We played in Salzburg, Austria three nights ago. Nice club, great kids, it was really fun. The best part however was that it was so near the hometown of two of our tour mates. After the show we went to the family homes of Beenie and Marco in the town of Berchtesgarden, located in the Alps in the very south of Bavaria right near the Austrian border. We could have played half a set the following day in Vienna with Masterpiece, a band were playing several shows with from San Diego but in a move of solidarity decided we would do nothing without our tour mates Heartbreak Kid. This unexpected and unforunate day off turned out to be possibly the best day of tour. I slept for two nights in a real bed in a lovely home at the foot of the alps where we had clothes washed and were stuffed endlessly with Beenies mothers home cooking. Not only that but shes been vegetarian since most of us could crawl and the food was outstanding.
Berchtesgarden is most famous for being the sight of Hitlers mountain retreat complex. Beenies mother works for the documentation center, a small but famous museum and archive at the location that gives a full story of not just the Berchtesgarden complex but of the entirety of the third reich. We all got in free and were given hand held devices to guide us through the museum in english but the best part was the final part, where the museum leads you into several bunkers and tunnels. Unfortunately the US troops completely destroyed all the buildings on the site, but these tunnels survived, all the mountains where the villas were built are supposed to be filled with these secret tunnels and bunkers. It was truly amazing to be able to walk through the bit that we were. It was particularly important for me to be there for Grandpa, though I know most of his tour of duty was in Italy I believe they made their way through portions of the alps and perhaps into Germany. The whole time I wish you were there walking through with me Grandpa I think you would have really enjoyed it.
Afterwards we went to lake Konigsee which im told is as deep as the mountains surrounding it are high, which for a lake for that narrow is beyond impressive. The lake spills out into a river of pure mineral water you could drink. Marco and Beenie took us through the woods to a spot where you could dive off the rocks into the river near the foot of a 20 foot waterfall, the water is cold but refreshing and felt incredible and rejuventated us all. After all this Beenies mother cooked a meal that fed us all with seconds until we couldnt move and then dessert! She had a really wild garden growing in the back, much of which she admits is for the benefit of the birds in the area. She was so in touch with her natural environment it was really refreshing to talk to someone who has built a garden with the hopes of feeding and housing the animals who as she said lose more and more land with each new house built. I laughed when I saw the rosa ragosa, she really loved that we call the vegetable a beach plum. After supper Beenies father pulled out his acoustic guitar which we had played earlier, it was a s 30 year old Ovation and hands down the nicest guitar ive ever seen let alone played. He sang some really hysterical old german folk song and then looked at me and said "you know the pogues right!" and off he went into a hilarious rendition of Dirty Old Town.
Were staying in the youth club in Mannheim where we played today, so far we found computers, a phone, a room full of middle age warrior costumes and props, and some orange juice. All in all a great night. Tour is soon coming to a close but we have two big festivals left ahead of us and I cannot wait, it should be an amazing way to cap off this experience. Hope this finds everyone well. Home soon.
Sean
