Nauders Saturday 25 August 2012

Saturday 25 August 2012


Breakfast is in a room away from the restaurant as there are two other groups in and it will not be so busy. I am always wary when put into another room but have been promised the same buffet as the restaurant and that is indeed the case. We are all sat around one large table and once the extra seats have been put in (they only laid up for 22 not 26) we can all enjoy our breakfast. Brian is on his own at one end and I’m at the other with a long table between us.

“Pass the sugar” shouts Brian!

We depart at 08:00 and have a clear run through to Kayserburg services, an hour from the Swiss border.

From here we have a small fifteen minute hold up in road works before entering Switzerland and continuing to our lunch stop on the motorway. This service area is more like a shopping centre with two levels of quality shops, good toilets and a fantastic self service restaurant. There is also a Burger King and by the toilets a naughty shop! It is quite funny all the people waiting for their partners/friends outside of the loos and standing looking at the naughty shop!

“I’m waiting for my wife!” Yeah okay!!

Our final stop is in Austria where we top up the Austrian Go Box, the toll payment system for Austrian roads.
I call the hotel and say we should be there at 17:30 and at 17:30 we arrive to be greeted by Charly, Chrystal and Dagmar. Charly is the owner of the hotel, Chrystal his wife and Dagmar his eldest daughter. They have two other daughters Patricia and Karin.

It is a lovely welcome and puts a lump in y throat as I am very fond of Charly and his family and the friendliness they always show me and the guests we bring to their hotel.
As well as handing out keys on the coach Charly also explains the choices for tonight’s meal offering us a choice of three main courses. This is very good as most hotels won’t offer a choice on the first night but Charly always seems to put that extra bit of effort in.
It is always a nice feeling coming here and I feel relaxed as soon as we arrive.

Hollie is once again with me and we have a lovely family room with my room separate from Hollies by way of a small hallway.
I’m quite happy sharing a twin room but 16 year old ladies don’t want to share with their dads!

Having a beer in the bar before dinner is one of life’s pleasures and something I have been looking forward to all day. Linda is once again here to serve us and it is lovely seeing her here as well.
Before dinner Charly welcomes us all with a drink and speech about the surrounding area and the Hochland Hotel.
He is a charming man whose English improves year on year and is always entertaining in his explanation of everything.

After our welcome drink and speech we make our way to the restaurant for our five course meal.

There is a salmon starter followed by soup and then it is as much salad as you wish from the salad bar before enjoying your main course and then dessert.
All very nice but by the end of the week a lot of people won’t be having all five courses.
After dinner we take Dot for a quick drink in the Monkey Pub opposite the hotel and then it is bed.