I must say that Evelyn's directions were perfect, taking me from Badgastein to St. Wolfgang yesterday.  I left Haus Hirt a little later than I might of wished to, but as you will read, it all worked out for the best.  She had told me to head straight out of the valley and pick up A10 heading towards Salzburg.  Once there, she told me to exit the highway when I reached Hallein.  From there, there was a back road which would take me south of Salzburg in the direction of a village called Hof.  From there, I knew I'd have no problems as Hof was on Lake Wolfgangsee and being my third visit to the lake, I knew it quite well I must say.  The highway, as all seem to be in Austria, was perfect.  I must of averaged about 120 km/hr on A10 and my speeds varied along the back road, depending on the curves, traffic, towns, and scenery.  And let me tell you about the scenery, it was gorgeous.  Occasionally I'd see a lake or river alongside the road, or extremely high mountain peaks as well.  I must of reached Hof by about three and arrived at Hotel Appesbach around four or five in the afternoon. 

St. Wolfgang on Lake Wolfgangsee Austria

When I walked in the front door to the reception, Max - the manager - was no where to be seen.  "Ah, you must be Mr. Hall!" came a voice from behind the desk.  I turned to see a young man whose name I came to learn was Sigfried.  He said he knew it was me as I had computer and camera equipment in my arms.  He told me Max was expecting me but he was swimming in the lake at the moment and shouldn't be long.  Then, as if it was killing him to do so, he told me that there was a small problem.  Small problem I thought, which in hotel language can only and usually mean we don't have a room.  That's what he ended up telling me though.  I was bummed.  He told me he was sorry but an American couple had requested the opportunity to stay one more night.  Max thought it would not be a problem if he simply paid for my room in the adjacent hotel, called Hotel Au Hof.  The Au Hof was also a four-star hotel on the lake shore and it was only 50 feet down the road.  As soon as I heard that, I really didn't care as when I had emailed Max last week requesting a complimentary room for this night, I told him the simplest arrangements would be fine, even if it meant sleeping on the lawn.  So how could I possibly protest.  Little did I know that at the time what I might perceive to be my mis-fortune would turn out to be a windfall!  I told Sigfried I'd wait for Max on the terrace and do some work before going to my hotel next door.  I assumed I'd still be having dinner at the Appesbach.  Once on the terrace, it was exactly as I had remembered.  The color of the water was an emerald green and it calmly laid below the towering mountains across the lake.  It would be really hard to further adequately describe to you, so I'll just let the picture(s) say it all. 

It wasn't too long after I had sat down to write my journal that Max appeared, all dressed for the evening dinner.  He seemed really glad to see me and very sincere in apologizing to me for the arrangements.  I told him not to worry about it as all would be fine.  We chatted for awhile on the terrace and upon saying goodbye so I could go to my hotel, he told me he had hoped I would of course have both dinner and breakfast at the Appesbach.  Of course I said, and if there was anything he wanted me to do for him, to let me know.  He said he'd love some panoramas if the sun was out in the morning.  I said sure thing.  I then offered to take a shot of the staff and he told me that would be great, but it would need to be before dinner at 7.  It was nearly six so I knew I had to hurry. 

I arrived at the Hotel Au Hof within minutes and had very little problem checking in, after the girl understood the arrangements.  Then, the manager Peter came in.  He was very well dressed and in his forties I'd say.  I took the opportunity to show him my web site and tell him a little about what I did.  I decided to see if he would not charge Max for my room if I put his hotel on my "I Suggest" link.  He saw my site and said sure.  Then I briefly showed him a panorama and told him it would cost $50 euro for each one (here we go again...) and if he wanted any, my schedule was tight but I "might" be able to squeeze him in.  He thanked me and went on his way, and I to my room.  The Hotel Appesbach it was not, but it was very nice none the less.  I had a small room facing away from the lake.  I quickly showered and then got dressed for dinner. 

Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). I must of arrived at the Appesbach at about 6:40.  I started to take a panorama but Max requested we get the staff picture out of the way.  I told him sure, but lets start with only him, as I didn't have a good picture of him.  He agreed and more than willingly poised for me, with the lake in the background. Then, we got the whole staff at the same spot and took a very, very nice picture that wouldn't surprise me to see on his web site for some time to come.  I then told him I'd like to take an individual picture of each staff member as they could then each have a nice picture of themselves.  It was no problem I thought, as I'd just throw them on Max's CD when I burned it.  When we were finished, it was time for dinner.  Max had set aside a lovely table for me with a fantastic view of the lake.  Not soon after m first course had arrived, that a lovely couple from the states introduced themselves and told me they were the couple who had taken my room.  They felt so very bad but I told them not to worry as Max had taken good care of me anyway.   I then sat and had such a fantastic dinner, all the while looking at one of the nicest views you'd ever want to see in all of Europe - really!  The main course that evening was a venison stroganoff which was delicous.  After diner, I did some work on my journal and finished the evening as had intended upon my arrival, on the deck of the boat ramp looking up at the stars and watching the water shimmering under the moonlight.  It really was nice.  I had considered going into the little village of St. Wolfgang as it was a Friday night and I knew there'd be dancing at the disco.  But then I thought I was too damn old for that and went back to the Hotel Au Hof and went to bed. 

The next morning came and I woke up very early as I wanted to get some work done.  I woke up at about 5:30 and finished and uploaded my journal to the web site.  Then, I went over to the Hotel Land Haus Appesbach and had a cappuccino before going to the lake for some pictures.  When I was finished, I went back to the Hotel Au Hof and set up my computer in the dining room to show Peter, the hotel manager.  He was quite impressed with the panoramas and the special water reflection effect seen on my homepage.  He told me he'd be interested in having me do some of the hotel, so he got the hotel handyman to show me around.  So, Franz and I went around the hotel taking various pictures of different venues.  Once again I knew the more I took, the more I'd make.  At one point, we climbed the roof of the guesthouse on the lakeshore and I took a 180 degree of the lake that I knew Peter would like.  We also took out a boat, the kind you have to pedal to move, out onto the lake and I took a panorama from the boat as well as some pics for the water reflection effect.  When all finished, I spent the better part of an hour putting them together and when Peter previewed them, he said he'd take 6 of them for $300 euros.  Cha - Ching!  More moola I thought.  I burned him a cd with all of the panoramas instead of the six he had picked and typed up an invoice for him.  While he was scrounging up the cash, I checked my email to see Elke had mailed me to invite me back to Catelrotto to go hang gliding with Ruben on Sunday.  Could life get any better I thought to myself.  Peter and I finished up business with an agreement for me to submit a proposal to redo his homepage  once back in the states.  I also added his hotel to my web site so Max would not be out any cash.  So, as I pulled out of St. Wolfgang that morning, I thought how what might of seemed as a big misfortune had turned quite profitable - thanks to that lovely couple from the states.  So, if the two of you are reading this, a big, big thank you!

The journey to my next stop, Hotel Schloss Leonstain in Pörtschach near the Slovenian border,  was only to take a couple of hours.  But, and that is a very big but, traffic on the A10 I think it was, was horrendous.  Work on the tunnels caused traffic to come to a standstill at some points for up to an hour.  I spent the time working on my journal as parents took their kids to the roadside to pee and other people just milled about.  One man sold sodas to the stalled motorist.  After what should of been a two hour trip had become five and when I arrived I knew I would not drive back to Castelrotto the next morning, only to then drive back to Vienna the next morning.  Another trip I thought.  Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). The hotel Schloss Leonstain was as lovely as I had thought it would be.  Most known for having hosted Johann Brahms for two summers while he composed a lot of his music, the hotel was situated right on the main road of Pörtschach.  I checked in and was given a suite right over their most valued amenity, the courtyard where I would dine that evening.  I immediately did some panoramas and walked the small village.  It really was lovely I thought and it saddened me that I was only there until the next morning.  I had yet to meet Christoph, the owner, when I had gone down to request a table for dinner in the courtyard.  The restaurant owner/manager didn't receive me to well at first, offering me a table on the outer most perimeter of the courtyard.  Thinking I was not that well received, I told him I'd wait in the bar for a nicer table.  So there I sat in the bar having a stogie and a scotch when Christoph came up to me.  A very young man, he was very well dressed and was quite pleasant as well.  We chatted for awhile and I showed him a panorama of both his bar and the courtyard.  He loved them enough to get the restaurant manager and show him.  Well, needless to say, I had a very nice table within minutes.  The dinner was fantastic, but I must admit a bit lonely as I sat amongst various groups and lovers.  It must of been a five course meal, with each course accompanied with a different type of wine and the desert with a nice port from Spain.  Am I going to pay for this I kept thinking?  It was late when dinner was over, so I went up and put on a t-shirt and some shorts, bought a $25 euro Cohiba and double shot of scotch and headed to the hotel's dock on the lake.  It was actually quite cool as I sat there, all alone with the night until two couples came for a midnight dip.  I didn't see them get in, but sure did see them get out of the water.  They were all naked and I must say the profiles of the ladies in the moonlight was a nice way to end the day I thought as I tossed the butt of the Cohiba into the water and swallowed the last bit of scotch. 

The night didn't really end that way I should tell you though, as I got a late night call from Amanda in Scotland.  We had such a nice conversation as we usually tend to do.  Our conversations can get very friendly at times, especially late at night.  We talked of future plans and just small talk of my travels and her day to day affairs as well.  She is very supportive to me in my endeavors and am really looking forward to seeing her again.  I also had told her that I was thinking of giving up my journal for the last two weeks of my trip, as I am getting tired and it is quite a chore.  She told me that people enjoy following along with me as they read my journal and I really shouldn't even think of it, as I've come so far and it would be a shame.  So, I told her I'd write in my journal the next day that I'd like it if anyone reading this journal send me an email simply telling me they are following me.  If I get enough of a reply, I will continue with the journal through Budapest, Vienna, and Prague.  So, if you are reading this semi-regularly, please drop me a note and let me know.  To do so, simply click here.  We ended our conversation with her hanging up sooner than I had wished.  I went to bed with sweet thoughts of her...

The next morning arrived and I really had no idea where my day would take me.  I had intentionally left today open, but never anticipated deciding what to do would be so hard.  I had several choices; go back to BadGastein to see Evelyn at Haus Hirt as per her offer; find my way to Bled Slovenia (but my car rental agreement would not allow the car to go there so it would have to be by a very limited train schedule); drive down to Venice to see some friends who own a fantastic hotel;  travel toward Monday's destination and stop in Bad Blaum where  a nice spa was located that Evelyn had suggested.  Before having breakfast, I spent some time taking some panoramas of the hotel, lake and tennis courts.  As I ate my breakfast, I put them together to so Christoph.   When completed, I showed him them telling him he could have 2 for free, and pay $50 for any additional ones.  He loved them of course and wanted to buy 4 of them for $200 euros ( a euro is equal to the dollar essentially).  I then told him he could have them all for $200, he smiled and went to get the cash.  I smiled as well.  Not a bad twenty four hours, yet another $500 euros bringing the past three days efforts to a cool $1,000. 

As I pulled out of the village this morning, I decided it would be best to head in the direction of Monday's destination, Berg Bernstein.  I'll be in an awesome castle on the Hungarian-Austrian border for two nights.  The castle is the birthplace of the real-life English Patient character portrayed in the movie. I was there last year and it is a really special place.  So up the highway I drove, uncertain where I'd end up.  I stopped in a very small and historic town for lunch, and it is there where I have decided to stay the night.  It is with that thought that I will leave you until my next journal entry where I will share with you the wonderful place I ended up at for the night.  Will I pay my room...???