Bridge

After a shopping spree in Würzburg, my dad took us on the road again. My sister took one last picture of the place, and I was just amazed.

A garden outside of our hotel

On the road, we reached speeds up to 100 mph (165 kph), legally. That was the first time my dad drove that speed legally, other than when he was drag-racing in California in the late ’70s. But, he assured me that he has been above that speed limit many times in the past (illegally, haha).

We said our last good-byes to Germany, and 3 and half hours later we were on the border of Germany and Austria. The border was literally inside of a mountain, and two-thirds through it, we were in Austria. Thankfully, there was a gas station right outside of the border. We had to make sure to buy a freeway pass to avoid getting a huge fine if pulled over by the cops. I think the fee would be as much as 300 euros (about $300).

The first thing I saw in Austria were the enormous, majestic Alps. It was almost like they were reaching up to the heavens. These mountains were unlike any I’ve ever seen before. The rocky, steep slopes joined together in numerous of sharp points in the clear skies. The mountain’s rocks were a very light color: a gray with a tint of brown. Evergreen trees grew from the sides of the mountains, and lessened in thickness the higher up I saw.

We drove further into Austria, and came across a small village. We drove in and explored the unique place. The buildings were so different and beautiful. Yellows, whites, and browns filled my eyes as I gazed at the landscape. Windows were square with shudders dangling from their sides. Paintings of family crests and Christianity decorated the walls. Small fences guarded the houses and their newly clipped yards.

The most beautiful river I’ve ever seen soon caught my eyes. The river was very turquoise and was framed by very smooth, white pebbles. It almost seemed like it could’ve come straight from a fairytale.

When we arrived at the hotel, we unloaded our bags and went to our hotel room. We could see gorgeous mountains and castles from our balcony. We were soon inspired to do something exciting in the area. My sister then found a brochure of Highline179. It’s the longest Tibet Style pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. The bridge is designed so that people are able to walk across it all year round. It also connects the ruins of Ehrenberg castle with Fort Claudia.

My dad, sister, and I quickly packed our bags and tied on our shoes. Once we were there, we bought our tickets and climbed the steep hill up to the suspension bridge. We were first struck by the sight of old ruins. Then, we turned our heads and saw the medal bridge. My jaw dropped and I just couldn’t believe it. It seemed like the bridge stretched out for miles. I was stunned to see that the narrow bridge could support so many people without falling. When I took my first step onto the bridge, my body began to sway. I looked back and said to my dad, “Stop moving the bridge!” He said, “I’m not doing anything!” And then I realized that it was the wind… The wind was moving the whole bridge back and forth. I gripped the railing with one hand, and held my camera with the other.

Here are some of the pictures I took on our trip: