DAY 25

“Fiasco” Friday 5 August 2011

We started the morning with good news from Maria’s husband Robert, that our overnight mail containing important papers from Sebastian had arrived. It was a big help to have their address for Sebastian to send the envelope to.

A lively local

Fiasco #1: We trekked to the bus stop, free passes in hand. Jumping aboard the bus, we gasped at our Heidi-like surroundings, then we gasped at the fact that our backpack was missing. We jumped off at the next stop and walked/ran back to the camp entrance. It was to our benefit that the Austrians are not only neat but honest, for there the bag sat, safe and sound. Always ones to make the best of a situation, we caught the next bus, letting it take us wherever.

Fiasco #2: To our horror Dian could not locate her treasured sunglasses, but at this point we didn’t want to turn around again so we stayed on the bus.

Fiasco #3: Due to a miscommunication with the bus driver, we got off too early and were stranded at a stop that wasn't getting another bus for two hours. Trapped like the von Trapp’s. We trekked to the next town of Unken and explored. The church on the hill led us to a steep meadow where we picnicked and Dian reenacted the opening scene of the Sound of Music (and didn’t even sprain an ankle twirling down the hillside singing “The Hills Are Alive”).

We nearly jumped for joy when we caught a bus back to Lofer (near our campground) and came upon a military veterans gathering, complete with marching band and groups of servicemen in full regalia spanning Austria’s military history. Walking back we chatted with a young fireman in front of his station, who knew where Santa Monica Pier was “from the TV.” Our last stop of the day was at a roasted chicken stand where we bought our dinner.

On the way back to camp, Dian’s glasses were found in the high grass – not such a fiasco after all.