2 Oct Wed Salzburg To Venice - the other J

Day 5: breakfast in Salzburg to Venice up in the mountains.hunting lodge and summer house.  Eagle's nest. Drive to Venice arrive late afternoon. Venice by night.

This was a massive day by anyone's standards. It started in the early morning mist, to go to a building that was originally a hunting lodge for a King when the city was surrounded by forests, and lots of wild game and animals to hunt. Even though I am still not really a big fan of getting up early, I must admit this was worth the effort. With the mist and sense of history, there was a sense of ethereal timelessness about it. 

Then it was back to reality and the Sound Of Music again, because this hunting lodge had been the summer house where two young people sang "Sixteen Going On Seventeen," so of course we all had to have our photos taken

Next up to the Eagle's Nest, Herr Hitler's Bavarian mountain retreat. Even though I studied the rise of the National Socialists, with a German teacher who was very detached, scholastic, and academic about it, I still had misgivings about going up to the mountain lair. Maybe because I got to learn more about what went on up there, than most people. However, having been up there, I couldn't help but be impressed. I can now understand how a certain party leader, who was already ill and delusional, could honestly believe that the Nordic Gods were speaking to him. I still sensed ghosts of the past, although of course, they  don't exist. I hope the following photos give you some idea of the grandeur and aura of the place. 

VENICE.

Next to Venice, this was the place I really wanted to see with, as my new young Canadian friend would say, a couple go things to "cross off the bucket list!" (I think that means things to do before you die) to complete. Venice was everything I had hoped for and more. The photos will show you what it's like to arrive in Venice, the quiet little hotel where we stayed, and the magnificence of a boat trip around Venice by night. It will also show you the restaurant where I sang in Italian before a live audience. If you look hard, you will see that  most of the tables are empty. This was AFTER I had sung!

Outskirts of Venice.

Nearly there.

At the hotel

Venice by night.

The venue where I sang