Arrival and the First Weekend

For many years now, I’ve been struggling with recurring issues in my cervical spine. That’s why my orthopaedist sent me on a three-week spa treatment to Bad Mitterndorf, located in my beloved Salzkammergut – and of course, I was beyond excited!

My partner and I arrived on a beautiful, warm Friday in June. Since the hotel offered a special package for partners, he decided to stay over the weekend and head back home on Sunday.

I instantly fell in love with my room on the 6th floor. It was very spacious and offered plenty of storage.

The multi-section wardrobe provided enough space for all my clothes, and a chest of drawers easily held all the extras and my swimwear.

There was a long desk where I could set up my laptop and get some work done. A large mirror was perfect for putting on makeup.

There was also a comfy sitting area with a table and sofa – ideal for spending a few relaxing hours.

Naturally, there was also a large, very comfortable double bed.

The spacious bathroom had plenty of storage for all my cosmetics.

But the highlight was the balcony with a view of a dense, lush green forest. I knew right away that I was going to feel at home here.

After unpacking, it was already time for the medical check-up, which lasted around an hour.

Since we had about an hour and a half until the next appointment, we decided to try out the wonderful outdoor pool. I swam a few laps while Gerhard soaked up the sun. It was pure relaxation!

Then it was time for the next appointment: a guided tour of the facility.

We were shown the large restaurant, where we would be served breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the bar, guests could order drinks, coffee and cake in the afternoons and evenings.

The spacious gym was open to us at all times – even during the night.

We were shown various therapy rooms and told where to wait for each treatment.

In the hotel lobby, we would receive our therapy schedules. There was also a small shop there selling little essentials.

But the best part of the hotel was definitely the two pools. Both were large enough for proper swimming. The indoor pool had a water temperature of 28°C, which was pleasantly warm. The outdoor pool, at 22°C, was just right – and I had already tried it!

After the tour, we still had nearly two hours until dinner.

Excursion to Bad Mitterndorf

So we decided to drive to Bad Mitterndorf.

This small, romantic village is known for its healthy climate.

We strolled through the narrow alleys. The sun was beaming from the sky. It was a truly beautiful day.

In the centre of the village, there are a few small shops, a bank, a pharmacy and two supermarkets.

The whole village has a calm, tranquil charm – simply lovely.

We spent two wonderful hours there.

Finally, we made a quick detour to the ski jump on the Kulm, just a few minutes' drive from Bad Mitterndorf.

I always find it fascinating that people actually launch themselves off such heights on skis. It already looks spectacular on TV, but standing in front of it in real life makes it seem even steeper.

Then it was time to head back to the hotel. By now, we were both quite hungry, having eaten nothing since breakfast.

The food was okay, but nothing particularly special. Well, tastes differ, as we all know. Some guests raved that the food was excellent.

After dinner, we got cosy in front of the TV and ended this lovely day in a relaxing way.

The next morning, I had my first therapy session at 7:00 a.m. – an infrared treatment. Afterwards, we had breakfast. Then it was time for a workout session. Since it was Saturday, that was the last treatment of the day.

Trip to Liezen and the Tauplitzalm

After lunch, we drove to Liezen, as we had never visited the town before – despite having spent quite a bit of time in the Salzkammergut region.

Liezen is a charming small town with a lovely parish church and some picturesque little lanes.

We strolled around a bit and treated ourselves to a delicious ice cream.

Then we made our way to the Tauplitzalm. From the toll road, which winds its way up the mountain in numerous switchbacks, we had fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding area.

When we finally reached the top, we were quite shocked at how cold it was. On top of that, it suddenly started pouring rain.

So we quickly sought shelter in the nearby guesthouse. The daily special was prawns on green tagliatelle with basil pesto. Since prawns are one of my favourite dishes, I ordered a portion and was not disappointed – it tasted absolutely heavenly.

As it was still raining heavily, we decided to return to the hotel.

There we rested a bit, had some coffee, and watched the heavy rain from the balcony.

After dinner, we watched a music show on TV.

On Sunday, we slept in and had a leisurely breakfast.

Then it was time for Gerhard to leave.

Since it was still pouring rain, I sat down at my computer to continue working on my blogs. After lunch, I went to the fitness centre, and afterwards swam a few laps in the pool. I even dipped into the outdoor pool for a bit – there's hardly anything more delightful than swimming in the rain.

Later, I continued working on my blogs. At dinner, I had a long conversation with the woman seated at my table. In the evening, I did some more writing while listening to music. Tired, I went to bed around 10 p.m. and soon fell asleep.