A daily peep inside …

Goodbye Mohamed and Marwa! Our two colleagues from Egypt stayed with us for a two-month on-the-job training. They took care of our guests from Arabian countries with enthusiasm and kindness. When it came to working in our team we got to know them as very helpful and absolutely lovely colleagues. Now the time has come to say goodbye. This morning I found this message on my desk. All I know is that you read it from right to left…

Hi Sebastian, we have really enjoyed the two-month stay here. Days just flew by but we are sure to always remember them with affection. We had an amazing time, enjoyed your hospitality, and hope that we’ll see each other again in beautiful Zell am See-Kaprun. How lucky you are! Marwa and Mohamed, Ministry of Tourism, Egypt.

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An article about ‘green’ products here, a label promising ecological food there: due to this overload of eco certificates, it is really difficult to stay informed about what’s in the products you buy. Or do you understand why operators advertise their data-processing centres with the slogan ‘Green IT’? They consume a lot of energy - whether they are ‘green’ or not. I really appreciate the offer of the Tauernkraftwerke power station here in Kaprun. There, you can learn how environmentally-friendly energy is generated without polluting the air with CO₂.

The ascent to the Alpine reservoirs starts at Kesselfall Alpenhaus restaurant at the far end of Kaprun Valley. Buses take you to the inclined lift via Lärchwand Road which partly runs through a natural stone tunnel. The lift is a true technical miracle. It takes you further up the mountain and after a second bus ride you can marvel at the immense amount of water in the Alpine reservoir where true eco energy is generated.

The Tauernkraftwerke power station offers an impressive guided tour through the dams (for everyone who dares to venture down into the depth of this monstrous building) or you can choose to take a walk along the dam or on one of the many trails. Personally, I prefer heading towards the valley on foot - just follow the signs. After 20 minutes you’ll arrive at Füthermoaralm Alpine inn where you can stop for refreshment and enjoy some typically Austrian dishes!

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Tags: alpine reservoirs, energy, environment, Füthermoaralm, Tauernkraftwerke

At this year’s smart times records fell again. The world record of smarts forming a long parade around Lake Zell was not only broken but taken to the next level: the length of the parade was doubled in comparison to last year’s. 743 little racers divided from each other by less than two metres covered a distance of four kilometres. Another true record was the smart cake: master patissier Walter Estl baked a cake representing the shape of a smart in its original size. 2,000 smart fans, who had come to the region for the 10th anniversary of the popular racy car, were treated to a piece. And of course, I had a taste of the record cake as well. It was really great and so was the entire event, the visitors of the smart times 2008 agreed and are already looking forward to next year.

For more information about the record cake, you can listen to the latest podcast of Zell am See-Kaprun (available in German only).

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Tags: podcast, smart, smart times 2008, world record

A boat trip is lots of fun … especially this one: every year Schmidolin, the popular holiday dragon from Schmittenhöhe, invites all his little friends from the Schmidolin Children’s Club on a pleasure trip aboard MS Schmitten - with lots of laughter, dance, and games. This time the green holiday dragon has thought up something very special: Olympic Games for children. There was a real torch and the kids were given the opportunity to show their skills at many Olympic disciplines such as the fir-cone long-throw or a tunnel relay. And after the exciting presentation ceremony every the participants were also given a yummy ice-cream . They all thought it had been a tremendous day and everyone is looking forward to next year’s event. By the way, in the latest issue of the Zell am See-Kaprun podcast, Nicole Ohr from Schmitten Marketing tells you how to become a member of the Schmidolin Children’s Club.

By now the podcast service of Zell am See-Kaprun is only available in German. We are already working on a version for our English-speaking guests. We’ll keep you informed about the progress - please check out the blog regularly !!!

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Normally, I am not really into anything that snakes its way through the landscape - but this is a different matter altogether. I am really looking forward to this attempt at breaking a record in the Guinness Book of Records: the plan is for the smart parade around Lake Zell to be twice as long as last year! Of course, you can also grab the chance to take one of the little racers on a ride through the region. Furthermore, the World Cup of Parachute Accuracy Landing is taking place at the old air field of Zell. The parachutists are heading towards a dead centre of a size of two centimetres in diameter. Yes, two centimetres, that’s this |<——->| long. Theoretically, they could be landing on your screen. An amazing weekend is waiting for you - you can also choose to listen to all the relevant information in the podcast at http://podcast.zellamsee-kaprun.com (available in German only).

By the way, I have already tried to visualize this attempt at the word record for you.

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Tags: accuracy landing, lake zell, parachutists, smart 'fortwo', smart times

We had been looking forward to this event for a long time. And now it is already over. But ‘Hochkultur - There is music in the air’ wasn’t only a very successful project but something very special in every regard. One of the best orchestras in Europe and Professor Herbert Prikopa as the conductor and anchorman - this combination was definitely something out of the ordinary. Together they gave life to the concept of the ‘presented operetta’. Of course, I couldn’t miss this world premiere and I have to say I was perfectly happy with what I saw.

But it wasn’t only the concept and the protagonists that were extraordinary: so was the weather. Unfortunately, the clerk of the weather wasn’t on our side last weekend. For that reason we had to move our operetta evenings from the summit of Schmittenhöhe to the Ferry Porsche Congress Center in Zell am See. Of course, this didn’t do any harm to the quality of the event, but ‘Hochkultur’ could only be taken to the top with regard to the music and not the venue.

Nevertheless, the impressive performances at the Ferry Porsche Congress Center encouraged us in our endeavour to keep looking for new events and activities to offer. Hence we’ll get together with ‘Music Arts Vienna’ once again next year and try to bring back ‘Hochkultur’ and its amazing protagonists to Zell am See-Kaprun. I am looking forward to this event even now and I hope we will have the pleasure of welcoming you in 2009 as well!

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Tags: ferry porsche congress center, herbert prikopa, hochkultur, johann strauß ensemble, operetta, Schmittenhöhe

Only a few days to go until a very special premiere: ‘Hochkultur’ on Schmittenhöhe! For one thing that’s the Austrian operetta, for the other it’s the summit of the local mountain of Zell am See. The Johann Strauss Ensemble, one of the most renowned orchestras in Europe, is performing the most beautiful melodies from ‘The Birdseller’ and ‘The Merry Widow’ - true classics from the golden and silver era of the operetta of the 19th and early 20th century.

I have to admit that generally operettas are not my cup of tea. But I definitely cannot afford to miss the premiere of ‘Hochkultur’ this weekend. I am bursting to hear the melodies, to see the stage setting, to marvel at the panorama, and to find out what the audience will think about this unique event at 2,000 metres of altitude. Of course, I have already talked to the artists and asked them about their personal feelings about the event. You’ll find their answers in the latest Zell am See-Kaprun podcast.

Some tickets are still available at Schmittenhöhebahn AG cable car company (valley station of trassXpress or Schmittenhöhebahn), at Zell am See-Kaprun Information, and the branch offices of Spängler Bank and Salzburger Sparkasse bank.

I am looking forward to seeing you on Schmittenhöhe!

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When the moon passes between the sun and the earth and as a result partially obscures the sun, we can witness a partial solar eclipse. And this was what happened today during lunch time in Zell am See and Kaprun. Of course, I couldn’t afford to miss out on such an amazing spectacle of nature and set out for 3,000-metre-high Kitzsteinhorn. Thanks to a special foil that I had attached to my camera, I was able to take this picture: a partial solar eclipse in Zell am See-Kaprun.

Partial solar eclipse at 3,000-metre-high Kitzsteinhorn on 1st August 2008.

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She left Austria 70 years ago. Together with her family she immigrated to the USA to escape the National Socialist regime. But she has always held fast to her love for music. Until 1956 she travelled the entire globe on her concert tours. Now, Maria von Trapp has embarked on a different kind of journey: a journey into her past.

During her stay in the Alpine republic, the member of the legendary ‘Trapp Family Singers’ went looking for her roots - and stroke lucky in Zell am See. Right next to Hotel Erlhof, she recognised the house where she was born in 1914. Without any doubt ‘the most beautiful spot in Austria’ she told the Austrian daily newspaper Wiener Kurier.

The 93-year-old, who lives in Vermont today, took the media circus around her visit in her stride. Instead of feeling bothered by the photographers who obstructed her view of mighty Kitzsteinhorn, she was joking with them: ‘The panorama is absolutely amazing here, but unfortunately I don’t really get a chance to take a glance!’

Maria von Trapp knows very well that Zell am See doesn’t only boast breathtaking scenery but has many culinary delights to offer as well. For this reason the former singer and missionary, whose family story inspired a Broadway musical and the film ‘The Sound of Music’ in 1965, decided to stop at the restaurant Lohninghof for some refreshment.

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Tags: Erlhof, Lohninghof, Maria von Trapp, zell am see

For our little guests Zell am See-Kaprun has a very special offer. Every Monday at 9.45 am the station of Areitbahn I in Schüttdorf is the meeting point for a walking tour with the most entertaining guides of the region. And the holiday dragon of Schmittenhöhe Schmidolin waits there, too, to invite all his friends to an exciting kids’ hike.

On this tour the children can engage in exciting activities: they can romp around, play, hunt a treasure, and watch the animals of the region. And of course, at the end Schmidolin awaits his little guests and has a special surprise up its sleeve for the enthusiastic little hikers. For more information on Schmidolin’s Kids’ Hike you can check out the latest Zell am See-Kaprun podcast. Have fun and we’ll see each other on Schmittenhöhe.

By now the podcast service of Zell am See-Kaprun is only available in German. We are already working on a version for our English-speaking guests. We’ll keep you informed about the progress - please check out the blog regularly.

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Tags: cildren, podcast, schmidolin, Schmitten, Schmittenhöhe, Walking