Graz , Colditz

This is the second time I have written this as the wifi dropped mid post last night. Gutted..ah well here goes.

Well we are on the move again. This time our destination is Graz in southern Austria. Up and out of the hotel by 9am and onto tram number 2 for the last time into central Vienna. There we had to catch the U2 underground to Wienhbf. A different station than the one we arrived at.
There are no les than 5 "main" train stations in Vienna so its important to make sure you get the right one. Withour any trauma we got there and worked out which platform we needed.  Sat outside in the sunshine and had a litle breakfast. I have mentioned previously that we love train travel. Its much more civilised than flying. No endless security, queing or forced containment within the terminal building. The train was on time and soon we were speeding south at 190 kms per hour.
The train is a Czech railjet service running from Prague, via Vienna, to Graz. Fast, comfortable and very efficient. 2 and a half hours travelling through incredible scenery. Vast forest, high mountain, fairytale castles and chocolate box villages. Crispy spent the entire journey gazing through the window in the hope of spotting Heidi. Alass to no avail.

Arriving in Graz we left the train and walked ten minutes to our hotel. I use the term hotel lightly. I booked this hotel as it is very close to the old town. Its called the Ibis budget and it is clear why budget features prominantly in its name. Booked in and to our room. Crispys face was a picture and I think I may have pushed the envelope a tad too far in my quest for economy. A 10 foot by 10 foot cell with a double bed, a bunk hung over the bed, just in case we have unexpected guests. Friends family that kind of thing. A toilet that would not look out of place in strangeways and a small fixed shelf in the corner to serve as a desk.
I think the desk is for the last meal and confession prior to being "taken away".
As for decor think colditz but not as pretty. Its only for two nights and the guards on reception are quite friendly in a distant kind of way. I suppose it doesnt do to fraternise with the inmates.
Bags unpacked and off into town for a walk to orientate ourselves for tomorrow. Its been full on for the past few days so a quiet afternoon in a bar was just the ticket. Crispy couldn't really relax as she was convinced when we got back the guards would have put someone else in our spare bunk.  We walked back in trepidation and she was so pleased to find our cell devoid of another person.

Busy day tomorrow and the alarm has just sounded for lights out so..

Bare and Crispy signing off, stallag 13, Graz Austr...........(Darkness)