Hello from the stadt of Hallstatt, Austria.  Ken and I made it out of Salzburg on Monday morning.  We ate at a breakfast buffet a little better than normal, but Shoney's has no worries, that for sure.  I swear get out of the old womans way or pay the consequences.  Don't get in the way of her setting her egg in the steamer :)

As we set off for the town of Hallstatt, the snow was coming down pretty good.  The Autobahn moved along fine.  We are now driving a Chevy Captiva.  What a diesel hog.  Filled up from a quarter tank and cost 86 Euros, about $119.  Ouch!!  As we continued south into the mountain country of Austria, we started going thru some of the coolest passes.  All deep with snow and shrouded in mist.  Lots of ski resorts. Some were just the single chair lift and one run.  We continued into the Hallstatt township and had to search for our little hotel.  Addresses and street signs, yeah right :(  We followed the signs to the Zentrum.  Fantastic, our hotel was right on the square.  This little platz was built into the side of the mountain.  The mountains above had a continuous runoff that flowed under the town and washed into the lake.  We found out the lake is actually salt water.  There is salt mine in the town.  Would have to love go and see that.  Wrong time of the year.  Found out its the oldest salt mine in the world.  So we did the next best thing.  Stopped and had a beer at one of the many little pubs.  Since it was so cold it was also a nice break.  I would listen and watch the people all around.  Some spoke Britain English, but most were definetly not German speaking.  There is nothing like just sitting a seeing what people do :)
The town itself had a lot of stuff closed due to the time of the year.  I really thought this would have been a popular winter getaway.  Found out it is a summer hangout.  We almost boarded a boat to ride to the other side.  Would have been great pix!  The kid working with the old man running the boat looked at us and asked in english if we were to meet the train on the other side.  All we said was there some beer places and food.  He just shook his head and said not to come along, that there was nothing on the other side except a train stop.  Not even a building.  So we did the next best thing and had a cup of coffee and pastry at this little dive.  It was like walking around a Harry Potter set.  Once we saw the town, the next stop was the little grocery store.  Picked up the cool little junk food and beer.
Dinner that night was a traditional Austria dish.  Pork medallions, kraut, spatzle noodles and yes beer!
Since the town kind of rolls up the side walks after dark, we ended up at this only place in town that had wifi.  Otherwise known as a "hot spot".  They do not know wifi.  Funny culture differences.  We did a few hotel and road map searches at this place.  Ended the night back in the room with the computer playing Blazing Saddles and drinking a beer.  Just some relax time....
We arose at 6am to bells in the town just ringing and ringing.  I'm up everybody is up syndrome.  Wow it woke the dead.  So, breakfast was at about 7:30.  Same traditional stuff.  Cheese, meats, hockey puck rolls with the same fixings.  Shoney's has no worries still.
Once we got on the road the snow was really dropping now.  It took about an hour longer to get to the highway than normal.  We had this hard ride from Hallstatt all the way to Florence, Italy.  (Firenza)
Ken was the navigator and I was driving.  We drove straight south towards Villach.  The scenery was so awesome that you just had to wonder why no one drives this route?  Well I found out why.  Over 50 euros in tolls.  Can you say "my butt hurts".  I am not talking the John Wayne toilet paper.  You know "rough tough and won't take shit off anyone".  Can you say baby wipes?  Thanks Daniel.  Tunnel after tunnel.  Some of these were 7-8 km long.  We needed to continue south towards Venice.  Since we both have been to Venice, we only stopped for a leak.  City is flooded anyway. :)
As we drove south we assumed the land would get flat.  It stayed pretty hilly all the way into Florence. What a cluster going around Florence.  The exit we were to get off changed names.  So we continued to Rome and realized this and said oh we will just get off the Autobahn.  Again yeah right, someone bounced off the wall and backed up both sides of the highway.  After about an hour in traffic and getting off to get more diesel, we continued in the rain.  Yes heavy rain and lightning.  Oh, I forgot the reason the dumbass bounced off the wall - hail and freezing rain.  This place has had all the weather today.  We saw parts of the city and found out we were in the wrong areas.  The French POS navi in this Chevy is crap.  Its like a cartoon version and does not have one address we need.  I cant wait to give it back to the frogs.  My finger out the window and where the sun is located would be more reliable.  Well needless to say, we stopped and got the address printed.  Ken jumped out, got a guy in a shop to print a google map.  Home free.  Hell no, we ended up at a kids soccer field.  Our reservation was good till 8pm and its was about 7:15.  Oh shit.....Ken walked into the concession stand.  Asked if anyone knew of this place.  One guy spoke english a very little bit.  Passed us on to a woman picking up her kid.  She was going right by the place.  She actually stopped to let us follow her.  What a life saver.   We climbed the terrible hill to get here and the guy almost left for the night.  7:45 checking in.  Whew almost slept in the car.  No wont do that.  So here I am writing in a 600 yr old building.  The rooms are made with heavy beams and the bidet.  Twin toilets :)
Time for bed.  I will take plenty of pix of Michelangelo's butt for some you out there.  No front views Louis.  :)
Ciao for now