Top 10 reasons I will miss Austria

1. Did you think that number one could be anything other than a Käsekrainer? Cheese, saussage, bread, ketchup! In a word...amazing. Oh...and equally, Sturm. Its not wine, but its almost there...who really cares though...it is just plain yummy!
2. Free dinners. The other night I went to dinner in a little cafe that I came across on my way back to my hostel. It was SO good. When I was done I went up to the bar to pay and started to chat with an older gentleman who was just finishing his dinner. He was asking me where I was from, and then told me that him and his wife had visited Vancouver and really loved it. I sat down with him and we talked about my travels for around 15 minutes. When I went to give the owner of the cafe the money for my meal, the gentleman waved him off and told him that he would be taking care of it. I was so overwhelmed that I almost cried. He was the sweetest guy ever. I went back the next day to see if he was there again, but he wasn't and the owner wasn't there either so no way of thanking him.
3. Mountains and Valleys...fresh air...warm afternoons and cool evenings...breathtaking.
4. Riding a bike around town. I LOVE that everyone in Austria rides their bikes, and not only that but they ride their bikes while carrying skies on their shoulders (I have actually seen this happen!!!) Its the best way to see a city and it helps to work out my butt muscles that have been getting lazy since leaving Italy because although there are tones of mountains, most cities are in valleys and therefore pretty flat.
5. The Sound of Music. Its been a long time since I watched this movie, and have loved getting to know it all again. Singing the songs, sitting with strangers, all enjoying it for the first or the 100th time, together...nothing brings people together like a Julie Andrews Musical...seriously...try it...put up some posters advertising it and people will show up! If you show it, they will come (ok...too cheesy)
6. The Sound of Music Tour! Not only does this tour take you to all the great places where important, and some not so important, scenes were filmed, you also get to sing all the songs, learn the history of the family, and also learn random facts about Austria! An absolute must for anyone coming to Salzburg!
7. Red Bull...betcha didn't know it was Austrian...well it is...I saw their headquarters...its in a little village outside Salzburg...it looks like a giant glass igloo...wonder if its made of Swarovski?
8. Speaking of which...Swarovski Crystals! Sparkly, shinny, fabulous stuff. Loved the exhibit at the Crystal Worlds and the shopping and the really helpful staff. It was all so great. But most of all I love my new necklace and ring which both glitter in the Austrian sunlight. It sometimes causes me to pause in my touring just to stare. I guess I'm just like a cat in that way...totally distracted by anything that sparkles and shines!
9. Castles...just in Austrai alone I have seen and/or visited 15 castels and palaces and that was just in 3 cities! Although to be honest, a lot of these 'castles' look more like giant mansions to me...but who am I to judge when if I ever own a house over 4000 square feet it will surely be given a name such as 'Castle of the Beautiful Blonde' or 'Castle Von Amanda' or 'Castle Gulks'...so I can totally support all of these castles 100%
10. Hanging with Mandy in Vienna. It was SO nice to have someone that knew the city to give me my own private tour and to entertain me in the evenings. She also introduced me to some of my most favorite things in Austria...Käsekrainers and Sturm. I will miss her sass on my future travels.