Nauders Austria Monday 23 September 2013

We have a day free of the bus today with the morning at leisure and this afternoon will be going on Charly’s famous walk around the village followed by homemade Apple Strudel and coffee.

It is very sunny today as I spend the morning working in my room. Hollie is next door and also has work to do from college. Hollie has been able to join me this week and although I did speak with the college they said her absence will be unofficial though they appreciated me calling and explaining why and where Hollie was going. As she is studying Travel and Tourism this week will only help her and she has brought other work to do.

Everybody has been free to enjoy the morning as they wish and a few walked the 25 minutes to the cable car for a ride high into the mountains. Others pottered about the hotel and village while Colin and Pat went up the chairlift opposite the town and walked to one of the lakes in the mountains. There are two lakes there, Black and Green, and I’m not sure which one they walked to but am a little envious as I would love to do that myself. I must come back in the summer minus the bus and do some of the spectacular walks.

At lunchtime Hollie and I strolled down to the super

market (the only one while renovation work is done on the one next door) and had a drink and roll. Hollie likes the rolls with a schnitzel in the middle and I must admit I don’t have much trouble getting one of those bad boys down my Gregory!!

We all meet in the hotel lounge at 14:00 for our walk and as soon as Charly arrives we are off. It is all a little bit untidy in the village with the building work and most of the roads have had their tarmac taken off in preparation of imminent sewer/water pipe work that needs to be done.

As I’ve said it is very hot and sunny today and some find it a little hard going. Charly is great and stops every few minutes to either explain something or talk to the locals, which seems to be his main hobby! By the time we have been into St Valentine’s Church and then through the beautiful cemetery most of the group are knackered! I think we are all pleased to take a gentle walk back to the hotel and the comfort of the lounge. Linda, Michaela and Charly serve us freshly cooked strudel followed by tea or coffee. A lovely afternoon that is great fun and Charly’s enthusiasm and pride for his village of Nauders is infectious and charming.