Strange circumstance
I rang my parents last night to find out how they got on on holiday a few weeks ago: it was during the Central European floods and they were, you guessed it, in Central Europe! Well, they were pretty much OK except when they were going on their only direct train, from Graz to Innsbruck. They were told they'd need to get off and get a bus the rest of the way in the Tauern region, so off they got at Stainach-Irdning (a stop early as the planned stop had a flooded forecourt) and got on the bus. Now they were told they'd be going to Salzburg via somewhere else and going on the Rosenheim route to Innsbruck. Mum got a seat at the front and enjoyed lovely scenic mountain views. Dad sat next to an elderly gentleman, whose face he thought familiar, and whose voice (he spoke good English) was also not unfamiliar. They got talking about travel and stuff and Dad started talking about the tours he went on in the late 70s and early 80s and about the legendary tour guide: turns out it was this bloke! My Dad hadn't seen him since 1984 and my Mum since 1982! Talk about MASSIVE COINCIDENCE!!!
Anyway, they made it to Golling on the Salzach but no buses came. The bus driver said he'd take them on to Salzburg even though he was out of hours, but my parents were restricted to the back of the bus this time. As they were going along, road workers were clearing debris from the roads that had washed off the mountainside.
At Salzburg, the trains had also stopped running: there would be no way to get to Innsbruck. The ÖBB (Austrian National Railways) did, however, lay on free 5* hotel accommodation! Not sure my Mum's ever seen a 5* hotel... Anyway, Dad got in contact with his hotel in Innsbruck and explained his predicament: they were happy with his explanation and so didn't charge him. They went out into Salzburg with their new old friend and, turns out, he might be a well-travelled tour guide but he can't read a map!
Dad also mentioned that the Rhine was so high only the trains were running: the ferries were off as the pontoons were half-submerged at the jetty end, and the roads were shut. He did say he's never seen the river so close to the railway either...
I do have a proper update planned but, you know, work...
Sahha ohrain.
Anyway, they made it to Golling on the Salzach but no buses came. The bus driver said he'd take them on to Salzburg even though he was out of hours, but my parents were restricted to the back of the bus this time. As they were going along, road workers were clearing debris from the roads that had washed off the mountainside.
At Salzburg, the trains had also stopped running: there would be no way to get to Innsbruck. The ÖBB (Austrian National Railways) did, however, lay on free 5* hotel accommodation! Not sure my Mum's ever seen a 5* hotel... Anyway, Dad got in contact with his hotel in Innsbruck and explained his predicament: they were happy with his explanation and so didn't charge him. They went out into Salzburg with their new old friend and, turns out, he might be a well-travelled tour guide but he can't read a map!
Dad also mentioned that the Rhine was so high only the trains were running: the ferries were off as the pontoons were half-submerged at the jetty end, and the roads were shut. He did say he's never seen the river so close to the railway either...
I do have a proper update planned but, you know, work...
Sahha ohrain.