This year the annual Lower Fourth Study Visit to Salzburg met bleary-eyed at Heathrow Terminal One at 6am in time to make the early morning flight to Munich on the morning of Wednesday, 27th June. Having enjoyed a light breakfast on board, we arrived to find our transfer bus dutifully waiting for us directly outside the terminal building at Munich airport. With all luggage comfortably loaded on to the trailer behind we set off in comfort for the two-hour journey to our final destination of Sankt Gilgen in Austria.
Our first stop en route was the summer tobogganing at nearby Fuschl. Climbing on to a small cart we were transported one-by-one up the mountain from whose summit we were able to race down the track at high speed, using the braking device as and when was necessary. So much fun was had tearing down the mountain-side that almost all participants went for a second ride. We were delighted to be able to offer this trip this year as last year the heavy rain had put paid to our plans. Indeed, we counted ourselves lucky again to complete the trip just minutes before the heavens opened after which further rides would have been too dangerous.
Just minutes later we arrived at our lovely hotel, the Hotel Kendler, in the centre of Sankt Gilgen. We had just enough time to locate our rooms, with most participants enjoying exclusive residency in the superbly equipped ‘Gästehaus’ just around the corner from the main part of the hotel. Having quickly unpacked and freshened up, we headed straight for dinner where a dumpling soup became our first taste of the local Austrian specialities. Sadly another heavy downpour curtailed our preliminary evening saunter into town, but with much travel behind us, many were glad to reach their beds at the conclusion of Day One.
We were greeted on Thursday morning with a breakfast buffet fit for a king. The selection of cereals, bread, fruits, yoghurts, cheeses and cold meats certainly set us up well for the day ahead. With room inspections complete, we walked into town and caught our boat from Sankt Gilgen to the pretty village of Sankt Wolfgang some forty-five minutes away. Many appreciated the beautiful countryside and the stunning aqua-marine water of the Wolfgangsee while others tried out their German on a couple of local boys who were also on our boat. We were then able to have a couple of hours to explore the village, its shops and surrounding areas, taking in lunch, too, before re-boarding our boat, this time sitting out on top deck, for our return journey. With recent purchases dropped off at the hotel, we then walked up to the cable car at the foot of the ‘Zwölferhorn’ mountain. In groups of four we completed the breath-taking twenty-minute ride to the top, enjoyed the stunning view of the village and lake below, before setting off on the pleasant ‘Seeblick-Runde’ hike at the top of the mountain. Once descended, we had a little time to prepare ourselves for dinner which was again waitress-served. Pork in a cream sauce was followed by some delicious ice cream. Thankfully the evening weather was much kinder, and we were able to enjoy a good hour of evening sunset, exploring the local ‘Eiscafés’ before heading back for another night’s sound sleep.
With a similarly fulsome breakfast behind us, we then set off on Friday morning for the hour-long coach journey to Berchtesgaden in Germany. Our first stop was the Berchtesgaden salt mine where we all donned the miners’ uniform, boarded the mountain train, had a fantastic group photo, and then whizzed into the heart of the mountain. We were then treated to a dazzling light and sound show before descending a giant slide into the heart of the mine. A series of exhibits were entertainingly and informatively explained in English, and made many of us realise what a central role salt plays in our daily lives. Many also enjoyed a further slide deeper into the mine which was followed by a beautiful boat trip through the brine pools. Having returned on the high-speed train back to daylight, we then re-boarded our coach to head for the ‘Königsee’ lake where we were able to enjoy lunch in the dazzling sunshine. The afternoon was then spent enjoying the thermal baths in Berchtesgaden and the illuminated water slides. Tired and exhilarated, we then returned to the hotel for a delicious dinner of roast chicken. As this was to be our last evening in Sankt Gilgen, prizes were awarded for pupils’ best use of German, for excellent company and the tidiest rooms. Many prizes were awarded - such was the high standards of all pupils on the trip. We were then lucky to enjoy one final evening stroll into Sankt Gilgen as the warm sun began to set.
The heavy rain which greeted us on Saturday morning was something of a rude awakening, especially with an earlier start. We enjoyed our final trip to the breakfast buffet before completing our packing, bidding our farewells to the hotel and then heading by coach to Salzburg. Luckily the weather improved enormously on our way into Salzburg, and we were able to appreciate the beauty of the town, its history, markets and shopping opportunities. After a couple of hours exploring the town it scarcely seemed possible that it was already time to board the coach and head back to Munich airport. The mood on the coach seemed more sombre as the reality of returning home began to dawn upon us – many even said how much they would have liked to stay on for a few more days. With all participants checked in we then returned on two separate flights to Heathrow, only to find that the airport was extremely busy due to terrorist activity in Piccadilly and Glasgow – the tranquillity and beauty of Sankt Gilgen seemed a far cry now.
The trip was clearly a huge success, and none of it would have been possible without the hard work, organisation and dedication of Frau Johnson – all those who went owe her a great debt of gratitude. Many thanks, too, to the accompanying members of staff: Mr Tompsett, Mrs Munday, Mrs Colclough, Miss Self, Miss Whitehouse and Miss Pla-Mirò. And particular thanks to all the pupils who showed such willingness to engage with German-speaking culture and who acquitted themselves as exemplary ambassadors of the school and the country. With dates approved and the hotel booked already for next year, here’s to Salzburg 2008!
Mr. Tompsett