Thursday May 23rd: Scenic Route to Austria

Our drive into Austria began with the picturesque Loibl Pass. Our first unplanned stop was Eberstein Castle, an old fortress that, unfortunately, was not open to public.

Next, we drove to Friesach, a charming town with a great castle and a moat. We hiked around the area before stopping for lunch, trying unsuccessfully to converse with some Austrian locals.

On the way to Hallstatt, James found an off-the-beaten-path road over a mountain pass, revealing stunning Austrian scenery. We stumbled upon a quaint pub in the middle of nowhere, a small cabin where we had to stop for a beer.

We continued our journey and arrived in Hallstatt around 5 pm. With our backpacks in tow, we walked into the lakeside, pedestrian-only village—a picture-perfect scene straight out of a postcard.