We've been blessed with some beautiful autumnal days here in Salzburg, and the next few posts are my attempt to synthesize some of our outings. First, a few weekends ago, we spontaneously decided to take a trip to the nearby village of Golling. We had heard there were waterfalls and a castle there, so that sealed the deal. When we arrived, it felt a bit eerie. No workers were around, and I think we were the only passengers that detrained. We hoped to find some maps or tourist information at the station, but we were on our own. We followed the signs through the leaf-bedecked sidewalks and found our way to the center of town.
Golling, like many others towns we've seen here, is what city planners in the US dream about. The shops lining the main street have big picture windows showcasing their handmade goods and seasonal decorations surround their doors (wreaths, rustic brooms, flower pots). The buildings are pale candy-colored and all well-kept. Freshly-swept sidewalks and curbs express Austrian pride of ownership. Cafes and Konditoreien (confectioneries) stay busy with customers seated at tables and bench-seats on the sidewalk under big tents. Sandwich boards proudly display the daily specials. A fountain on the sidewalk calls attention to the natural beauty of the landscape, heavily utilizing river stones and wood. Some of these little fountains we've seen have a spigot to fill water bottles, because they make the water drinkable.
With Election Day (finally!) coming next week, this reminds me of the whole Main Street vs. Wall Street debate. Austrians make a serious investment in their small business owners and in keeping one-off shops open. Sure, there are plenty of big-box stores like we have in the US, but Austrians have the option of where they want to spend their money. They can go to IKEA or they can go to one of the local shops for their home goods. H&M is very popular, but so are smaller boutiques. When they want to keep an area small, they keep it small, and when they want big business to come in, it comes in. They strike a balance that isn't common in where I've lived.
When we were bored in the US, there were a few towns that we continually visited: Owego, Cazenovia, Canandaigua, Skaneateles. They all have vibrant downtowns with shops, cafes, and community events - festivals, farmer's markets, live music, wine walks, and the like. Residents have choices about how they spend their money and their time, and that's important. As we think about where we would like to go once we return to the US, we have to consider this.
Holy tangent! Back to Golling - We packed a lunch and ate on that bench: ham sandwiches, mineral water, bananas, and some chocolate wafers for dessert.
Left side: cute picture. Right side: attack! I wouldn't have posted this if our expressions were any less telling.
Good job, Ben.
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