Episode 9
By Shariq Ali
Valueversity
The luxury coach slowly began to leave behind the bustling markets and residential neighborhoods of Vienna, gradually entering the outskirts. Amidst the modern buildings of the city, glimpses of baroque-style classical architecture were now becoming rare. The elegant blend of modern and classical buildings had disappeared from view. Through the wide windows of the coach, the charming Austrian countryside began introducing itself to us with all its beauty. This country has been uniquely blessed by nature with a special kind of allure.
Verdant, fertile slopes covered in greenery stretched far over gently rolling hills. Here and there, clusters of beautiful trees and small villages adorned with picturesque houses appeared.
If you’ve seen the famous film The Sound of Music, you can easily imagine these scenes in your mind’s eye. Looking at some of the meadows, it felt as though Julie Andrews might suddenly appear, arms outstretched, singing that iconic song while running down the hills:
“The hills are alive with the sound of music…”
Undoubtedly, there is a musicality in the air of Austria—whispering from every tree, every valley, and every changing view.
After a journey of about an hour and a half to one hour and forty-five minutes, our guide Tasha joyfully announced over the microphone that we would be stopping for half an hour at a service station in a small town. First, we passed a lovely village—with colorful, swaying flowers in the well-kept gardens of clean houses, a mysterious little church building, and a brief glimpse of local everyday life. Soon our coach parked in its designated spot at a beautiful service station. We got off one by one and entered the building. Through carved wooden doors adorned with fresh flowers, we stepped inside and saw a few restaurants and some shops.
There was a gift and souvenir shop, an ice cream parlor, and a coffee shop. We entered the main restaurant and, forming a queue with trays in hand, began selecting our preferred dishes.
Among the offerings was Wiener Schnitzel, possibly Vienna’s most popular dish—thinly sliced veal, breaded and fried until crisp on the outside and tender inside, usually served with potatoes and lemon. Also available was Tafelspitz—a piece of boiled beef served with vegetables, horseradish sauce, and potatoes, considered part of Austria’s royal cuisine.
But we decided to skip both for certain reasons and opted instead for Käsespätzle—small pieces of Austrian bread baked with cheese and fried onions. Some people call it Austria’s version of “mac and cheese.”
Our real focus, however, was on dessert. We chose Apfelstrudel—a delicious sweet made of fermented pastry filled with apples, cinnamon, raisins, and sugar. It is considered a symbol of Austria.
Carrying our trays, we sat at a table near the window. The coach was clearly visible from there. Three of our fellow passengers stood outside near the coach, seemingly indifferent to the culinary delights, engaged instead in smoking and cheerful conversation.
After finishing our meal, we returned to the coach, and the journey resumed. We were now nearing Hallstatt, and the coach’s entertainment system began playing Austria’s famous traditional songs—like Edelweiss and The Blue Danube. The passengers were quiet, and a soft serenity filled the air.
The road now became noticeably more mountainous. Soon, a mountain appeared ahead with a tunnel carved through it. This tunnel seemed to be the final barrier between us and Hallstatt. The coach entered the tunnel, and within a few minutes, we emerged on the other side—where a breathtaking view awaited us: a historic town nestled beside a blue lake—Hallstatt.
The coach parked at its designated spot in the central bus station of the town. Tasha instructed us to explore the charming village, have lunch, and return to the coach in exactly two and a half hours.
We began to disembark, one by one…
To be continued