For Immediate Release

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Jeremy wore a sexy, sexy hat in Salzburg, Austria. Look out Fraulein!

Here is a moral lesson: Austrians may speak an almost laughable dialect of German, but they are still good people. Even in lederhosen.

Our first stop in Austria was Innsbruck, home of the 1964 Winter Olympics and by virtue of Colorado's blunder, the 1976 Winter Olympics as well. (After being awarded the 1976 bid, Colorado residents voted to prohibit the use of public funds to construct Olympic facilities, leaving many athletes homeless.)

After the heat, noise and Disneyland-esque prices of Italy, Innsbruck was very welcome. We got some good food for half the price of our cheapest Italian meals. The hostel was clean and mostly quiet. It took us three hours to find, but it was very nice.

I would like to say I was never lost on the trip, but Chidsey would laugh in my face.

We were able to attend the small LDS ward in Innsbruck. Hearing hymns in German brought back a lot of good mission memories. A member from Salzburg was visiting and, since that was our planned destination, offered to drive us. I guess that's one of the Mormon perks.

Salzburg is a beautiful little town made famous by the Sound of Music. I have seen the sound of music once, but honestly could never have put the two together if I had not been told.

I bought the neato hat seen in the picture above, we ate some schnitzel and rode the train back to Innsbruck.

After eating some Doner Kebaps and ice cream, we retired to our impossible to find hostel. Also, I learned that night that washing clothes in a sink pretty much just creates an even film of grime across the clothes and sink.

In the morning, we rode a tram to the top of a nearby mountain and took in some fabulous views.

While atop this mountain, we met a reformed Australian sheep farmer. Reformed means he is no longer doing it. Because I hail from an area with many sheep, we discussed some of the economical difficulties of the business. The discussion reinforced my father's wise council. He said I could be anything I wanted when I grew up, but not a farmer.

After the mountains, we boarded a train bound for Switzerland. We took a seat in the "Panorama Car" and I promptly fell asleep. I woke up a few minutes later covered in sweat. The car was steaming hot. I quickly realized the air conditioning was not working. I chuckled quietly when I thought that maybe a bit of Italy was still following me around. Italy is very hard to get out of your clothes -- especially washing them in a sink.

Please choose another country

Germany

France

Spain

Italy

Switzerland

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