Lady

I'd love to get to Prague sometime. I sounds to beautiful, but (sigh), not this trip.

Gosh, we leave in less than 2 weeks and I haven't got Christmas cards mailed, gifts wrapped, or done much about what I'm taking aside from finding boots (not something I normally wear in Florida!) Need another sweater, I think. Can't believe how close it is. And to think, I will actually meet some Fodorites, too. Makes it all the more wonderful. Yippee.

Images2

Good morning Lady and Gills!

2 more weeks before Lady leaves!! It is so close now. My grandson would disagree since we're having Christmas here on the 16th and he thinks it's an eternity away

Our son's wedding was fabulous, but Saturday sure was the coldest day of the year for us so far. We drove to the church with heavy ice coming down. The horse and buggy ride after the wedding was cancelled due to the ice. It just reminded us to pack warm!!

We'll see you all on Christmas Eve!

Now time to return all the tuxes... Have a great day and a wonderful time in Budapest Gills. We like Budapest even more than Prague. It's more real, very affordable and has some great food! Go to the Opera. You can get tickets for next to nothing!

See you all soon.

Lady

Glad the wedding was successful in spite of the ice storm, Images. But I know that bride was looking forward to the carriage ride but it sounds like everything else went smoothly and that's wonderful.

Gosh, I grew up in that kind of weather in the midwest, but I've lived in Fla. for 35 years! We never visit family in the winter (they all come here!). I know I've forgotten how cold it can be. I hope I have what I need. Anyone want to tell me their 'must have' for winter travel? Any suggestions appreciated.

Images2

Yes, Florida is preferable in the winter! Our daughter and son-in-law live in Florida and as they flew home, looking down onto the coastline, they remembered why they live in Florida and not in the Midwest any longer!

As for clothing, I bought my husband Duofold Men's Insulayer Originals 2-Layer Long Underwear Pant 400b. He said they're very comfortable. We also bought SmartWool socks and love them, along with a silk underwear top for me.

I have a down vest with hood that I'll wear under my coat. Unfortunately I don't think I'll bring my really warm leather and fur coat, since it'll be so hard to carry around on the trains. I'd love to have it at times on this trip, but it may just be a burden overall. It's a dilemma.

Someone on this board said cords are much better than jeans for warmth. I've always worn jeans, with tights on under and it seemed to work ok though. I did just buy some new cords so we'll see.

We'll get to practice tomorrow as 3.5" of snow is in the forcast!

Cowboy1968

I guess you guys traveling to the Salzburg/ Berchtesgaden area for Christmas already know that in Germany and Austria the Christmas markets usually end on December 24.

I think I spotted a question re. salt mines in this thread somewhere. There are also salt mines in Berchtesgaden -- not open Dec 25/26, if I remember correctly, though.

When using public transport in the Salzburg area, a return ticket is automatically a day pass for the zones you are travelling. Since the trains and buses from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden use different routings (i.e. train goes thru more/ different zones than bus, and is slightly more expensive), you would need to get seperate one-way tickets.

Hope you have fun in Salzburg and surroundings. By the way, Cafe Tomaselli is a very popular place in Salzburg. I have no clue how full it will be on Dec 25, but I've always seen it quite packed with people.

Images2

Cowboy,

Thanks for the information. One correction though, the Salt Mines in Berchtesgaden are open on Dec. 26, and closed Dec. 24 - 25. That's interesting information about the return bus tickets being day passes for the area. Is there any reason not to just take the bus from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden round trip and not take the train? Then the bus ticket will also be valid for other buses we may want to take in the Berchtesgaden area for that day, right?

We're arriving on Dec. 22 so will have a few days to enjoy the Christmas markets!

Thanks again.

Cowboy1968

Sorry about giving the wrong dates -- you are absolutely right that the salt mines are closed Dec 24 and 25, but open on Dec 26.

The return tickets for the buses are indeed good for any travel in each of the zones you pass thru from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden. The bus goes on a direct route, and it thus less expensive than the train. There is no real need to take the train, unless you want to. It even takes longer than the bus.

If you get a return ticket for the Berchtesgaden zone in Salzburg, you could take any bus in downtown Salzburg, transfer to the Berchtesgaden bus, stop at the salt mines (they have their own bus stop), and continue to "downtown" Berchtesgaden later - all on one ticket.
But, for example: If you wanted to see the Königsee, you would need to buy a return ticket to that zone (and all the stopovers I mentioned before would also be included).

No worries, the systems of zones is as nerving for locals as for tourists. But if you have questions, the tourist information in Salzburg should be able to give you the right information.

Images2

Gills,

I just looked at the B&B you've booked. It looks great! We're also staying at a B&B which shares the same bus stop. The directions on their web site I think are outdated. Bus 21 is the bus on that route now, not bus 16.

Get the Salzburg city map. It's excellent and has all the bus routes marked on it.

See you soon.

GillsinEurope

Images,

Which B&B are you guys at? Thanks for the head's up that the bus number has changed. We'll be sure to pick up a good city map. When do you arrive?

It's almost here!!

Images2

We're at Haus Reichl which is just down a lane off Moosstrasse and using bus stop Gsengerweg. We arrive Dec.22. We're scheduled to arrive in Munich at 7:30 a.m. I want to see the Christmas market there before taking the train to Salzburg. I haven't decided which train we'll take yet.

I'm having our family Christmas here on Sunday then I can pack!!

How is the weather in Austria? Snow in Salzburg sticking around, or is it rain now? I'm sure hoping for some snow! Are you still as cold in Vienna?

See you soon!

JulieVikmanis

How wonderful for all of you to spend Christmas in Salzburg. We were there in Dec. 2005 between Christmas and New Years and found it magical. Have a lunch at the Nordsee on the getreidegasse. Fantastic and pretty inexpensive seafood. You'll love it all. Enjoy.

GillsinEurope

Images,

We arrive on the same day, but I think you are spending a day or two longer in Salzburg than we are. We leave to go back to Vienna on Christmas Day. Vienna has been pretty rainy this week, though the sun did come out today. I don't know about snow in Salzburg...we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Images2

Thanks so very much for the good wishes Julie and we'll follow your seafood suggestion! I'm looking so forward to this trip, Salzburg for Christmas, then Vienna over New Years.

Travel safe Lady, we wish we were leaving this weekend as you are! See you all soon.

The Salzburg Tourist office posted the Christmas Eve/New Years restaurant schedule on line if anyone is interested! There's a link on the home page to the file.

GillsinEurope

It's snowing in Vienna!!!

LSUvetgirl

I think i lost track of things somewhere in the middle of this thread; is there goign to be a GTG or not? My husband and I will be in/around Salzburg from the 23rd to the 28th. Have really nothign planned, bad bad trip planner! But looking forward to just enjoying the wintry Christmas atmosphere.

We are staying in a small town 15 km east of Salzburg and will have a car. We were planning on doing the Christmas Eve thing at the Silent Night chapel but just driving ourselves.

Anyway it sounded like GTG plans kinda fell apart, but if I misunderstood and there's somewhere to be, please let me know!

Carrie

Images2

Hi Carrie,

Yes, we're having a GTG on Christmas afternoon, December 25, at 1:00 (13:00) at Tomaselli Cafe in the Old Town.

We'd love to meet you there! Several of us are also going with Bob's Tours Christmas Eve to the Silent Night Church.

Lady/Candy has already left for her trip and she organized this.

Snow in Vienna!! It looks like the temps are cold.

GillsinEurope

Ok I need help making a decision on our Sunday activity. I just can't make up my mind if we want to go to the salt mines for the afternoon or if we want to go to St. Gilgen. I keep flip flopping between the two. There are salt mines in Hallein right? Does anyone know if they are about the same as the salt mines in Berchtesgaden (better or worse)? Also, are there any activities to do in St. Gilgen/St Wolfgang or is it just a pretty place to sit and eat lunch? Help please!!! We leave on Saturday!

Images2

Hi Gills,

We are planning to go to St.Gilgen/St. Wolfgang on Sunday. The drawback in going here is keeping to a schedule since we need to work with the bus and ferry schedules. Both towns have Christmas markets, and the boat trip connecting the towns across Lake Wolfgangsee seems nice. We don't want to leave Austria without seeing the Lake District.

Have you thought of doing the salt mines in Hallein first, they open at 11:00, (75 min. tour) then going just to St.Gilgen? It would be possible! Check the schedules on the OBB website to plan the times.

GillsinEurope

Hi Images,

I did think about doing both on the same day, but it may be too much for my hubby. He tends to get pretty tired and restless after so much time in the cold.

Now I'm thinking maybe we'll head over to Hallein after we check into the B&B on Saturday and do the lake on Sunday. Still not sure yet...

I don't think it should be too much of a schedule crisis for you guys on Sunday. I checked OBB and it looks like the last reasonable bus back from St. Gilgen to Salzburg is at 7:05pm and the last ferry from St. Wolfgang to St. Gilgen before that time is 6:00 or 6:15 pm...unless I'm reading the schedule incorrectly, which I may be. What about Strobl? Do you plan on visiting that city as well? I've read that they have live nativity scenes with real animals in the Christmas Markets so we may want to go from Salzburg to Strobl, take the ferry to St. Wolfgang and then the ferry to St. Gilgen. Does it sound like too much?

Are you getting excited? When do you fly out?

Talk to you soon....

Images2

Thanks for the suggestion Gills. I hadn't thought about taking the bus to Strobl then doing the ferry. I did read about the live animals, but didn't think we could fit it in. We'll see. I think we'll be taking the 10:19 bus on Sunday. If you're on the same schedule, maybe we'll meet on the way??

I think your new plan on doing the salt mine on Saturday may be a great idea! Then you can see both.

We had a wonderful early Christmas here on Sunday and our family loved their gifts!! We even had snow

I'm packing now, leaving Friday early in the a.m. See you soon!