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Sunday December 14, 2014

From Vantage:
Linz (Salzburg)
Venture to one of the world's most picture-perfect winter wonderlands, Salzburg, a baroque jewel of a city nestled in the Austrian Alps. On your full-day excursion to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, take a walking tour of the Old Town followed by time to hunt for treasures at the Christmas Markets. You'll also have money for lunch at a place of your choosing in town.
Link to Linz tourism, including maps, history, recipes and more

But we plan on meeting Owen’s Austrian cousins (the Dusel family) and do the day with them in Linz, although Dolores might do the Salzburg trip and join the family in the evening.
Owen’s third cousin Rudolf Dusel has for many years owned a shop that sells, makes, and repairs umbrellas and leather goods. He is said to be one of the last of his guild.
This was the day:
20141214 Linz Sunday ..Link To Photos.. ..Link To Photos..

We slept in today. By the time we rose, the groups had left for Salzberg, so we had a quiet breakfast in the dining room with Glenn & Lou. So we chatted through breakfast. Then I started getting ready to meet Harald Dusel, my third cousin once removed.

I bagged the gifts we brought; that makes a lot of suitcase room for the things we've bought and will buy. Then I did some computer things that needed doing. Dolores rolled over and took a nap.

I told Harald by email that Dolores would come along; he replied that he would be late, but his parents would meet us.

At 1300, Renate with others was on the dock so I walked out to invite them in. She hesitated because others were coming. Finally, we had the three girls, Richard, Renate & Rudi in the Captain's Club for coffee and sweet. We went over some genealogy information. I gave them pictures of our family that we brought along. Rudi pointed to a church on top of a hill north of the ship and said we were going there.

Then we set out. We hiked to the Hauptplatz and caught a tram going north. It went uphill and uphill until it reached the church Rudi pointed out. It's also a museum and a children's attraction. First we went to a viewing spot. Rudi said the mountains to the south were the Alps and the tallest is 3,000m. There were some low clouds that prevented great pictures, but it would be beautiful on a clear day. Then we saw the church (Catholic). Rudi and I noted that the family has been both Catholic and Lutheran for nearly 200 years. It's a nice church, not large. Then we walked into line for the children's attraction.

We chatted with Austrians and admired little kids and got closer to the front of the line. Then we noticed a Disney-like ride passing by. As we got closer, we saw the ride was fashioned to look like a dragon. Vicky (a total extrovert and wonderfully funny) said they called the dragon “Sebastian”. The ride goes around in a circle; on the first pass, scenes on the outside of the circle are lit, showing various fairy tale scenes. On the second circle, the inside scenes are lit. On the third circle, ceiling lights come on and all the scenes are lit. The scenes are small dioramas with people and things that they are doing.

Rudi said he came as a child, and he brought all his children to it and they have brought all their children to it, so it's really a family to-do. After leaving Sebastian, we got into a circular hall with rooms off it that showed fairly tale scenes in near-real size. Sleeping Beauty and her Prince, Snow White and dwarves, and many more. Finally we came to the end and went back outside.

We hiked back to the tram and rode it back to the Hauptplatz. Werner & Marcus excused themselves to do required things. The rest of us went to the Schirmherr shop.

At Rudi's shop we saw all the things he makes, buys and sells. Luggage, leather goods, umbrellas, walking sticks, and so forth. It's small, but large enough to have raised a family on the income.

After admiring things, he gave us a few little but cute things, then we left for dinner. At the Stiegelbrau zum Klosterhof restaurant. There were 14 of us at a long table; the younger generation toward one end and older to the other, except Renate, Dolores, myself, Harald (who came to dinner with son Gregor but has a cold) and Rudi. Vicky the funny young lady was across from me and kept me laughing the whole meal. Dolores had wiener schnitzel and red wine, I had gulozsh and beer, both very good.

We talked and laughed and chatted and joked and just had fun. They made us feel part of their family, which is the most precious thing. Afterward, we hiked to Christkindlmarkt for a cup of Gluhmost (apples instead of grapes in Gluhwein). After that and more talking we took our good-byes and walked back to the ship.

I have forgotten to mention that we brought some small gifts for them, all having to do with Detroit Red Wings hockey because they are hockey fans. Dolores spread them out on our bed while we were putting down their coats. Bettina grabbed the little plush octopus mascot of the team and started petting it, so we knew she'd get that. Richard grabbed a watch cap and wore it the rest of the day. I've forgotten where the rest went.

But Bettina kept playing with that little octopus all day, making us laugh. She put it over my head while we were taking pictures and just made us giggle with her all day. Vicky has great English and is a wonderful young lady. In fact, all the kids are normal teenagers who have a great family. The children have all worked in the shop and have that background.

We think they used our visit as sort of a family outing as well. Rudi would not let us help pay for anything, even though they must have spent a bunch during the day.

It was a wonderful day we'll never forget.

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