A Morning in Zell-am-See

Tuesday 15 August 2000. Tuesday morning found us back in Zell-am-See for a couple of hours free time.

The bus dropped us off just a short way from the Grand Hotel that we saw last night in the distance as we sat by the lake in the twilight.

The lake was as spectacular by daylight as it had been by night. The railway was laid alongside the lake and we had to cross the lines to get into the town. Two seperate lines went into the station. The main line went through but a second light railway line that we saw last night terminated at the station, from Krimml through Shüttdorf where we were staying. Following our stay in Zell the afternoon will be a train ride on the Gisela Express to Kitzbühel.

We have to stand at the level crossing whilst a train goes through to the station on our right. Then we can walk into the town and take in the sights and smells of the main street.

We'll start with the sights. Zell was a wonderful place, with only a few buildings such as the Grand Hotel that were not the by now familiar chalet design. We were fascinated by the number of buildings in the famous music box shape. Houses, hotels, petrol stations, shops, sheds and barns were all the same basic shape. I wondered if they played music if you lifted the roof...

Now the smells. Shops had set up displays along the streets and smoked meat of various kinds added their aroma to the clear mountain air. Sausages, salamis, bacon rolls and rashers...

Miss Franny doesn't like smoked food and it wouldn't have been the easiest souvenir to transport home, but the next shop helped fill her bag with a cow bell and a yodelling teddy bear... In fact half the people on the coach seemed to buy a yodelling teddy! We knew this because they set off singing "Yodel-ay-delayee-oh!" at every slightest movement - which made for a hilarious moment at the end of the week when drivers John and Keith were loading bags into the coach, most of which went "Yodel-ay-delayee-oh!" as soon as they were picked up!

The tallest building in the town was this old tower, now a museum, rising above the yellow umbrella. The Vogt tower is the oldest building in the town and was first referenced in 926 CE, making it well over 1,000 years old. It was described then as an escape tower both for local military and town residents, though whether they were expected to escape from an attacking force or whether it was a contest to see if, once in, they could get out again I'm not sure... It has four floors of local historical displays and artifacts.

It was a festival holiday in Austria. By the church the locals were dressed in their finery and there were plenty of national costumes in evidence. The three ladies were pleased to pose - well, two of them anyway - even after my horrendous attempts to speak their language! Or maybe it was pity...

The men, meanwhile, were playing soldiers - dragging a small brass cannon around. You could tell from the air of excitement amongst them that it was going to be fired! They marched in a twin file with a marching band to the square, set up the cannon with as much fussing and pomp they could muster until the urge to fire it was too much. It made a loud crack, sad to say nothing more, but they all seemed satisfied and there was much laughter and comradely back-slapping. Their wives looked on with expressions of forbearance and indulgance. There was now an air of "They'll be satisfied again now until next year..."

Time was marching on though and with a last look at the square and the old museum we went back down to the lake, setting off towards the station. We had time to cross the lines again for a look at the lake.

By gum, they don't half feed up the livestock! This oversized swan was made for a festival and then afterwards when no one could think of what to do with it, it was left on the lake to keep an eye on speeding pedalloes...

Ok! Back to the station! It's time for us to board the Gisela Express that will take us on a train ride through the Alps to the resort or town of Kitzbühel. Food is provided onboard and will cause not a little hilarity. Join us for the next thrilling instalment!

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