AUSTRIA: Laying low & Eating Indian

Wednesday, October 26
Wednesday and our first rainy day. We spent it just relaxing at the B&B here in Salzburg. We had breakfast in the morning in shifts which allowed for all of us to eat without a child for at least a period of time. Were joined at our table by an eighteen year old german "kid" studying here in Salzburg. He told us he had a friend living in New York City that he wanted to visit until he learned the drinking age in the USA was 21. He thought that was absolutely absurd! I have to say that after spending time in Europe, I sort of agree.

In Germany, if you have basically any alcohol in your system and are involved in a motor incident, you'll be held firmly responsible. Even a basic traffic infringement (speeding as Leah can attest to) will result in you losing your license for at least a month. The attitude surrounding alcohol is so different here. Drinking a beer is like drinking a coke, and people treat it as such.

I am also amazed, every time I visit Germany, how self regulating the people here are. Lawsuits are rare, and as a result, rules don't run abundant. The government has an attitude that people can make their own decisions. A basic example? Contact lenses. You can go into the store and buy your own lenses. You don't need a prescription. You buy the wrong ones or wear bad ones, that is your responsibility -- not the responsibility of the people that govern.

And dogs. Dogs are everywhere. They go into restaurants and train stations and airports and malls and stores. It's something else. And the dogs are so well-behaved. Where do they get these freak dogs?

That's neither here nor there ...

Back to our vacation and off of my soap box I go.

In the evening, the Kits parents watched the kiddos so JB and I could go out for some ... Indian food! Oh yum! It was delicious. Oh how I miss Indian food. JB cooks it, and it is delicious, but there is something wonderful about sitting down in a warm Indian restaurant.

Tomorrow, a tour of Salzburg on foot using our own book as a guide. Looking forward to it!