High on a hill lived a lonely goatherd...

I don't think I could ever get tired of seeing these gorgeous houses all decked out in their summer finery. On the way from Salzburg to Vienna, we took a detour through Germany and up another mountain or two,

This is the pub in the tiny settlement of Oberau, where we stopped for lunch.

 This is the view from the front deck, where we ate and drank our fill.

Our destination was the Kehlsteinhaus - Eagle's Nest - which is a house perched high up on a rocky mountain, that is famous for being Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday present, arranged by his private secretary, Martin Bormann. After the 2nd World War, it was saved from being blown up and it has been turned into a restaurant.

The road up the mountain is characterised by hairpin bends, which you would think I would be used to by now. This also put Louise (sat. nav.) into a spin, yet again.

 The last couple of kilometres of steep road approaching the summit, are closed to public traffic and a convoy of tourist buses completes the climb. The house itself is unremarkable, but the location is awe-inspiring. That is a lake in the valley below.

Did you notice a visitor in the far left of the shot above? Here he is a few seconds later.

I prefer to keep my feet firmly on the few square metres of flat ground that I can find. Note the flimsy wooden boards that represent a fence! Next stop - Vienna - closer to sea level.