Austria

After Berlin, I caught the train to Salzburg, via Leipzig

and Munchen to visit my old au-pair, who now has 4 children of her own. Unfortunately she was on holiday in the Sudtirol, but I was magnificently entertained by her boyfriend and his children.

The next day, Helmut drove me to Salzburg from where I spent 5 hours travelling to Meran/Merano in North Italy/Sudtirol via Innsbruck (where I left my luggage at the hotel).

Petra met me at the station, bought me lunch and took me for a sweaty walk up the Panoramaweg, which is about a million feet above the town.

What a pleasure it was to see her after all these years. Like any old friend, we took up where we left off.

In the evening, I returned to Innsbruck on one of those magnificent Austrian trains with drop down windows, ideal for a sneaky ciggie. "You vont be smoking again, vill you sir?"

A night spent in the Innsbruck Ibis and a return to my boat in Bristol via Basel, Paris (TGV), London (Eurostar) arrival 01.30 the next day. In Basel I was stupid enough to leave my suitcase in an unlocked locker while I went to find some Swiss Francs. When I returned, the locker was locked. Upon being opened by the attendant, someone else's luggage was therein and mine was nowhere to be seen, despite looking in the surrounding lockers. Oh well, travelling light and leaving physical and mental baggage behind is no bad thing.

Even better, Swiss Railways have written to me, to tell me that they have found my case and for a shipping fee, will send it back. What state it will be in, I don't know. Insurance claim is on hold. I hope the yoghurt drink isnt still in there, but I have high hopes for my dirty washing and my souvenirs and presents for the children.