I am holidaying in Mayrhofen this week and went to Lake Achensee today. I was at Pertisau before on an afternoon coach trip 41 years ago, so been a long time.

Husband mucking around with steam trains (he separately got the cog wheel to Lake A but did not get off) so we did our own thing. I had a wow of a time - absolutely adored it. Went on ordinary train to Jenbach which was about an hour away and then on the cog wheel. We went up quite steeply. Reminded me a bit of the walk at Christmas time by Madge, Jo and Robin to Spartz.

The cog wheel took us to Seespitz (sp) and I got the boat to Pertisau. Scenery just beautiful. Did not do much at Pertisau except have lunch outside in a near hotel. Went up and down the lake in the boat then - ferry stopped at a number of well recognized names. The books Coming of Age and Joey & Co especially vivid.

All so poignant and memorable especially as the friend of 41 years ago, died 5 years ago.

I do have photos but only on phone so not sure about posting.

Such a lot to thank EBD for.

Glad that you had such a lovely time there, it's certainly a beautiful spot.

I'm off there in a few weeks. I'm so excited. Is Mayrhofen worth a day trip?

It is quite a good sized place with all the usual cafes abd shops. It has a rather nice river to walk along.

What we most enjoyed though was catching the gondola up the hills and then wandering about looking at the fantastic views. They do jet gliding ? and we watched different people come up, and then the guide in his parachute outfit would attach them and the two would then run to the edge of the hill and jump off.

If you were not so interested in that though or similar "hilly" stuff or weather was bad, I might be inclined to think it okay for a couple of hours.

Have a great holiday rhough. Are you based anywhere in psrticular?

Thank you! It certainly is!

It sounds lovely. We're in Salzburg for a few days and then at the Achensee itself for a few more.

I simply loved the Achensee itself and Pertisau, but really disliked Jenbach (Spärtz) for reasons I couldn't properly identify. It just felt slightly spooky to me.

Has anyone else had that feeling about it as a town?

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Cestina's dolls houses - "But there's never a rose like you..."

Me Me Me too Cestina. No idea why but just felt uncomfortable there. Only place in Austria that made me feel that way. Maybe caught a flashback of the mob attacking poor Herr Goldmann..... (perhaps just the narrow streets looming overhead although other even more loomy mediaeval towns haven't done that to me).

I got really creeped out in Nuremberg, and I can only think it was because the town is so associated in everyone's minds with the trials of the Nazi war criminals. So maybe it was something to do with the image of the mob attacking Herr Goldmann. Even with a fictional character, that sort of thing can really get into your head.

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We really must stop eating like this ...

Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open.

http://setinthepast.wordpress.com/

Huaband has been telling me that the final details of the "final solution" were worked out at Lake Achensee. Has anybody else heard this?

That also sounds lovely. I didn't make it to Salzburg this time to visit although we flew in there.

Apologies for spreeing.

I thought it was discussed in detail at the Wannsee Conference? It seems much more likely since the Wannsee is in Berlin....

I have just discovered that the conference was held 20th January 1942, which is when I was born...

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Cestina's dolls houses - "But there's never a rose like you..."

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Looks as if you're correct, Cestina.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Solution

I agree with you, Alison, that the stadium in Nuremberg where the rallies were held is rather eerie but as a town Nuremberg has lots of other things to do and see. It was my introduction to Germany way back in 1961. (I was still at school. )

I've not been to the Achensee!

You still have lots of time to visit it!

Yes, I too was freaked out by the stadium and the associated museum but I do like the rest of the town very much indeed.

We spent a wonderful week there visiting the Christmas market many years ago. I gave it as a present to my two children and a friend, not telling them where we were going. I gave them all sealed envelopes, not to be opened before the plane. The children opened theirs; my friend didn't want to know till we were properly at our destination so held out until we landed but then opened her eyes at the wrong moment and saw a huge sign by the runway saying "Welcome to Nürnberg.."

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Cestina's dolls houses - "But there's never a rose like you..."

Don't apologise, I'm ridiculously excited (at the idea of 2 weeks off work) and am happily reading this for inspiration.

I would have thought it more likely to be held near Berlin unless they wanted to go somewhere remote.

Surely though they must have decided what they were doing long, long before 1942? They started taking the Jews out of the professions in Germany in the early thirties and the concentration camps were surely in existence before 1942.

Haven't had a chance to look it up though as travelling today.

Edited to add - OMG yes. Just been reading. Won't say anymore.

Oxfordshire Lass - have a great holiday. We were at Krimml waterfalls on Thursday and Neuswanstein Castle and Oberammergau yesterday. All fabulous and such beautiful scenery.

Thanks Audrey25, we'll certainly try. We don't go for a couple more weeks but I am already checking the weather forecast twice a day!

This has been mentioned before but if you're in Pertisau for any longer than a day, there is only one cash machine, so take plenty of money. At least, that was the case last autumn. Maurach is a bus or boat ride away though, or it's walkable, and they have everything you need there, including an MPreis supermarket.

Thanks, we're there for 4 days and so will definitely take cash.

We were there nearly two years ago had a fantastic lunch in one of the hotels and attempted the 'Dripping Rock' walk. Had to turn back though, at some point after the 'Dripping Rock' as the path became a little precarious.