Austria

We were in Salzburg in early-March and then returned to Austria in late-March to spend a few days in Vienna.

We took some time to rest and do laundry while we were in Salzburg but the number one thing we wanted to do was to visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress. There were quite a few steps to reach the fortress, but you're rewarded with views that will instantly make you forget how breathless you were. I guess my recommendation would be to do some reading about the fortress and some of its stories before you go up so you can truly appreciate its fascinating history.

Vienna is a much bigger and busier city. There was a weather system the entirety of our 4 days there (wind that made the temp "feel like" the low 20s Fahrenheit) so, while we did not intend to use the time to rest and do laundry, we did spend many hours indoors doing just that. I laugh now thinking about how carefully I planned our sight-seeing so as to avoid any extra moments lost outdoors. There are so many beautiful churches and so much for art-lovers. I would love to visit again during warmer weather. We used the buses, trams, and underground but, despite its size, it is actually a very walkable city.

The people in Austria were very kind and helpful. I never felt like an annoying tourist. The service workers, while obviously very busy, always seem to take the time to listen to your questions. If we could all just take pause and be truly present with one another, what might the world look like?