Fourth of July

Happy birthday, Sarah! Happy birthday, America!

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In Austria, July 4th is a work day, so off Steve went to the plant after breakfast.

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I took some time to organize our stuff, wash a few things by hand, and get ready to visit with friends.

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First we drove over the border to Germany to see the Albacks. Melissa is an old friend from the UK, George is from Bavaria, and they have two boys, Matteas and Benjamin. The ride up there was lovely, driving past Mad Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle, lakes, and farmland. They live an a large home with three floors. The front of the house is used for George's luthier business and he showed us some of his restoration violins and a brand new cello he had just put strings on. All four of the Albacks play.

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The rest of the main floor is open concept with kitchen, dining, and living, as well as outdoor patios and a pool. The second floor has four bedrooms and two balconies overlooking the farmland. It's a lovely, bucolic setting, the soft birdsong interrupted only by Melissa's distinctive laugh! What a joy to be reunited with her and her family.

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The basement was built out by the former owners and is quite remarkable. I may not even remember all of the rooms, but there was a bedroom, living area with a ceramic stove wall and a bar, a ping pong table room, a sauna and giant whirlpool room, and a room with two open showers and a tanning bed (which George actually uses to dry wood). Oh, and a laundry room and wine cellar which I think are the only two rooms they actually use. Somebody put a lot of time and money in the design of this floor, especially considering that every wall had an intricately painted mural. Really amazing.

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We sat out on the covered patio and had drinks and pastries. Melissa made some yummy berry muffins filled with sweetened cheese. De-lish. The two young boys sat with us. They had been at school all day, but sat and chatted it up with us the entire time we were there. They were engaged and engaging with their little British accents (they speak only German at home and at school). They have Melissa's joyful energy and George's charm and intensity. Matteas played his cello for me ("It's blue!") and Benjamin showed me his room (which also has a ladder and a loft).

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Not a cell phone in sight. We talked a bit about house and school rules- absolutely no phone use at school (if a student's phone alerts, the principal holds it for 24 hours at which point the parents may retrieve it) and limited use at home with no access on Sundays for the whole family.

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In general, I have observed less cell phone use over the last ten days. None in restaurants, though I did see someone making a call once. Less cell phone use by people walking around (except the tourists). Absolutely none at social gatherings. I saw none in cars. Will it catch on as it has in the US? The bent head posture I'm so accustomed to seeing, people's fingers flying over the virtual keyboard, whole groups huddled yet detached, is nothing I've witnessed over here. I do not miss it.

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On the way over to Egon's house, Steve told me he wasn't feeling well. He feel feverish and his stomach was off. He decided to drop me off at the Okorns' and go back to the hotel. I had a nice time with the group assembled there (Silvia, Egon, Carmen and Benjamin, Reinhardt and Elke, Robert and his wife, Eric and his wife, Stephan, Julia, Michael the neighbor and his girlfriend, and a few other people), but I was the only American who spoke English. It was kind of fun trying to follow the conversations and they translated occasionally. Silvia served a cold bufffet of bread, cheeses, and meats. Carmen drove me back to the hotel, where Steve was resting comfortably, but still not 100%.

#Reutte #Austria #Germany