Same Logo, More of it

Well, OK, maybe that title is a tad bit dramatic, but it is true nonetheless. Here at Todd’s Wanderings I am always trying to make the website more user friendly and to enhance your experience. I like it when you are happy, I’m also a bit anal and I need everything to look fresh and cutting edge, and of course I want my site to be more popular than twitter, I’m almost there…15 million more readers to go!

Over the past few months I have been working with a designer to give my website a facelift. I have been trying to make the design and the brand as appealing as possible before I engage a coder. What I have realized is that I forgot to ask YOU what you think.

Yes, I get carried away sometimes.

So, I’m here to not only give you a sneak peak at what the next version of Todd’s Wanderings will look like, but to also get your feedback.

I’d love to know what you think of the proposed new design.

1) What do you like, what do you hate?

2)What else would you like to see?

3) What do you like better or worse compared to the current design?

The internet and blogging is such a wonderful thing. When I’m wondering what my audience thinks, I can take the unusual step of Just Asking You. We often forget it’s that simple.

So here I am asking you what you think. I’ll take your suggestions on the design, add in my own concerns and then we will finalize and roll out a brand spanking new Todd’s Wanderings in the near future.

Todd’s Wanderings New Homepage

Oh, and don't worry about hurting my feels

Please leave your comments below, and thanks again for being one of the most attractive, well read and intelligent audiences around! I couldn’t be this egotistical without you

Determine the Fate of Todd’s Wanderings is a post from: Todd's Wanderings

Recently we were nominated by Cam and Nicole over at Traveling Canucks to take part in the 7 Links Project started by Trip Base. First off I like the Traveling Canucks because they only use one “L” when they spell “traveling.” Yes, I can be that superficial! Oh, they are also a fun couple to follow around the world.

The Goal of the 7 Links Project

Even I can tell that Daddy is full of s#@&, just like my diaper!

What you are about to read is lifted directly from Trip Base (yes, I steal sometimes too):

To unite bloggers in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.

My son is only 2 weeks old and he is already questioning whether ANY of my posts should have been allowed to see the light of day, let alone subject the world to another round.

But since he can’t speak, or type, to warn you to avert your eyes and do something more useful with your time, I’m going to rush on ahead.

The Process (yeah, they are actually Rules, but I’m feeling rebellious today)

1)    Sexy Blogger is nominated to take part
2)    Successful Blogger publishes his/her 7 links on his/her blog – 1 link for each category
3)    Funny Blogger Nominates 5 More Sexy, Successful, Funny Bloggers

4) Reader loves every word and relishes the visual porn (not in a creepy way please) that Todd puts out and spreads the word through social media voodoo, or what the old folks use to call “talking” (whatever that is!)…OK, this one is not part of the rules. But since you are participating you might as well indulge my whims.

My 7 Links

1. Most Beautiful Post-Petra, Jordan: A Walk Through History

Trust me, there are more beautiful pictures in this post than me on a Donkey

Visiting the ancient ruins of Petra was a dream come true and unbelievably it lived up to all the hype I had built up in my head. This photo tour should be viewed with the Indiana Jones theme song playing in your head.

2. Most Popular Post- First Time I Almost Died in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Death and Adventure in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

I think that any post that begins with the words “By the end of this story a number of people will be dead.” is destined to get a little bit of traction. I was surprised that so many people are interested in narrative travel writing as opposed to bland, worn out top 7 lists about the BEST beaches in the world the writer had actually never been to.

3. Most Controversial Post- When to Bribe, How to Bribe, Do you Bribe

Are bribes necessary sometimes?

Is this my most controversial post? I’m not sure if this one beats out the large dicks on Japanese statues at Buddhist temples, but as I wasn’t responsible for building the statues, just pointing them out I guess we go with Bribes. The fact that the world is dirtier than most people would like to admit hits all travelers at some point in their journey. This post explores what to do about it.

4. Most Helpful Post- 10 Free Things to Do in Tokyo

Sensoji Temple with its vibrant gate and pagoda

Tokyo can be a very expensive destination and in this post I lay out my 10 favorite things to do in Tokyo that cost no money at all. I was taken aback as to how popular this post ended up becoming and it even made it into a recent book by a writer for The Japan Times newspaper. Yeah, that’s right, someone else is profiting off of my work…yes, I took free in Tokyo to a whole new level.

5. Post whose Success Surprised Me- “Real” Life, Travel and Work: Lessons from 10 Years on the Road

Don't believe anyone who says this can't be your office

This was one of those posts that I wrote on a whim, didn’t edit, and felt very uncomfortable with. I have since learned that my lifestyle, and the things I often take for granted are exactly what interests readers. This was also a general rant against everyone in my life that kept telling me I needed to be normal, and who now are so proud to talk about me since I have apparently succeeded. Apparently, like this post, things are never a success until someone else says so…wait, that’s exactly what I’m arguing against in the is post

6. Post I Feel Didn’t Get the Attention it Deserved- The Hermit in Seclusion

This may be the happiest, nicest man on the Planet.

One reason this might have not been very successful is that it was posted before I had all of you lovely readers. Just look at the watermark, yes, I used to be on Blogger! This is the story of a vengeful Buddhist Monk, yes I was shocked to learn I could inspire hate in a man of the robe, and a simple grounds keeper who smiles like a turtle.

7. Post I’m Most Proud Of- Should you Give Money to Beggars When you Travel

This is one of those uncomfortable honest posts about my own shortcomings, and the challenges we face as travelers when poverty comes knocking on our door. It is also one of the posts that sort of launched Todd’s Wanderings into the range of W List blogging celebrity. If I can only get a few more loyal stalkers I might be able to qualify for the V List. That’s right, I’m living the dream!

Great, so now you are able to judge if I was right or wrong to subject you all to my Shameless Self Promotion. My son just pooped his pants, so I guess we have his answer

Now, to give you some other Attractive Bloggers to share their own 7 Great Links.

1. Exotic Visitors

2. Top Backpacking Destinations

3. Ogijima

4. LoneLee Planet

5. World Travel for Couples

My 7 Links that May or May not Deserve to See the Light of Day is a post from: Todd's Wanderings

Hotel Zur Post is one of those attractive small, family run Gasthaus hotels that you find all over Austria and proved to be a comfortable base for a few day’s sightseeing in Salzburg. After we’d driven a couple of hours from Munich airport to arrive at Salzburg we were thanking our lucky stars that we had the Sat Nav that enabled us to find Hotel Zur Post perfectly easily on one of the roads leading into the old town.

Hotel Zur Post in Salzburg

On our arrival we parked at the side of the hotel in a small car parking area adjoining an area of garden and checked in with the English speaking receptionist who pointed us to our room and offered us help with any sightseeing information that we might need. We were directed to our family room on the first floor, which was very pleasant, but as it overlooked a road at the front with a steady stream of traffic, we decided to request a different room that might be quieter.

Luckily another family room was available in a house set back from the road which was separate from the main hotel building. This one had a spacious double room overlooking the small area of garden and a smaller single room that you walked through that was perfect for our teenage son. The fittings were perhaps not quite as smart in the first room but the location suited us much better and we had a very good night’s sleep here.

Bedroom at Hotel Zur Post in Salzburg

The large double bedroom was traditionally furnished with a wood and padded leather headboard, dark wood furniture and blue and cream striped curtains. There was a large mirrored wardrobe with enough space to store a month’s worth of clothes let alone the contents of our carry on luggage. The smaller room contained a cream leather sofa that matched the headboard and similar smart but traditional style of furnishing. While I was not being wowed by the style factor of Hotel Zur Post, it was definitely a very spacious, clean and comfortable room to use as a base for sightseeing in Salzburg.

The bathroom  was a strange mixture of old fashioned toilet fitting and shower and a modern green glass sink that looked as if it had been fitted more recently, in an attempt to spruce up the bathroom. It wasn’t that stylish but it was all very clean and functional.

Bathroom at Hotel Zur Post in Salzburg

Bedroom at Hotel Zur Post in Salzburg

At the entrance desk, the receptionist was only too willing to help us with the different sightseeing possibilities, whipping out the tourist map and marking any place that were of interest. She advised us to get the bus into the old town just on the other side of the street from the hotel and was able to sell us the Salzburg card which we could use to gain free entry to all the main sites in Salzburg as well as for free public transport. With it we got a booklet with an extremely long list of things we could use the Salzburg card for, and a quick bit of pricing told me that so long as you could cover a couple of attractions per day plus a ride into town, then it would give us good value. Because we only had one full day in Salzburg, I went for the 24 hr pass for €22 per adult, but the 48 hr pass would have given even better overall value at €30 per adult providing you enjoy sightseeing. However, if your idea of fun is to sit in a cafe and watch the world go by then you probably wouldn’t get your money’s worth.

Hotel zur Post in Salzburg

River near Hotel Zur Post in Salzburg

After we’d settled in to our room , we decided to set off to find Hangar 7, a free motor and aeronautical museum that we’d heard also served great food, Better still, on consulting the map, we found that we could easily walk there from Hotel Zur Post, along the canal and past some fields and residential areas. We had an enjoyable couple of hours looking around at all the Formula 1 racing cars and vintage planes and then lounged around in the Mayday bar tasting the exotic fruit smoothies. I was intrigued by the Smart Food concept and decided to order the Brainfood set menu as my evening meal with three courses prettily served in tall glasses. My husband and son, however were looking forward to their hearty dinner at Gasthaus Kuglof nearby, as it had been highly recommended by the hotel, and so we walked just down the road from Hangar 7, for some traditional Austrian food, while I kept them company with a salad.

Gasthaus Kuglhof in Salzburg

Hangar 7 in Salzburg

The next morning we made the most of the good breakfast at Hotel Zur Post with the typical buffet of cold meats, cheese, eggs, pastries and rolls and a good range of different teas and fresh coffee. Where our bedroom was rather traditional in style, the breakfast room was cheerful and modern with brightly coloured abstract paintings on the wall.

Breakfast room at Hotel Zur Post in Salzburg

In terms of public areas, Hotel Zur Post is fairly limited with no public sitting area that I could find. I believe that the breakfast room was available for guests to use, but the door was shut when we passed by later in the day. However, there was free internet access through a cable in our bedroom and wifi in the breakfast room although I didn’t really get the opportunity to test it out over breakfast.

As we were out of the hotel all day sightseeing, the lack of sitting areas did not worry us at all. I’d say that Hotel Zur Post would be an ideal hotel to stay in Salzburg if you were touring Austria by car and wanted a hotel where you could park without any worries, as I imagine it would be quite difficult to take a car into the old town area of Salzburg, let alone find parking. The Hotel is a 15 minute bus ride into the heart of the old town and the bus is on a frequent schedule so you won’t have to wait for long, although those that like to get back to their hotel in the middle of the day for a break might prefer to stay in the old town itself.

Hotel Zur Post is ideal for…

a great base for sightseeing in Salzburg, for those arriving by car for business or leisure, getting away from the bustle of the old town, couples and families, very helpful staff.

Hotel Zur Post is not for you if…

you are a style seeker, want to be in the heart of the sightseeing action, need a restaurant, bar or sitting area within the hotel itself or are looking for nightlife or to meet other travellers.

Hotel Zur Post, Maxglaner Hauptstrasse 45, A-5020 Salsburg – E-mail info@hotelzurpost.info

Visitor information for Salzburg

For more information about things to do in Salzburg, visit the Official Salzburg Tourism website where you can also find information about the Salzburg Card
For more information about Holidays in Austria visit the Austrian Tourism Website and follow them on Twitter@Austria_UK

My thanks to the Austria National Tourism Office UK for sponsoring our trip to Salzburg and Wolfgangsee

More to enjoy in Salzburg

Bratwurst and Sacher Torte – or what we ate in Salzburg
Spring Flowers and Romance in the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg
Podcast – Salzburg and Lake Wolfgand in Austria

www.flickr.com  heatheronhertravels’ Austria – Salzburg – Hotel zur Post photoset

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

In Japan, UNESCO World Heritage Sites are extremely popular and there is even a weekly travel show dedicated to showcasing sites from all over the world. The United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aims (among an incredibly long list of other duties) to designate and help to protect cultural or natural sites that show “outstanding universal value.” “Sekai isan” or World Heritage Sites, are so popular that Japanese tour companies do a steady business developing mass tours all around the world as well as within Japan itself.

While many people of heard about World Heritage Sites, I was shocked to discover while researching for this article that despite the large sums of money invested to win World Heritage status, and then the vasts amounts of sums needed to protect and maintain those sites (with of course some funds made available from UNESCO) that there is very little interest on the internet for Heritage Sites in Japan.

As little as 170 people per month, GLOBALLY,  actively search for information in English on Japan’s World Heritage Sites. While the marketing value of making the list seems to be quite high, there does not seem to be a subsequent push by the ordinary tourist to find information on them over the internet. Compare this low search level with “Japan Sex” which comes in at 201,000/month and you see what the heritage of the world is up against. Yes, I somehow was able to weave “sex” into a World Heritage post

Despite the lack of knowledge on World Heritage Sites, Japan is filled with them (relative to other countries) and boasts some impressive and incredibly preserved sites.

Travel to Japan’s World Heritage Sites

If you are planning a visit to Japan, you can hardly go wrong by including a few of Japan’s 16 World Heritage Sites in your itinerary. To help you out, and because I know you are not going to search for them on your own, here they are. I have been to over half of these and can’t wait to visit the rest. They are grouped by region starting north to south and include the 2 new additions that were just added in June 2011!

Cultural UNESCO Sites

Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land

New to the list in 2011, Hiraizumi, in Iwate Prefecture boasts a long history of beautiful temples that rivaled the size of Kyoto back in the 12th Century. The area comprises five sites, including the sacred Mount Kinkeisan. The sites boast the remnants of  government offices dating from the 11th and 12th centuries when Hiraizumi was the administrative center of the northern realm of Japan. The realm was based on the cosmology of Pure Land Buddhism, which spread to Japan in the 8th century. It represented the pure land of Buddha that people aspire to after death, a type of enlightened realm. The highlights of the area include Chuson-ji Temple, with its spectacular Konjikido golden hall, Motsu-ji Temple, and the former garden of Kanjizaio-in Temple which is representative of a combination of indigenous Japanese nature worship and Shintoism and Pure Land Buddhism that developed a type of garden design unique to Japan.

Shrines and Temples of Nikko

The shrines and temples of Nikko have long been associated with the wealth and power of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and together with the beautiful surrounding nature illustrate the architectural style of the Edo period. The mountains of Nikko were first worshiped as a sacred Shinto area and in the 8th century the first Buddhist building was built. The area highlights the unique nature of Japanese religious centers blending nature worship with adapted Buddhist principles. One of the main highlights is Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu’s grand, elaborately (gaudy?) decorated mausoleum – the Toshogu – that was built in the mid 17th century. Watch out for the monkeys that are known to terrorize the town and the visitors alike.

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Located in a mountainous regions in Gifu Prefecture (Shirakawa-go) and Toyama Prefecture (Gokayama) are cut off from the rest of Japan. These villages have Gassho-style houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs that were designed to protect from the massive amounts of snow dumped on the area each winter by moisture extending from the Sea of Japan and are the only examples of their kind in Japan. The resident lived off of the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. It is difficult to find a more rural traditional lifestyle in Japan.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)

Yes, this is three cities in one and the monuments are shared between Kyoto Prefecture and my former home Shiga Prefecture. With so many amazing historical temples and shrines in the area it would have been impossible to grant them all UNESCO status individually. If you manage to hit all of these temples and shrines then you are way ahead of the most tourists who spend a few days seeing just a few of these sites. The full list includes:

• Kamigamo Shrine (Kamowakeikazuchi-jinja)
• Shimogamo Shrine (Kamomioya-jinja)
• To-ji Temple (Kyouougokoku-ji), Minami-ku Kyoto-city
• Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera)
• Enryaku-ji Temple, Otsu-city
• Daigo-ji Temple, Fushimi-ku Kyoto-city
• Ninna-ji Temple, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-city
• Byodoin Temple, Uji-city
• Ujigami-jinja Shrine, Uji-city
• Kozan-ji Temple, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-city
• Saiho-ji Temple, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-city
• Tenryu-ji Temple, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-city
• Kinkaku-ji Temple (Rokuon-ji), Kita-ku Kyoto-city
• Ginkaku-ji Temple (Jisho-ji), Sakyo-ku Kyoto-city
• Ryouan-ji Temple, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-city
• Hongan-ji Temple, Shimogyo-ku Kyoto-city
• Nijojo Castle, Kyoto-city

And yes, I have been to them all!!!

Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area, Nara Prefecture

With around 48 Buddhist monuments in the Horyu-ji area, in Nara Prefecture, you could spend a whole day taking photographs. A number of them date from the late 7th or early 8th century, including the Hyoru-ji gate, main hall and pagoda, making them the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world. These masterpieces of wooden architecture illustrate the adaptation of Chinese Buddhist architecture and layout to Japanese culture, as well as the with the introduction of Buddhism to Japan from China through the Korean peninsula.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

Like Kyoto, there are so many sites in Ancient Nara that one can spend a few days trying to discover all of the UNESCO sites. Japan’s capital from 710-784, it is a classic site that every visitor should see. Stop to pet the free roaming deer located throughout the city and the park, visit Todai-ji the world’s largest wooden building housing Japan’s largest statue of the Buddha, or marvel at Kofuku-ji’s 5 story pagoda. Don’t forget to walk along the paths in the surrounding hills and discover centuries of stone statues and Buddhist symbols.

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Set in the remote and dense forests of the Kii Mountains three ancient sacred sites- Yoshino and Omine, Kumano Sanzan, and Koyasan, reflect the inter-linkages between the native nature based worship of Shinto, and Buddhism which arrived from China and Korea. The sites are linked to the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto along pilgrimage routes that are still used today for hiking and ascetic disciple. The natural landscapes and the sites themselves have a long and well documented tradition of use and pilgrimage for over 1,200 years. The rugged mountains raising from 1,000-2,000 meters and the natural beauty of the area, which was once thought to have been the origin of the Japanese Shinto Gods, are still visited by millions of people each year. Each of the sites are worth a visit but are spread out quite a bit. Koyasan is the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, a form of esoteric Buddhism and its founder Kobodaishi is one of the great Japanese historical figures. He is also the founder of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Approaching a small Shinto Shrine in the Kii Mountains

Yoshino and Omine is the northern-most site near to Nara. The Yoshino or northern part of the site was the most important sacred mountain in Japan by the 10th century and was the object of mountain worship, Shinto, in the 7th and 8th centuries. Later in the 8th century it became one of the prime sacred places for the Shugen sect of ascetic Buddhism, and the Omine in the southern part of the site was also known for its harsh mountain ascetic rituals and particular fusion of Shinto and Buddhism.

Kumano Sanzan is the furthest south and has three main shrines, and two temples, connected by a pilgrims’ route. The site also reflects the Shinto and Shugen sect of Shinto-Buddhism and the wooden architecture is considered some of the best in Japan.

Himeji-jo

This is possibly Japan’s best preserved and most beautiful castle. The castle site includes 83 buildings with highly developed systems of defense and and creative means of protection dating from the beginning of the Shogun period. The original castle was built in the 14th century and the existing castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1580. It was further enlarged 30 years later by Ikeda Terumasa. This is one of those sites that is a must see for any visitor to Japan.

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape

The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in Shimane Prefecture in the south east of Japan’s main island, Honshu, is a mountainous area reaching 600 meters cut through by deep river valleys featuring the archaeological remains of large-scale mines, smelting and refining sites and mining settlements worked between the 16th and 20th centuries. The mines produced most of silver and gold in south-east Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries with shipping routes to China and the Korean peninsula. The site includes fortresses, a number of temples that catered to the short life expectancy of silver miners of the time, and three port towns Tomogaura, Okidomari and Yunotsu, from where the ore was shipped.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)

This used to be the Industrial Promotion Hall, but after being at the hypocenter of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 the partially standing remains are now a reminder of the world’s first atomic attack. It was the only building in the area to survive the blast and has been kept in its original state by the city of Hiroshima. Each year on August 6th, services are held at the dome in remembrance and a moment of silence is observed. The Dome stands opposite of the Peace Memorial Park.

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

The island of Itsukushima, in the Seto inland sea, has been a sacred place for Shintoism since the earliest times. The shrines main torii gates, better know as the “floating shrine,” rises out of the the ocean during high tide and is one of the enduring images of Japan. The first shrine buildings were around the 6th century with the present shrine being erected in the 12th century. The shrine plays on the contrasts in color and form between mountains and sea and is a remarkable illustration of Japan’s sense of beauty which highlights the balance between nature and humans.

Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, Okinawa Prefecture

The Ryukyu Kingdom in Okinawa served as the economic and cultural hub between Japan, China, Korea and the rest of south-east Asia for several centuries. The area is dotted with fortresses and castles with the main attraction being Shuri-jo a castle with a particularly Chinese flavor to it. The castle was the seat of power in the area from the 15th century to 1879 when Okinawa was taken under full control by the Japanese government. Unfortunately the castle was almost fully destroyed during WWII and the current building is a reconstruction.

Natural UNESCO Sites

Shiretoko

If Hokkaido is often refereed to as the most American area in Japan with it’s wide open spaces then Shiretoko must be the Alaska of Japan.The Shiretoko Peninsula in north eastern Hokkaido is a remote, untouched wilderness accessible only by boat or a long trekking expedition. The Peninsula is 65 km long and 25 km wide, houses a number of rare plant and animal life and is home to the world’s highest number of brown bears. The site is globally important for threatened seabirds and migratory birds and for marine mammals including Steller’s sea lion. Good luck getting there!

Shirakami-Sanchi

Located in Akita Prefecture in northern Honshu the area consists mainly of virgin Siebold’s beech forests that once spread all over Northern Japan. Black bears inhabit the area and a traditional faith ceremony and traditional bear hunting still takes place from time to time. The beech forest is almost entirely undisturbed with few access trails or man-made facilities. There is occasional use by bear hunters but in general the area is protected and has a buffer zone around it.

Ogasawara Islands

One of two new Heritage sites listed in 2011 the beautiful topical islands of Ogasawara are technically a part of Tokyo but are located over 1,000 km to the south and consist of over 30 islands. Often call the Galapagos of Asia the islands have never physically been attached to any other part of Japan leaving the flora and fauna millions of the years to evolve into distinct species, including the Bonin Flying Fox. About 2,500 residents live on the islands which can only be reach by a 25 1/2 hour ferry ride from Tokyo. The surrounding ocean is home to an abundance of sea life and is an ideal place to watch Humpback and Sperm whales.

Yakushima

This island located just to the South of Kyushu, Japan’s southern most main island, is a wonderland of ancient cedar trees and an abundance of plant species with over 1,900 recorded. The massive Yaku-sugi, are endemic to the island transforming the island into enchanting land. Combined with the monkeys, and sparking blue waters around the island it is impossible not feel in awe of the natural wonders.

If you want to find out more detailed information on any of the above sites you can visit the UNESCO page for Japan.

What do you think? Are World Heritage Sites a must when you visit Japan, or are there better ways to spend your time?

This post is a part of the J-Festa July blog carnival. To join in check out the guidelines.

Photo Credits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Guide to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan is a post from: Todd's Wanderings

This article from Central London Apartments, will give you some great ideas for some of the key things you’ll want to explore when visiting London.

Capital cities don’t come much more interesting or diverse than London. There is plenty to keep you busy, whatever your budget and however long you plan on spending there. I opted for a four-day stay, a long weekend. The problem was that it was probably not quite long enough, although at least it gives me an excuse to return again soon.

Getting around

The obvious tourist attractions were my first port of call. Despite planning to do a lot of my sightseeing on foot, I also purchased an off-peak travel card for the London Underground that allows unlimited journeys within zones 1 and 2, which is effectively central London, on the day of purchase for £6.60, just in case. It proved a good investment and using the tube is pretty straightforward. It is an essential part of the whole London experience.

The London Eye on the South Bank

The London Eye

Thousands of tourists flock here every day and it is easy to see why, if only for the backdrop. It is best to book online if, like me, you fancy a “flight” (as it is dubbed) on the London Eye. Booking online means you’ll receive up to an 18 per cent discount and beat the queues, which can be lengthy. In the end, it cost just over £16 for 30 minutes in the spacious capsule and it was without doubt worth every penny. You can pretty much see all of London’s must-see landmarks, from the huge arch at Wembley Stadium way off in the distance, to Buckingham Palace and the Mall, which I later enjoyed a leisurely stroll down. Sadly, as I was told by a friendly policeman, the Queen wasn’t home that day. Shame – I could’ve done with using one of her many WCs.

10 Downing Street and Trafalgar Square

My little ramble around this part of central London also took in number 10 Downing Street, where admittedly there is not a great deal to see as visitors are kept some distance away, and Trafalgar Square. I didn’t fancy feeding the pigeons under Nelson’s Column and instead headed for the Vista Bar at the Trafalgar Hotel, a rooftop establishment that, although a tad on the pricey side, gave me another glimpse of that distinctive skyline. I could have stayed for hours, but unfortunately my spending money had to stretch a little further before I hit the ATM with empty pockets.

The Natural History and Science Museum

London accommodation is plentiful and you should carefully consider where you want to stay within proximity of the types of places you want to visit. My stay in one of an attractive block of Hyde Park executive apartments, for example, gave me excellent access to arguably the most well-known park in the city, as well as the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, which are both free of charge. If you have children, these are a must. Even as a self-confessed big kid in my late 20s, it kept me entertained for an afternoon and they are right next door to each other.

Mammals Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London

Trendy Markets and shopping

Next stop was nearby Notting Hill, famed for its annual carnival every August. This is considered to be a trendy area to hang out and watch the world go by. It was possibly a little too trendy for me. I felt out of place in a big way.

Fortunately, I was much more at home in Portobello Road Market, where you can pretty much buy anything and everything from an impressive selection of independent stores. Anyone with more than a passing interest in antiques could spend hours here. I’m not one of those people, but I appreciate good workmanship when I see it and there was plenty on show.

Another prime place for a spot of bargain hunting is Camden Town. The unique sights and sounds of this part of London will live long in the memory for me. It’s a bustling place – sometimes a little too busy for my liking – with a mishmash of bars, pubs and quirky shops, as well the opportunity to chill out down by the canal. If the weather is good, as it was on my visit, then it’s a perfect spot to refuel.

The Globe Theatre, South Bank, London

A Bus sightseeing tour

It would be fair to say that I’m not a city ‘cruise’ person, nor the type who goes on bus tours. In London, though, I made an exception, simply because of the sheer size of the place. And I’m glad I did. For just over £20, I was whisked around the streets and shown a wide variety of sites, like Fleet Street and the Globe Theatre on the South Bank that I would’ve otherwise missed. Along the way you are told little nuggets of information by a chirpy guide. For example, did you know Big Ben is actually the name of the bell in the Westminster clock tower? No, me neither.

A London River Cruise

A cruise down the River Thames is included in the price and offers the opportunity to take in the city from a different perspective as you float effortlessly from Westminster past the Tower of London, under London Bridge and down to The O2 Arena – formerly known as the Millennium Dome – that now houses a huge arena and a cluster of bars and restaurants.

Victoria Embankment in London

West End Shows

Back in central London, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are manna from heaven for those who like to be trigger happy with their cameras. After almost getting a sun tan from all the flashing lights and huge plasma screens, I decided to round off my break by seeing a West End show. No stay in London is complete without doing so, I was told. Avenue Q tickled my fancy. It’s basically an X-rated version of the Muppet Show. Not up everyone’s street, I admit, but very funny. And I managed to get cheap tickets (around £20) directly beforehand from the box-office – what a bonus! A great way to end a memorable trip.

Photo Credits: All photos by Heather on her travels

My thanks for this sponsored post to Central London Apartments, specialists in serviced London apartment rentals for leisure and business travellers

More things to see in London

Into Churchill’s Underground Bunker – the Churchill War rooms in London
A River trip in London up the Thames to Greenwich – video
They’re changing the guards at Buckingham Palace

www.flickr.com  heatheronhertravels’ London – around London photoset

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

It’s a while since I read Thomas the Tank Engine as a bed-time story to my kids, but if I was making the Schafburgbahn steam train into a character from that book, I’d say it was a cheerful little engine with a few stories to tell. Who wouldn’t be put in a good mood by chugging up the mountain with fabulous views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Wolfgang below?

Schafbergbahn train above Wolfgangsee

St Wolfgang in Austria is a charming and picturesque little town about an hour from Salzburg, set beside the lake of Wolfgangsee. Since the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef spent his summers at Bad Ischl by the lake, it’s been a favourite spot for the great and good to come to relax by the sparkling water and enjoy the mountain views. Several people mentioned to us this little mountian railway as a fun thing to do, so we walked around the lake from our lovely Hotel Im Weisses Rössl and bought our tickets at the small base station.

I hope you enjoy the video below about our ride on the SchafburgBahn steam train

If you can’t see the Schafburgbahn video above, view it on my blog here.

Steam train enthusiasts would be in seventh heaven to find the bright red steam engine and old fashioned carriages with wooden bench seats, waiting to chug us up the mountain and I think that even my son was secretly excited although he affected a teenage nonchalance.

Schafbergbahn train above Wolfgangsee

The steam railway, which opened in 1893, is the steepest cog wheel railway in Austria and I could just picture the scene a hundred years ago with all those ladies in full skirts and stout walking boots setting off for a day up the mountain. The gates opened and it was all aboard. Luckily, as it was springtime, the train was not overcrowded and we were all able to get a window seat. It was difficult to judge which side of the carriage would get the best views but it turned out that it didn’t really matter, as from either direction on different parts of the ascent there were clear views down to the valley.

Schafbergbahn steam train at St Wolfgang in Austria

The journey took around 40 minutes, through forest at first, and then gaps in the trees gave a glimpse of the mountain views. The landscape with pure Alpine with pretty wooden houses and wild spring flowers on the slopes. The track is single guage and not long before the top there’s a small stop at where we passed the other train on the line waiting to come down where the drivers had a chat before we set off again. Finally we reached the station at the top, at a height of 1793M above sea level with views down to Wolfgangsee and some the other lakes nearby.

Schafbergbahn steam train above Wolfgangsee

Now there was a stop of around 20 minutes before the train would return down the track and as we had a plane to catch later in the day, we unfortunately didn’t have time to stay for any longer. We walked a little way up the hill and had a coffee on the wooden terrace of the cafe and mountain hut Schutzhütte Himmelspforte, overlooking the station. There is also a larger Hotel Schafbergspitze which has been open almost as long as the railway. I was familiar with these high mountain huts as I’d stayed in a couple while walking part of the Tour de Mont Blanc Trail in France with my friend Julia, and they provide basic accommodation for walkers as well as a hot evening meal. We had a fantastic few days walking in scenery just like this, stopping at night in the huts and feeling that we were on top of the world and never wanting to go back down to the valley.

Schafbergbahn steam train at the top station above Wolfgangsee

If we had more time I would have chosen to take the SchafburgBahn up to the top station and then walk the 3 hours back down to the valley, drinking in all that fresh air and Alpine scenery, without the exertion of walking up hill. The journey down on the steam train was just as fun, keeping an eye out for the wild flowers and again we stopped at the passing place to meet the train coming up the other way. By lunchtime we were back in the valley for a short lakeside stroll back to our hotel with Alpine steam train memories to take back to England.

Views from the Schafbergbahn steam train above Wolfgangsee

Schafburgbahn information

• For more information visit the Schafburgbahn website where you’ll find a PDF information sheet in English.
• The Schafburgbahn base station is located at the edge of the village of St Wolfgang beside Wolfgangsee (Lake Wolfgang) around an hour from Salzburg in Austria.
• The Schafburgbahn runs from April to October and the journey takes around 40 minutes each way
• The train runs around every hour between 9am and 4pm
• The costs is around €29 per adult for the return trip and there are discounts available for family tickets and with the Salzkammergut Adventure-Card

More Austrian adventures

16 Salzburg and Lake Wolfgang in Austria – Podcast
Spring Flowers and Romance in the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg – video
Bratwurst and Sacher Torte – or what we ate in Salzburg

For more information about Holidays in Austria visit the Austrian Tourism Website and follow them on Twitter@Austria_UK

My thanks to the Austria National Tourism Office UK for sponsoring our trip to Salzburg and Wolfgangsee

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

In anything epitomises Danish food, it must be the Smørrebrød. This open sandwich is made with dark rye bread topped with an endless combination of pickled herrings, cured meats and onions or salad and is not to be confused with the Swedish Smörgåsbord, which is more of a buffet style meal (better not mention the Swedes, Denmark’s old enemy)

Smørrebrød at Gitte Kik in Copenhagen

Copenhagen seemed the perfect place to seek out the Danish Smørrebrød and we started our quest at Slotskælderen hos Gitte Kik, a lunchtime only restaurant that is on an unobtrusive street corner, yet a stone’s throw from Amagertorv and close to where you take the DFDS Canal Tours. Down a couple of steps and you’re in a homely, packed restaurant where the owner Frank will talk you through the dishes laid out on the counter with the day’s specialities. This is the place to try the traditional style Smørrebrød with endless different styles of herring (we tried pickled, curried and fried) or combinations of cured meats, vegetables or paté as well as plenty of vegetarian toppings.

Smørrebrød at Gitte Kik in Copenhagen

As the restaurant is just opposite the Danish Parliament building it’s a popular lunchtime haunt for Members of Parliament but even if the Prime Minister had been eating at the next table, I would have been none the wiser, although I can claim to have eaten in the same restaurant (at the same time) as Baroness Thatcher. I suspect that all those MPs really like Gitte Kik because the grandfather clocks, old fashioned pictures and cosy, low beamed ceiling remind them of a home-made lunch with their mother.

While we tucked into our plate of Smørrebrød, elegantly served on Royal Copenhagen bone china, our lunch companion Henrik educated us in the finer points of Danish table etiquete. As I love to try a little of everything, I thought that the Smørrebrød might be a bit like a Tapas where you all share a few dishes, but in fact it’s a rather polite one person, one plate affair – so no picking allowed.

You also need to remember that you should “swim before you fly” and eat the fish toppings first, then the chicken or poultry, although of course in these modern times people can please themselves . Most people would enjoy a beer with their Smørrebrød lunch but you’ll also be asked if you’d like a glass of chilled schnaps to wash down the herring – as they say in Denmark, “the fish has to swim”. You might also like to try that old favourite, Dyrlægensn natmad which translates as The vet’s night snack and is a topped with liver paté and a slice of corn beef, that the farmer’s wife would traditionally prepare for the vet to eat when he had come out to the farm to attend the livestock.

Smørrebrød at Gitte Kik in Copenhagen

Then there’s the drinking etiquette which is even more tricky. Before you drink, be sure to shout a cheery Skål, clink glasses with everyone at the table and take a drink before you put the glass down. You can repeat this toast randomly throughout the meal as where the Brits might think that one toast is enough, the Danes apparently like to continue every time they raise a glass. Oh, and if you wonder why everyone is fixing you with a gimlet stare, it’s only because it’s considered polite to make eye contact with each person around the table as you clink glasses.

Smørrebrød at Aamanns in Copenhagen

This is because if you were drinking with your enemy in the old Viking days, you’d want to keep an eye on the amount he was drinking and keep him at table as long as possible so he wouldn’t be burning your house down when your back was turned. I found this trait of locking eyes with everyone I shook hands with a bit un-nerving, as in England it would be considered rather rude to stare or make eye contact for too long.

The next place we sought out to try Smørrebrød was the Aamanns deli, a place that is as modern and fresh as Gitte Kik is cosy and traditional. It all started when chef Adam Aamans was looking for good quality ingredients to make packed lunches for his children to take to school and ended up by opening his own deli where they make everything for the sandwiches from scratch. I had a tear in my eye at such devotion, as I remembered sending my kids off to school with a bag of hula hoops, cheesy strings, prepacked mini peperoni and a penguin bar (the best that Waitrose could offer of course!)

As we arrived at Aamanns in the mid afternoon things were winding down and we had the place to ourselves as we sat at one of the modern white cafe tables, having chosen our Smørrebrød from a selection at the Deli counter. It was all impeccebly free range, organic and seasonal and looked very pretty too. I was trying to get my head around how you might get a take-out without the toppings flying around into an unappetising mess, but they have ingenious little boxes with partions to prevent that happening. I’d say that you could take out your Smørrebrød and head either for the Copenhagen lakes in one direction or to the local park in the other to enjoy your perfect open sandwich al fresco.

Smørrebrød at Aamanns in Copenhagen

Anywhere else you might try out  Smørrebrød in Copenhagen?

I’d have loved to check out the Royal Cafe on Amagertorv, through an archway between the Royal Copenhagen shop and Georg Jensen – it’s a funky cafe with a few tables al fresco in the small courtyard and specialises in Smushi – a miniture open sandwich that’s a cross between Smørrebrød and Sushi.

I was also recommended Restaurant Schønnemann by top chef Henrik Yde Andersen at Kiin Kiin who takes his father for lunch there each week – I reckon that if it pleases a Michelin star chef, then it’s worth checking out.

Do you have any recommendations for where to find the best Smørrebrød in Copenhagen?

This post is part of Wanderfood Wednesday – head over to Wanderlust and Lipstick for lobsters, stinky cheese and other foodie delights

More things to enjoy in Copenhagen

Where can you eat for 500 Krone in Copenhagen?
Modern Thai food with Danish style at Kiin Kiin in Copenhagen
Out of Africa and other Danish Stories – at the Karen Blixen Museum in Copenhagen

Resources for visiting Copenhagen

• You’ll find plenty of information about places to eat and things to see on the Visit Copenhagen website
• There is a free Visit Copenhagen Mobile phone app available for iPhone, Android and other smartphones
• We stayed at the modern, stylish Ibsens Hotel, set in the arty and up and coming Nansensgarde neighbourhood near the Copenhagen lakes.

Thanks to Wonderful Copenhagen for sponsoring our weekend in Copenhagen.

www.flickr.com  heatheronhertravels’ Copenhagen – Food & Drink photoset

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

You can walk here in just 5 minutes from the village of Brod

Working for the United Nations and as a Travel Blogger/writer has its moments…sometimes they intersect in an amazing experience or opportunity that just leaves me wondering how I ever became so lucky. If anyone ever tells you a dream job does not exist, share this link with them and then get working on making it come true. In the run up to my new guide book release (The Mountains of Dragash, Kosovo: Hiking and Nature Tourism Guide) I led a group of 30 people into the Dragash back-country for a weekend of hiking, camping, and getting back to nature (ie getting very wet on the hike in and out). The trip was part of a larger effort to develop a nature tourism strategy for the isolated Municipality of Dragash, and to create a series of value chains to help locals benefit from increased tourism. The project is sponsored by the Finish Government, and is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme.

Hiking in Dragash

If you don't want to carry all your gear you can hire horses in the village of Brod

We have been working on this hiking guide for about a year now and I have written about hiking in Dragash a number of times on Todd’s Wanderings as the work has progressed. Some of the hikes include:

Brod to Mount Cule

Brod to the Old Macedonian Smuggling Pass

Restelica to Brod

You will notice a pattern here as the picturesque village of Brod features heavily in my hikes. The beauty of this little village, tucked into a protective valley and wrapped lovingly in a series of crisp rivers, is undeniable. Add in the cultural traditions of the locals, numbering about 1,000, delicious cheese, succulent lamb and a dramatic landscape accessible just a few minutes from town and the tourism potential becomes clear.

Our little camp site in a very large valley

The hike below is the same one that we arranged for the 30 person weekend. The text is the same as you’ll find in the soon to be published hiking guide, due out in July 2011. The Guide contains 12 of my favorite hikes and 3 mountain biking trails around Dragash Municipality, along with tourism information, easy to follow maps and local knowledge. Oh, did I mention it will be free both Electronically and for a limited time in Print? Yeah, I know, pretty amazing.

If you are looking for a more serviced experience feel free to contact me and I’ll can pass along your message to a contact person in the village. We organized horses to pack up our tents, and for food to be prepared for dinner and breakfast the next morning. This is just the beginning of  mountain tourism in Dragash and we are hoping to lay the foundation for sustainability where locals benefit monetarily, the environment benefits from conservation and tourists have a unique amazing experience.

BROD to LAKE SHUTMAN/ŠUTMAN

This is one of the best known hikes in the Brod region with a well worn path, and stunning views through the Brod Gorge and into the southern rolling alpine fields where Lake Shutman/Šutman lies. The lake is more of a pond and is shallow with a muddy bottom but beautiful nonetheless. These small lakes are called mountain eyes due to the resemblance of human eyes when viewed from the mountains above. This hike can also be combined with 2 other hikes in the region, Mt. Vraca or the 3 Peaks hike, which begin and end at Lake Shutman/Šutman. The lake also provides a nice place to camp for those wanting to explore more of the southern area of Dragash/Dragaš.

A larger map will be available soon

STARTING POINT/ ENDING POINT: Arxhena Hotel or Old Road near Brod

STARTING ELEVATION: 1384 meters

HIGHEST ELEVATION: 2120 m.

DISTANCE: 8.82 Km.

DURATION: 6-7 hours round-trip along the same path

DIFFICULTY: Easy. There are very few steep parts to this hike.

Hiking Route Description

You have two options where to start. You can either start directly from Arxhena Hotel and climb up the steep ski slope behind the hotel which meets the path further on; or you can start from the beginning of the main path along the Old Road closer to Brod which is longer but has a more gentle climb up into the mountains. If starting from the Old Road, follow the main dirt road out of Brod towards Arxhena Hotel with the river on your right hand side.

After the last house between the hotel and the village, just past the rusted skeleton of an old car on its side under a tree, the river passes under the road. As the river moves to the left side of the road you will see a small concrete water-tap structure on the right and the power lines begin to diverge from the road. Turn right here and follow the grass road uphill following the wooden electrical poles. This is the start of the Old Road to Macedonia that was never completed. Eventually the grass route will turn to a dirt and rock path. Follow this further into the valley until you are directly above Arxhena Hotel. It is here that the ski slope intersects with the main path.

I love a nice mountain lake. These post glacial lakes are often called mountain eyes as they look like eyes looking up into the sky when seen from the mountain tops above.

Continue following the well-travelled path south into the river gorge. Make sure you stay high up on the path and do not descend to the river and cross it. There is a path on the other side of the river but it is more difficult and does not lead directly to the lake. More than two thirds of the way to the lake you will see a beautiful waterfall where the river rushes out of a narrow rocky gap. The top of the waterfall has a nice area to rest and have a picnic. You can access this area by leaving the path behind after the waterfall turning left, crossing the river at its highest point and then walking back to the waterfall. See the map for further indications, as there is no dedicated path to the waterfall from this side of the river.

After passing the waterfall you will come to a point where the path becomes narrow and less clear. This is also where you will see a shepherd’s building which doubles as a sharr dog breeding hut. Stay away from the building, as sharr dogs are very protective, even if they are cute when they are young. Stay closer to the mountain on your right and you will eventually make out the path that leads out of this valley and up into the valley with small but beautiful Lake Shutman/Šutman.

What do you think? Would you visit Kosovo and Brod?

Camping and Hiking in Kosovo’s Backcountry: Brod to Lake Shutman is a post from: Todd's Wanderings

Everyone knows Greece is a country full of outstanding natural beauty – and the Halkidiki peninsula is no exception.  Its idyllic climate – coupled with relaxing beaches, beautiful scenery and countless activities to satisfy even the most demanding traveller – all make it an ideal location for a holiday.

Beach at Sani Resort in Northern Greece

This is where you can find Sani Resort, a resort that has been family-owned for three generations and which stretches across 1,000 acres, complete with endless golden beaches, crystal clear Mediterranean waters and the ever-present scent of pine from the forests of the Kassandra peninsula.

Bar at Sani Resort in Northern Greece

The resort effortlessly caters to every taste, from those on their honeymoon right through to those with families.  That’s because your trip can be as fast-paced or as relaxing as you choose.  For families, there is a watersports centre (including sailing, diving and windsurfing), tennis, PADI scuba diving, a fully-equipped fitness studio and the Asterias Sunset Cuisine. For those considering Sani Resort for their honeymoon, you can relax on the beach or explore the natural springs and the olive and citrus groves.

Pool at Sani Resort in Northern Greece

The resort proudly hosts a range of traditional festivals throughout the year.  For the food enthusiasts out there, there is Sani Gourmet, a food festival which is focusing this year on “New Greek Cuisine”.  In recent years, the festival has become something of a cultural sensation, enabling guests to taste delicious food from the crème de la crème of today’s top Greek chefs, all of whom are well-known and highly distinguished for their culinary experience and passion.

Musicians at Sani Gourmet Festival in Greece

Sani Resort is for anyone who enjoys a combination of nature and comfort.  It’s a place to indulge yourself: enjoy a luxurious spa treatment or stroll through the orchard groves during the day and enjoy the delicious cuisine at night. If you have children, they can enjoy the range of activities that are on offer through the Melissa Crèche and Mini Club.

Marina at Sani Resort in Northern Greece

To find out more about the Sani Resort experience, join their Facebook Page.  There are already many people talking about their holidays and experiences at Sani Resort on the Page – so whatever you’d like to find out about the destination, you can find it out from the community at www.facebook.com/saniresort

My thanks for this sponsored post to Sani Resort in Northern Greece.

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

I’d hate to be a vegetarian in Austria, where meat features heavily on every menu – it can be rather daunting to be constantly faced with slabs of roast pork, huge bratwurst sausages or goulash made with beer. Most of the food we ate in Salzburg was tasty, rib-sticking stuff majoring on roast meat with potatoes or dumplings, and to be honest my husband could think of nothing finer, washed down with a large beer. At it’s best this style of Austrian cuisine can seem like a slap-up Sunday lunch every day, but after a week of it you’ll probably be longing for a light green salad to counteract all that heavy richness.

Roast pork knuckle and dumplings at Sternbrau in Salzburg

Traditional Austrian dishes

If you want a restaurant in Salzburg that serves traditional Austrian fare, you can find it  in the pub style restaurants and Gasthaus such as the Sternbräu restaurant in the centre of the old town with 14 different restaurant rooms, each with a different decor but all serving traditional Austrian dishes.  The restaurant was originally a brewery and even Mozart apparently enjoyed a meal or two there. We were recommended some typical Salzburg dishes  such as Tafelspitz – boiled beef with horseradish sauce, Bierfleisch, a goulash made with beef cooked in a beer sauce or the roast pork knuckle served with dumplings. My other restaurant recommendation is Gasthas Kuglhof, near the airport, which is the sort of place the locals go when they want a hearty meal in a convivial setting, and we were staying conveniently close at Hotel Zur Post, who gave us the recommendation. The surroundings are a little more rural and there’s a nice garden at the back to sit outside in summer.

Bratwurst and Sauerkraut in Salzburg

Wiener Schnitzel and potato salad in St Wolfgang

Street food in Salzburg

If you’re lucky enough to hit the streets on a festival or holiday, you may come across a tent with a brass band playing and tables set outside with food on sale to soak up all the beer, which of course is the main focus! You normally order your beer (my favourite is the weissbier) from the dirndl wearing waitresses with the leather wallets passing to and fro taking orders, who you pay directly. Sometimes you can also order your food from them too, or go and get it direct from the stall. We tried the bratwurst sausage with sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) and a roll with mustard or ketchup on the side. Personally I found it a bit dry and preferred the other Austrian favourite, the Wiener Schnitzel that we had at the Mayday festival in St Wolfgang, served with a warm potato salad on the side and some berry relish. It was a bit more classy than the bratwurst, but then St Wolfgang is a pretty classy kind of place, set beside the lake with the picturesque painted houses.

River fish at Hotel Weissen Rössl at St Wolfgang in Austria

For something lighter try the fish

If you can’t face another plate of roast meat, then look out for the fish on the menu. It’s usually a river fish served with lighter vegetables such as seasonal asparagus, that I ate for dinner at the lovely hotel Im Weissen Rössl at St Wolfgang where we stayed overlooking Lake Wolfgang.

Smart Food at Maybar in Hangar 7 in Salzburg

Smart Food at Maybar in Hangar 7 in Salzburg

Gastronomic Salzburg

If you’re looking for food in Salzburg that will offer more of a gastronomc experience than something to soak up the gallons of beer, then I highly recommend Hangar 7 on the edge of Salzburg Airfield. The flagship restaurant Ikarus, where they invite a different international chef each month to create a guest menu, is a place to go for the culinary experience, but we ate at the Mayday Bar which is more informal and has a interesting concept of Smart Food. You can choose from three different set menus, either brain food, mood food or beauty food where you try a succession of light dishes prettily served in glasses. This was much more my scene, with an artfully arranged pile of salad here, a froth of sauce there and a fruit smoothie to wash it down, safe in the knowledge that it was all super-healthy and making you smarter, happier or better looking.

Sacher Torte and Plum strudel at Steinterrasse in Salzburg

But what about the Sacher Torte?

If you’re ready for something a little sweeter, you can pass many a happy hour sitting in a cafe with a coffee and a slice of cake, such as the boozy, chocolate Sacher Torte, made famous by the Sacher Hotel. You can still try it there sitting on the terrace overlooking the river, but I’d also recommend the Steinterrasse on the 7th floor of the Hotel Stein where they also serve it with a great view over the river and the old town. Another traditional favourite is the Apfelstrudel or the plum cake we tried that is topped with fruit and a crumble topping.  The most famous Salzburg desert is the Salzburg Nockerl, a sweet souffle of eggs and sugar and Topfenknödel with puffed pastry balls filled with cream cheese.

Mozartkugeln chocolates from Furst in Salzburg

Don’t forget to bring home some chocolate Mozartkugeln

In Salzburg it’s hard to avoid the chocolate Mozart balls or Mozartkugeln that are sold in every gift shop and on every street corner. The most ubiquitous are the Mirabell brand, that are sold wherever you see the cut out Mozart boards. My husband and son even developed a competition to see which of them could spot the most of these Mozart cut outs. Most chocolate shops sell the Mozartkugeln singly so that you can taste before you invest in huge quantities to bring home as gifts. If you’re a chocolate connoisseur, I’d go for the Fürst brand that are made with high quality chocolate and marzipan and buy the cheaper Mirabell brand for your colleagues in the office who won’t know the difference!

Where you’ll find the Austrian food we recommend

• Sternbräu – a restaurant in Salzburg with 14 different rooms and 3 garden courtyards all serving traditional Austrian dishes in the heart of the old town
• Gasthaus Kuglhof is a traditional inn in a rural setting close to Salzburg airport and 5 minutes walk from Hangar 7
• Try your Sacher Torte at the Hotel Sacher where it was invented, or at the Steinterrasse on the 7th floor of the Stein Hotel, where they also serve great ice cream sundaes and cocktails as the sun goes down.
• Hangar 7 is an aeronautical and motor museum on the edge of Salzburg airport and a well known food destination, with the top class Ikarus restaurant and the Mayday bar where we tried the informal Smart food menu.
• Look for the Fürst Mozartkugeln exclusively in their four Konditorei around Salzburg – this article on Mozart and the Chocolate factory gives you a run down of the different brands of Mozartkugeln
• While in Salzburg we stayed at Hotel Zur Post, a comfortable, family run Gasthaus just outside the old town area of Salzburg.
• While in St Wolfgang we stayed at the gorgeous small luxury hotel, Im Weissen Rössl set right beside Lake Wolfgang.

More good things from Salzburg

Cars, Planes and Smart Food at Hangar 7 in Salzburg
Podcast – Salzburg and Lake Wolfgang in Austria
Video – Spring flowers and romance in the Mirabell Gardens

Visitor Information for Salzburg

For more information about things to do in Salzburg, visit the Official Salzburg Tourism website
For more information about Holidays in Austria visit the Austrian Tourism Website and follow them on Twitter @Austria_UK

My thanks to the Austria National Tourism Office UK for sponsoring our trip to Salzburg and Wolfgangsee

www.flickr.com   heatheronhertravels’ Salzburg – around Salzburg photoset

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels