| My brother and sister-in-law had taken the next | | | | scenic Styrian hill country opens up. The three of |
| day off and we were planning an excursion | | | | us climbed up the steepest portion of the |
| further afield: our destination was a mountain peak | | | | mountain, securely equipped with our Nordic |
| called Mangart in Slovenia, located about a | | | | walking poles. Several restaurants offer |
| three-hour drive from my home town. The | | | | refreshments and hearty Austrian food at the |
| beauty of Central Europe is its diversity of | | | | summit area, and high-speed excitement is |
| landscapes and its small distances, and in just a | | | | provided by the summer tobogganing track that |
| few hours of driving through the Austrian | | | | runs down the mountain, a nice adrenaline kick I |
| province of Carinthia we arrived in Val Canale, an | | | | just had to experience. |
| area where Austria, Italy and Slovenia meet. | | | | After our hike back down we stopped off at |
| Incidentally this is also the only area where the | | | | Doris' house, a beautiful property in the |
| Germanic, Romance and Slavic language families | | | | countryside, that features a brand new pond and |
| come together right next to one another. We | | | | large garden. Doris even equipped us with delicious |
| passed by the picturesque Predil Lake and | | | | freshly picked peaches from her father's orchards. |
| continued our climb into the high mountains and | | | | Klaudia and I headed back to Weiz and an hour |
| crossed the Italian border into Slovenia. | | | | later we met up again for a backyard barbeque |
| But as it can be with the best laid plans of mice | | | | at my brother's place. Klaudia's entire family, her |
| and men, our hiking trip to the Mangart Mountain | | | | sister Andrea with daughters Nina and Katja as |
| was not to be: our car overheated and there was | | | | well as the two grandparents joined us for a |
| no way we were going to make it any further. | | | | delicious dinner that showcased my brother's |
| We had to stop, let the car cool down and turn | | | | culinary skills in a multi-course feast. |
| around to go back down the mountain. | | | | My last full day in Austria had arrived and Ewald |
| Fortunately, our disappointment did not last long | | | | and Anneliese had planned a special outing: an |
| since we came up with an alternate plan: we took | | | | excursion to one of Austria's most famous |
| the cable car up to Monte Lussari whose summit | | | | fortresses - the Riegersburg. In existence for |
| area features a tiny mountain village with a small | | | | more than 850 years and located in the border |
| pilgrimage church. An absolutely stunning 360 | | | | region of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, this |
| degree mountain vista opens up from the top of | | | | impressive fortification has withstood many |
| this mountain and we enjoyed a hearty lunch on | | | | attacks from the east and was never conquered. |
| the balcony of a rustic restaurant, taking in the | | | | It has often been referred to as the "strongest |
| phenomenal Alpine panorama. | | | | fortification of Christianity", having successfully |
| On our way home we stopped in the town of | | | | defended repeated attacks by Turks and |
| Tarvisio, a border town that has benefited for a | | | | Magyars. |
| long time from the traffic between Austria, | | | | With its numerous fortified gates, its unique |
| Slovenia and Italy. We stopped at the market, | | | | location on an extinct volcanic cone, its extensive |
| my brother picked up a few Italian delicatessen | | | | defensive walls, wooden drawbridges and moats, |
| and we enjoyed our stroll through town. After | | | | the Riegersburg is an authentic medieval fortress |
| our return in the late afternoon I embarked on a | | | | that has seen architectural additions from the |
| little local excursion and drove to the Teichalm - | | | | Renaissance and Baroque eras. An exhibition in the |
| Sommeralm area close to my home town. | | | | fortress explains the historic era of the 16th and |
| This region is now marketed as the "Almenland', | | | | 17th century and sheds light on feudalism as well |
| which literally means "Alpine meadow country". | | | | as two fascinating female characters who |
| The Tourism Region Sommeralm -Teichalm | | | | inhabited this fortress more than four centuries |
| represents the largest contiguous high-altitude | | | | ago: Baroness von Galler and the "flower witch" |
| alpine meadow area in Europe. It features a lake, | | | | Katharina Paldauf. |
| many hiking trails, ski lifts and phenomenal views | | | | Our East Styrian tour continued through volcano |
| into the surrounding countryside. In addition, the | | | | country with a drive to Schloss Kapfenstein, |
| area is used as grazing pastures for hundreds of | | | | another medieval fortress that has been |
| Alpine oxen, animals whose tender and tasty | | | | expanded into a castle and today holds an upscale |
| meat is prized highly by chefs and restaurant | | | | restaurant and hotel. This castle is also located on |
| owners throughout the entire area. | | | | the extinct cone of a former volcano. We |
| Poor weather returned on Friday, so I spent a | | | | enjoyed a tasty lunch in the outdoor patio of the |
| quiet day making visits to acquaintances and doing | | | | castle, against the gorgeous backdrop of the |
| errands. The highlight of the day was a classical | | | | distant Carinthian and Slovenian Mountains. |
| concert organized by the local Weiz Lions Club: a | | | | My last evening in Austria was capped off with a |
| charity concert and fundraiser that featured | | | | visit to our friends Luis and Isabella, and all five of |
| musicians and an orchestra from AIMS, the | | | | us enjoyed the late evening sun in their beautiful |
| American Institute of Musical Studies, a | | | | backyard. Luis even took me on a little motor |
| Graz-based organization that offers intense | | | | scooter adventure around town. Back at Ewald's |
| summer vocal, piano and music programs to | | | | place we spent a few more hours reminiscing until |
| international students, most of whom come from | | | | I had to pack my bags for my departure to the |
| the United States. | | | | airport in Vienna Monday morning. |
| We listened to pieces by Mozart, Strauss and | | | | These nine days have been one of the most |
| Verdi and were thoroughly impressed by the | | | | wonderful travel experiences in my life. They |
| young sopranos, tenors and musicians who put on | | | | were greatly enhanced by my connections with |
| an outstanding performance. The event even | | | | family and friends, but in addition, my eyes were |
| raised 15,000 Euros for the local charity. I | | | | truly opened to travel opportunities in my birth |
| interviewed several of the young music students | | | | region of Austria. |
| after the concert and they were thoroughly | | | | Styria, with its medieval cities, imposing churches, |
| enjoying their international exchange program and | | | | monasteries and fortresses offers a great variety |
| sure to return home with memories of a lifetime. | | | | of destinations to history and architecture lovers. |
| Finally, the sun had returned and my second last | | | | Music, visual and performing arts are ever |
| day in Austria was going to be gorgeous. My | | | | present, even in small communities. Outdoor |
| second photo safari through my home town | | | | lovers will find a whole smorgasbord of activities, |
| resulted in several encounters with acquaintances | | | | from hiking to mountain biking, skiing, horseback |
| whom I had not seen for more than 20 years. | | | | riding, mountaineering, hang-gliding, river rafting and |
| Old memories were stirred up even more when I | | | | many other varied pastimes. |
| connected with my school friends Klaudia and | | | | The diverse landscapes featuring fertile plains, |
| Doris. During our walk up to the local Weizberg | | | | rolling hills full of orchards and vineyards, high |
| we also had a celebrity connection: Arnold | | | | Alpine peaks and meadows, pristine rivers and |
| Schwarzenegger's mother, father and brother are | | | | scenic lakes enchant at every corner. And food, |
| buried in the Weiz cemetery. His parents lived in | | | | wine and beer lovers will definitely enjoy the |
| this town for many years, and his father was a | | | | diverse culinary offerings. In addition, Styria offers |
| local police officer. | | | | affordable prices and great value to international |
| Of course we reminisced about our high school | | | | travelers. I realized my birth region is right up |
| adventures and after a scrumptious garden lunch | | | | there at the top of any destinations I have visited |
| we went to go hiking on the nearby | | | | in the last few years. |
| Schöckel mountain. The Schöckel is the | | | | This trip truly opened my eyes to the astounding |
| largest mountain in the region around Weiz and | | | | beauty and variety of the area where I was |
| provides a phenomenal 360 degree panorama | | | | born, and even though Styria might not be as well |
| over the entire region. Southerly views extend | | | | known as other regions of Austria, my nine days |
| into the Slovenian and Hungarian plains, and | | | | back home were far too short and I already |
| northerly vistas feature the high Alpine peaks of | | | | have a whole list of things to do and see next |
| Northern Styria. To the east and to the west the | | | | time I am over in the old country. |