Traveling keeps me sane. Now that the kids are old enough to fend for themselves, I can totally leave my worries behind when I jet off to somewhere new or even old. Some places I had been to in the past are no longer the same, just like Vienna.
Vienna has lost its charm. It has become so touristy, the traditional shops selling paper, pen and other interesting Austrian handicrafts have made way for international brands that are ubiquitous. And the streets are cluttered with tourist groups that you can see and hear from a mile away.
It was the same in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and more surprisingly in Hallstatt, a village in the Salzkammergut which is such an unbelievably spectacular place that even the Chinese have created a copy of the ancient salt mine village. I guess that explains why there were hordes of Chinese tourists during our visit.
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| Breathtaking view of Hallstatt. |
It's funny but the best way to get some solitude is at the cemeteries, which we saw quite a few of during our trip. I can assure you that you will never find groups of tourists here.
One of our favourite haunts is the flea market which you will mostly find local residents scouring for a good buy.
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| Flea market in Vienna. |
As usual, we like to wander off to obscure places off the beaten track where the best gems are hidden. If you travel at your own pace and on your own terms, you will still have a great trip like we did. I will share more stories in the next few posts.
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| Graffiti under the bridge along Danube River in Vienna. |
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| Amazing little cafe in the outskirts of Vienna. |
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