Day 17: boxing day

We wake at 7 because Elisa and joe and the kids are leaving for Monaco. Panatonne and tea and biscotti again. We see them out of their own home and thank them for coming :) for our train doesn't leave until 11. I stroll the streets of aiello one last time hoping to find some Caki somewhere because apparently the soft mushy orange fruit is everywhere but I didn't. The air was fresh and crisp and the sun was out but everyone was inside... Or at the bar- the only place open. Luciano and Daniella take us to the train station. We have to take a bus to the border first then a train to Vienna. The bus trip is amazing. The mountains get closer and closer and soon we are driving through them. They are so big and white and numerous. We somehow manage to get on the train that takes around about rout to Vienna via salsberg so it takes 2 hours extra. We munch on prosciutto and formaggio paninis that Daniella prepared for us and admire the gorgeous snowy landscapes. I fall asleep dreaming of skiing down these beautiful slopes. 7 hours later we arrive in Vienna. Liz gets left behind at the metro station because the doors shut too quickly and the entire carriage joins in our laughter for the look on Liz's face as the doors slide shut in front of her is (hard to describe) perhaps amused annoyance - anyway its ingrained in my memory and was very funny. Being a public holiday and a Monday not much is open but we find a cafe with our French roomies and devour liver soup, goulash and a schnitzel the size of Australia! The hotel is large and very clean. I'm sitting in the lobby area on some couches typing away and feeling nice and relaxed... Time for bed I think...