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Hello From Austria - Classical Music, Hiking & Summer Tobogganing & Two Delicious Backyard Feasts II

At 9:30 am I went to visit Klaudia, one of myEastern and Western Styria, and to the north
best friends from high school, at herwe took in the panorama of the more imposing
parent's house. Our other school mate Dorismountains of the Styrian Alps. We also saw
was already there and it was great to seeseveral ramps for hang-gliders, a popular
both of them again, more than 23 years afteractivity in this region. We walked past
we graduated from high school. After thesome peaceful cows that were grazing on the
initial hugs and kisses and how-are-yous wemountain pastures and reached the summit area
started walking onto the local hill, thewhich is the location of the upper station of
Weizberg. Our stroll took us through thethe cable car, of a couple of restaurants and
local cemetery where we admired a very famousa summer tobogganing course. The weather
grave: the last resting place of Aureliatoday was brilliant and many serious hikers,
Schwarzenegger, Arnold's mother, who was amountain bikers and tourists were
long-time resident of Weiz. Klaudia evencongregating at the mountain top. We were
mentioned that her father happened toquite fascinated by the summer tobogganing
encounter Mrs. Schwarzenegger at the cemeteryand Doris suggested that I should try it.
a number of years ago, but she had collapsedWell, I have always been a bit of a daredevil
due to a heart attack. My friend's fatherand she did not have to say it twice. She
called the ambulance which gave her emergencyeven sprang for my Euro 2.50 round, and a
treatment and took her to the hospital. Shecouple of minutes later I was sitting in the
passed away shortly after and Arnoldsteel "buggy of death", ready for my
Schwarzenegger sent a thank you letter to thehair-raising descent down the serpentine
ambulance employees as well as to Klaudia'scurves of the course. Actually, the ride was
father, to thank him for getting help for hisa lot tamer than I expected, and I only
mother. Proof that in this town realoccasionally pulled the brakes, but it was
celebrity connections are just steps away...still an very entertaining experience. I
Right next to the church is the so-calledfigured if I did it again I would probably
"Kräutergarten" (herb garden) that wastry to go down the course without breaking at
created by a group of local residentsall. Once the lift had pulled my buggy back
(including Klaudia's mom) that features aup to the summit plateau we started walking
wide variety of local herbs, many of whichpast the Stubenberghaus, a large mountain
are used in the regional cuisine. Then werestaurant and inn, towards the summit cross
took the romantic stairs down the hill, awhich provides a beautiful view northwards
pathway that we had walked many times asinto the mountainous area of Upper Styria. I
children. Our local stroll took us past ourhave always loved mountains, and to see peak
former high school, where we discussed fondafter peak after peak was just a great
memories of our school years. One of theexperience. We then started hiking back to
highlights of our high school careers werethe car and our trek back down was
two choir trips to Germany, to our partnerconsiderably easier than the torturous climb
school in Offenburg, where the two schoolup. We stopped at Doris' beautiful country
choirs jointly performed classical songs. Wehouse on the way back where we admired her
most fondly recalled the actual concert whererecently created garden pond and her new dog.
for the finale both school choirs appearedEquipped with some gorgeous ripe Styrian
together to jointly sing the last song.peaches from Doris' family's farm we returned
Screaming our lungs out among 120 singersto Weiz and I dropped Klaudia off. About an
from two different countries was anhour later we reunited when Klaudia, her
exhilarating experience, and not surprisinglyhusband and two children, her parents, her
my passions for cross-cultural exchanges weresister Andrea and her daughters Nina and
kindled at an early age. After our return toKatja arrived at my brother's place. Tonight
Klaudia's parents Doris left and the rest ofwe would all get together for a great
us started preparing a hearty meal, and I, bybarbecue, and my brother Ewald, the
no means gifted in the kitchen, donned thepassionate chef, had a few special treats
apron and started cutting and choppingwaiting for us. Anneliese, my sister-in-law,
whatever needed to be done. (Good thing I washad been helping all afternoon with the
not in charge of any really importantpreparations. After some initial
tasks...) Klaudia's mom whipped up achit-chatting we started off with a savoury
delicious meal for 10+ people in next to novegetable soup, and then my brother started
time and we soon sat down in the garden topreparing the main course: 13 whole artic
have some Austrian specialties: we savoured achars were waiting to be grilled in a large
"Bröselknödelsuppe" (breadcrumb dumplingspan on an open fire. Ewald had already been
in a clear beef broth), stuffed green peppersmarinating the fish in a special blend of
and delicious mashed potatoes withherbs and spices the whole day. Tender young
caramelized onions. Given this deliciouspotatoes were to accompany the fish, and a
yet substantial calory injection, we had tosolid Styrian salad with pumpkin seed oil
do a work-out and decided to do a hike uprounded out the main course. A scrumptious
onto the Schöckel, at over 1400 m theraspberry parfait provided the sweet final
highest local mountain. Around 2 pm we met upnote to our culinary symphony. So despite a
with Doris again and all three of us brokebit of rainy weather yesterday, I had had a
out our Nordic walking poles and we attackedfantastic couple of days which included
the mountain from its steepest side. Doris,classical music, hiking, a reunion with good
an experienced hiker, led the group at afriends and an amazing array of gastronomic
rather hellish pace, and the two of usdelicacies. Now there is only one more full
clambered behind her. Some areas were soday left of my trip to Austria, and tomorrow
steep we had to use our hands to bracewe will explore one of the medieval treasures
ourselves climbing up between the rocks. Butof Styria: the Riegersburg, a massive
our walking sticks definitely aided in thefortress on a basaltic outcrop dating back to
ascent and about an hour later we werethe 10th century, often referred to as the
rewarded with an astounding 360 degree view"strongest fortress of Christianity" because
over the Styrian hills and mountains. Theit  was  never  conquered.
Schöckel is also referred to as the "Grazer
Hausberg" or local mountain of Graz, and weSusanne Pacher is the publisher of a web
had great views down into the Styrian capitalportal for unconventional travel &
and the Mur Valley. To the south the Austriancross-cultural connections. Check out our
and Slovenian plains were stretching out,FREE ebooks about travel.
looking east and right saw the foothills of



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