces Attems and Saurau built in 1702. Visited Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdininand 2nd, built in 16th century, by the Muir River. In our drive from, Graz gone through Klagenfurt, Vilach, Wels, Linz, Amstemen, and more.

            On our way to Salzburg. Our hotel is Schlass Leopoldskron, original film from "The Sound Of Music" Great winter rates here. Our room over looks the city of Salzburg. Supper of Chicken, Baked Potatoes, turnip soup, vegetables, and Apple Strudel. Bottle of Spatdes and coffee.

            Traveled to Linz, Wels, Leoben, Tirol and Wiena. Visited home of Von Trapp with a nice lunch. (Separate page here.) Visited Mozart's Birthplace. We have eaten in almost every town we visited.

            (Info on Von Trapp who was a hero of WW1, Had 7 children wife died, needed someone to help with his children, got a Novice Nun from the church, they fell in love, married had 3 children. When Nazis took over Capt was told he had to join the Nazis, rather than do this they fled to Italy then to the US where they lived in Vermont). In their home Hitler visited, but Himmler took it as his home VonTrapp

            In Innsbruck, spent night at the Hotel Wiesenhof. Supper of Lamb, salad, mash potatoes, Chocolate cake and house wine. Early leaving and on our way to Italy.(Car rentals very reasonable).

            Here in Italy traveled through Bolzano, Trento Vicanza to Verona. Stopped in here at Hotel Corte Imparo Belssalengo. Here for a while to travel and see other cities. Supper of Lamb Chops, pasta, baked potatoes, salad, Italian bread, Creamed Beets, a bottle of Palurani and Peach Pie.

            Our room over looks Lake Garda. Rented a car, traveled through Cremmona, Placenza, Mantova, Bresia. Back at hotel for a drink. Supper of Spaghetti, Squash, baked chicken salad green beans bread, House wine, Dessert of a Vanilla Pudding cake.

            Well arrive in Milan Hotel Gruppa Mini Aosta. Had breakfast eggs, bacon ham juice toast coffee all on the terrace. Rented a car traveled to Padova over the Adige River, towns of Ferraraand back to hotel.