Great Exercise
by Krumlovgirl
The Pfander! Where else can you see five countries at once? The first time I visited the Pfander, I had no idea what to expect. It was my first day in Austria and I had never seen the Alps. It was so crowded in the cable car, and I'm so short, that I couldn't see anything on the ride up. When we got to the top, I was shuffled out with everyone else. I took about five steps and then looked up, and that's when the panorama of the scene unfolded. Snow topped mountains, the pristine lake, the bright blue sky, and low green valleys spread before my eyes. It was the most breathtaking site I had ever seen. I really felt as if I were standing on top of the world.
Azucena's story
by Nemorino
After gazing into the flames of the campfire, Azucena starts telling her fellow gypsies how awful it was fifteen years before when her mother was burned at the stake. To revenge her mother, she grabbed for the baby she had stolen and threw it into the flames -- only to realize that she had grabbed the wrong one, and thrown her own baby into the fire.
Manrico is astounded to hear this. "Non son tuo figlio?" he asks. Am I not your son?
Act 4 of Il trovatore
by Nemorino
Both Manrico and Azucena are prisoners in Count Luna's castle. Leonora arrives outside the fence, determined to save Manrico's life even at the cost of her own.
In desperation, she tell Luna she will marry him if he sets Manrico free. He agrees, but Leonora secretly takes poison so she won't have to consummate the marriage.
Ordering drinks
by barbskie
I'm not sure if this tip applies in the whole Austria. I will just share my experience here in Bregenz. We were at the Pfaenderspitze restaurant. I ordered Panache and the nice Lady just stared at me seriously showing her face with a big question mark! Errrrrrr, yes i like panache with a smile on my face.....then i told her a mixture of lemonade and beer. Quickly she said, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Radler ok ! Heh, now a big question Mark on my face....murmuring.....that radler for me means a biker in Switzerland :) I got my drink anyway ....a Radler that has quenched my thirst..... and i learned a new vocabulary:)
Don't take the old clothes!
by Krumlovgirl
Never take more than you can handle on your own. There definitely aren't any porters at the train and bus stations so you're on your own. The only time that you'll get any relief with your bags is when you're in a taxi. Also, be sure to realize that you have to go up long escalators to get to your train platform. I wouldn't recocommend the elevator, either. People dress very well here, especially in the summer when you get the holiday crowd. The lakefront is a place to be seen so people are typically looking their best.
You might want to pack some hiking boots if you're going to hike the pfander or the Bregenzerwald. There are several pharmacies in Bregenz so I wouldn't worry about forgetting something. Just take your usual prescriptions medications. The prices seem to be on par with the U.S, too. Take plenty of film with you. I would also reccommend taking a small water bottle for it you go hiking in the Bregenzerwald.
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Bernard Levin's "House of Sin"!
The tiny Theresienkapelle near the summit
The station
Pfarrkirche St.Gallus
