Christmas Eve's trip into Salzburg was planned with military precision but we still somehow missed the bus and ended up taking the somewhat slower but very scenic train ride into Salzburg.
We were under pressure to do our gift shopping as the shops were closed yesterday and close early today – I will never complain about shopping hours in Adelaide again.
Christmas Eve is the big celebration in Germany (and obviously Austria as well,) so shops and businesses close soon after lunch and it was 10 am by the time we had established a 3pm rendezvous location for our return.
This was non negotiable as we were booked into the 5-7.30pm 'slot' for Christmas Eve dinner back in Berchtesgaden – so, 5 hours to accomplish our varying priorities – shopping for some and visiting museums for others.
The decorations, wreaths, table settings and ornaments available at the Christkindlmarkts are absolutely exquisite and I couldn't help spending precious minutes checking them out whilst speculating on how many of them would end up with customs in Adelaide. They are so reasonably priced however, that I eventually decided to risk a couple and see how I go but there were so many others I wanted…….
I decided that Salzburg would have to figure on a future agenda as time rapidly ran out. We remembered in the nick of time that we had no supplies for Christmas morning breakfast (Russell's signature pancakes) so then had to carry grocery shopping around for he rest of the day as well!
The atmosphere in town was very festive, many local people standing around the Glühwein stalls catching up as well as countless Aussie accents heard as we dashed around looking for the 'perfect' gifts. I felt like I was on an episode of Amazing Race; never have I done my Christmas shopping in a few hours flat and managed to dash up the funicular to the fortress for a quick look!
The people milling about on the right hand side of this photo were listening to a guy playing the didgeridoo ! Trust an entrepreneurial Aussie to be capitalising on the Christmas crowds.
After exiting the funicular we saw Zoe and Tannika and decided that a taxi back to the train station was in order as the groceries were becoming heavier and we were all laden with packages and exhausted!
So many things I would have liked to have done but so little time!!
The group photos followed which provided entertainment and frustration (would Sam stop his comic poses for a minute please?) before we got the final Facebook worthy shot – thanks Russell!
Anyway readers, it is light now and I hear the mice stirring so I will sign off and head down for Christmas breakfast.
Merry Christmas from us xxxxxxx