Osterreich - Teil Un!
Arrived in Graz around 7pm and checked into the campsite that had a HUGE swimming pool which had closed the day before!!
14.09.04.
Got up early and got the bus into Graz. Kathy’s bites were no better, very angry and red, so finding a doctor was the priority. Went to the tourist information for help and then had to visit the health insurance office in the hospital to show an E111 and get a voucher. Eventually saw a lady doctor who spoke good English (aren’t we English lazy?!?) and Kathy was given a Cortisone injection and a prescription for antibiotics.
Headed for a wurst stand next as we had done quite a bit of walking and needed to replenish our energy levels, and because we love wurst!
The sky was a beautiful clear blue and the temperature was 27 degrees. We found the main square and had a look around and then headed for the Sclossberg, a large, steep hill which used to have a scloss (castle) on it until it was destroyed by Napoleon. Took the funicular railway up to the top, very steep, Tim becomes like a little boy around these modes of transport.
Fantastic views from the top and a grand clock tower with a beautiful garden below it. We had ice-cream and meandered down on a path, reading the information about the hill.
We then visited the metal island in the middle of the river, a construction based on the shape of a mollusc and designed for 2003 when Graz was European City of Culture. It contains a small amphitheatre, a cafe and a childrens play area and is connected to the two banks by a metal walkway on either side.
Found a cafe and sat outside with our Kaffee und Kuchen (well Kathy had tea actually).
Planned to do grocery shopping for dinner when we got back near the campsite but got caught out by the closing times which are so much earlier than in England: 7pm. Wandered along the main road past about three supermarkets all of which had just closed and finally found a petrol station shop. Managed to make a tasty meal of pasta with tomato sauce and sausages (we just can’t get enough) followed by Marmor kuchen. Ahhhhh….