To Austria
Dear Frank,
If you were here right now I’d be giving you big kisses and hugs and perhaps we’d even dance around a smidge. This may be what’s called relief and anticipation all at once. There’s no place here for proper decorum; this is all about sheer, unbridled joy.
Why so much elation, you ask? It’s because I’m now seated on a train, ready to experience the glorious countryside as I make my way to Austria. This compartment seats six people but I have it all to myself. I’m stretched out on the ample burgundy velvet seats to relax in privacy for the next five hours, take in all that is here and write to you.
Curtains are pulled on the passageway side and I’m lounging with abandon near the window. My heart is racing somewhat as I take in my surroundings and the view through the large window. We slowly pull away from the station and I take a deep breath. Made it! I’m on my way to Salzburg, with a stop in Linz to change trains. Perhaps I should just get up and do a tap dance with excitement. Be right back.
By the way — the strategies I used to get here intact have worked really well. My cash, cards and a copy of my passport are tucked away under my clothes. (Don’t tell anyone that.) My crossbody handbag holds my passport, extra cash for tips/food, map and phone.
That means I was hands free (somewhat) to lift my rolling bag and large tote up the 20 or more concrete steps, (the escalator wasn’t functioning) onto the certain platform, then the specific train, into the right car and now seated in this great and spacious compartment. Once accomplished, it seemed like a major feat, leaving me feeling somewhat lightened both physically and in my heart.
As an aside, I want to tell you how helpful it was to have previously visited an enormously informative and insightful website regarding my train travel in Europe. It’s called Seat61. If you aren’t familiar with it, take a look at all that Mark Smith, a career railwayman from Buckinghamshire, provides for the train traveler. https://www.seat61.com/.aboutme.htm.
He gives you every detail you could ask for regarding your train station (anywhere in Europe, anywhere worldwide!) — tips, guides, and photos, plus answers to frequently asked questions.
I love the pace of my train as it goes along at a steady clip yet giving me time to read the signs of the towns and villages we’re passing through. Rolling down the Southern Bohemia region of Czechia, we pass the villages of Helminicky, Střezimíř and the city of Tabor where several folks have detrained, deboarded, gotten off, and hopped off (as you would have done, Frank).
Here’s a funny little video. ? I tried to capture the countryside!
Rays of sunlight flash through my window and I can see our shadow running alongside us. There is a quick darkness as we click click click through a tunnel. My eyes adjust. Then out we shoot into the sunlit hills and valleys. The pastures show up in every shade of green and the red and brown-roofed houses come to me quickly from a distance as we round each curve. I snap photos one after the other so I can show you.
Something about this train ride seems happily celebratory, like a proud processional saying “Just watch where I take you. You’re going to love what’s ‘round the next curve.“ The whistle blew just then, like an exclamation point…! We have now crossed into Austria and the conductor has come to punch my ticket, singing out “Guten Tag!“
Frank, I can’t wait to see what’s ‘round the next corner, can you?
Love,
Jane
