European city fatigue has set in, which shouldn't be a reflection on Czech, Austria, or Germany really but there is only so many churches and old town squares that you can visit with enthusiasm before they start moulding into one big Catholic cobblestone blob.
On the upside, Vienna's Catholic cobblestone blob includes Hapsburg entrails neatly stacked in the catacombs. And while I can't say much for the Heuriger wine bars in the suburbs, the wienerschnitzel can brighten any hungry meat eaters' day.
If you also happen to visit Salzburg then theres the possibility to mix it up with a fortress, some spectacular views of the Bavarian Alps, a Mozart orientated classical music festival and some Sound of Music re-enactments.
If this is all too painful to bear then you can always escape to Switzerland, just like Maria and the Trapp family (see note on re-enactments above). Before our own escape to the neutral land - one thing I do remember from my honours degree is that the Swiss are nothing if not commited to neutrality, leaving it until September 2002 to finally (and narrowly) decide to join the United Nations just 17 days before the young East Timor joined the crew - we diverted to Bavaria.
Munich's Catholic cobblestone blob can be forgiven in exchange for the other great things it provides - the city's river wave (and it's dozens of surfers who have improved the natural wave with a contraption to ensure a surfable wave height all year around), its nudist park and the endless beer halls and beer gardens selling one litre steins and plates of half chickens, pork knuckles and giant pretzels.
The Bavarian mountains also have appeal.... hiking, wild mushrooms, crisp rivers.
Or if you just want the view and not much effort then you can opt for Hitler's brass elevator, and a cup of tea in the conference room restaurant next to Mussolini's marble fireplace.
And then onto Italy....
On the upside, Vienna's Catholic cobblestone blob includes Hapsburg entrails neatly stacked in the catacombs. And while I can't say much for the Heuriger wine bars in the suburbs, the wienerschnitzel can brighten any hungry meat eaters' day.
If you also happen to visit Salzburg then theres the possibility to mix it up with a fortress, some spectacular views of the Bavarian Alps, a Mozart orientated classical music festival and some Sound of Music re-enactments.
If this is all too painful to bear then you can always escape to Switzerland, just like Maria and the Trapp family (see note on re-enactments above). Before our own escape to the neutral land - one thing I do remember from my honours degree is that the Swiss are nothing if not commited to neutrality, leaving it until September 2002 to finally (and narrowly) decide to join the United Nations just 17 days before the young East Timor joined the crew - we diverted to Bavaria.
Munich's Catholic cobblestone blob can be forgiven in exchange for the other great things it provides - the city's river wave (and it's dozens of surfers who have improved the natural wave with a contraption to ensure a surfable wave height all year around), its nudist park and the endless beer halls and beer gardens selling one litre steins and plates of half chickens, pork knuckles and giant pretzels.
The Bavarian mountains also have appeal.... hiking, wild mushrooms, crisp rivers.
Or if you just want the view and not much effort then you can opt for Hitler's brass elevator, and a cup of tea in the conference room restaurant next to Mussolini's marble fireplace.
And then onto Italy....
