Grazing in Graz

One thing that is often overlooked in Styria is Graz—the culinary capital of Austria. Our hotel was close to Lendplatz where the local farmer’s market is held every day apart from Sundays. The gorgeous smell as you approach the farmer’s market is amazing, and the produce is very fresh. Homemade bread and fresh apricots are two things that stood out—a great way to start a morning. There is also a market held in Kaiser Josef Platz.

Before sampling the food, we took several sightseeing tours around Graz to check out the Schlossberg (castle mountain), Rathaus (town hall), and the Landeszeughaus, which is the biggest armory in the world. In addition, there are dozens of museums ranging from botanical gardens to the modern art museum (Kunsthaus Graz).

The food and beer in Graz was something special, though. Gösser Bräu, a restaurant in the old town, has its own brewery, which produces a very nice lager. The goulash is exceptional and reminded us of the Hungarian goulashes we’ve tried over the years. We also went to Cafe Sacher, a Venetian-style coffeehouse restaurant. While the prices were a little high, the quality of the food was even higher, and we had an amazing time surrounded by opulence.

Near the Stadtpark is a great little restaurant called Starcke Haus. The best time to go is for lunch, as you will be able to see all of Graz from this hillside location. We thoroughly enjoyed relaxing in the sun, and the downhill walk to our hotel was nice and easy.

Graz has some incredible food, and the city has styles that suit both those wanting authentic Austrian cuisine and those wanting something more contemporary. The city is known as the culinary capital of Austria, which is a well-deserved title. Admittedly it helps that the city has easy access to a wide variety of fresh high-quality produce, including Almenland beef, Hochschwab game, and Pöllauer Hirschbirne, which is a type of pear.
In total, it has easy access to 15 different foods that have protected status including pork, pumpkinseed oil, and cheeses as well. The means the chefs of Graz have a great range of ingredients to produce a great range of food. Wherever we were in Graz, the local restaurants never failed to impress us, and we always arrived at our hotel feeling full and satisfied.

One street in Salzburg

Moostrasse. Yep. That's the name. Thats the name of the street in Salzburg. That street is dear to me as it brings back so many good memories. It is a long street, perfectly straight. It starts off right at the end of the new/old city of Salzburg and takes you all the way to the Untersberg mountain. This mountain is beautiful. It is also where they shot the film "The sounds of music". A quote from Wikipedia on the Untersberg: "The Untersberg is a mountain massif of the Berchtesgaden Alps that straddles the border between Berchtesgaden, Germany and Salzburg, Austria" Wow!
Now back to Moostrasse street. There is an American Boarding school there. Thats were I have learned. I attended this high school for two years. Moostrasse street has so many Zimmers, you wouldn't believe it. Almost every other house has this wooden sign out side with the writing "Zimmer Frei" that's" Vacant room" in German. If you're up for a cosy Austrian traditional bed and breakfast - just knock on the door and you will be immediately escorted to your room. These arent hotels with large receptions and paper work. Just hop in, get a shower, dress up and enjoy the scenery. Pay just before check out after breakfast and drive off to your next destination. I like those zimmers because the wooden interior design they have in the Alps and because its very informal and easy in and out.
There is something...easy..relaxing or simply down to earth, highly productive and honest about the people of Salzburg. That sounds like a bunch of words with no meaning but I will give you an example. As oposed to Vienna, the 1.5 million person capital of Austria, Salzburg and the towns and villages are much quieter and relaxing. I used to see this old lady on a bicycle almost every morning. She would cycle up the street until she made it to the big chestnut tree. Next to that tree, on a sign poll, was a plastic bag filled with today's newspaper from one of the leading papers in town. She would put a dime in the box on top and only then open the facility and take out a newspaper. Sounds easy. But for people not living in Austria, this simple scene is hard to explain. Why put a dime in the box? who will see you if you don't? After all, its not an automatic machine. Anyone can open and take out a paper. Perhaps read it on the spot and return it. But Nooo, not the old Austrian lady. She would never even think about opening the plastic bag facility if she didn't have the exact amount of money. You see, that's Austria. That's would I like about it. If you pay for your paper left on a poll next to a tree, you would do anything right. That's why Austria is perfect, that's exactly why the food tastes so good, that's why the bus is always on time, that's why everything is pure and good. Its called Austria.

FAQs about Austria

If you are planning a trip to Austria, it pays to have at least a basic understanding of the important matters before you go. With this in mind, read on for five of the most popular frequently asked questions about Austria – and their answers, too.

What is there to see and do?

There is a huge amount to see and do in Austria. Plus, many of the churches, galleries, festivals and other attractions are free to visit so if you’re planning a budget trip, it’s worth researching these.

Other ideal attractions include the Alps (good for skiing in winter and hiking in summer), the opera (in Vienna, another city or the floating opera in Bregenz in summer) and Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg. You can also see Europe’s only protected piece of rainforest, ice caves and some brilliantly wineries – and much more.

How do you get around?

Transport around Austria is high quality and easy to use. Just remember that if you’re driving on a highway, you’ll need to get a toll sticker for your windscreen – as well as a high visibility safety vest and snow chains or winter tires if driving in the winter, as these are all legal requirements.

The train is also a good option if you want to explore the country. Many people fly into Vienna, but if you’re visiting the east of the country, it makes sense to fly into either Zurich or Munich as it will make it easier to access the eastern regions.

What about money and visas?

Austria uses the euro as its currency, so make sure you have some of these before you go. Alternatively, you could change money once you get there or use your debit or credit card (just remember to inform your bank if you decide to do this). If you are a European or North American going on holiday to Austria, you shouldn’t need a visa, but double check if you’re unsure.

What’s the accommodation like?

There is a lot of good accommodation in the country, including great Austrian zimmers (similar to country inns or B&Bs), which can be a wonderful way to experience the country’s culture. Austria has a good reputation when it comes to tourism, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something suitable.

What language do they speak?

The main language in Austria is German. However, many people speak English and this is the most popular second language, so communication for most people shouldn’t be a problem while visiting Austria.

What to Consider When Going to Austria

Austria is a wonderful country that is home to a huge amount of things to see and do. If you are due to take a trip there, read on to find out about some of the main things you need to consider in order to properly prepare for your trip.

When to go

Austria is a relatively temperate country in terms of climate but the weather does vary between seasons and from place to place. This means you might like to look at the average climate at different times of the year before you plan your trip. For example, if you’re a fan of hot sunshine then the eastern part of Austria during the summer is a good option. If you love the idea of going to the Alps, bear in mind that there are long winters there, although the summers are great for hiking as it’s not as hot as other parts of the country.

Where to go

You might also like to research where you’d like to go as there are so many attractions to choose from. For instance, there are 9 separate regions in Austria so you need to pick which ones you want to go to. Also, some attractions (such as the floating opera or Johann Strauss Ball) are only available at certain times of the year or in certain places, so this might influence how you organise your trip. Examples of great attractions to consider include Mozart’s birthplace and the ice caves at Salzburg, and the last protected European rainforest at the Donau-Auen National Park.

Where to stay

It’s also worth making sure you’ve got your accommodation sorted before you go to Austria. Tourism is the country’s fastest growing industry and, with tens of thousands of tourist establishments across the country, you won’t have any trouble finding something to suit your needs. One great option is to consider staying in an Austrian zimmer, which is similar to a country inn. Check out the options available in the region you’re staying in to see what’s on offer.

What to pack

When it comes to packing, make sure you take rainproof clothing no matter what time of year you’re going to Austria. If you forget to take something with you, there are plenty of towns and cities where you’ll be able to pick up what you need. If you’ll be driving a car while you’re there, make sure you take a visibility safety jacket with you as all drivers are required to have one in their cars.

Austrian Beer - Gosser Beer

So you like Beer? Me three, sorry, me too, a bit drunk here :)
What makes Austrian beer so good? I don't know. I guess its the tradition, the habits. The Austrians take beer very seriously. Its not a "Man" thing, and it isn't a kids "get drunk" game. Its simply a way of life. Austrian seem to be very loyal to their brands. As you know, Austria is divided into 9 states. Most states have their own beer. I dont mean the home made beer but rather the large commercial selling beer thats sells at everu supermarket in the aountry. The thing is, residents of one state will be loyal to their state made beer when comparing to the other states. Gosser Beer for instance comes from the the state called Styria. The Gosser Beer manufacturer has been making them since 1860. It has 5.2 volume of alcohol and has a bright blond color. The beer is branded in Green color as the state of Styria which is also known as Austria's green heart. Many consider as Austria's best beer and indeed, in my opinion it is certainly one of the best. I especially like the new lemon flavored Gosser beer that suddenly appears in every super market and disco club. It reminds me of an old Corona beer left in the sun for an hour, Haaa.
Gosser beer is also exported to many countries, so I guess some one's doing marketing right there. Well, to summarize...I really like Gosser Beer. Nothing more to add. Drink carefully.