We turned a corner today, entering into the second half of our journey. Five weeks in and we've already had an amazing trip. It'll be exciting to see how the second half plays out. Today we enjoyed a slackened pace in an attempt to recharge and reenergize for some busy days ahead. We visited Mozart's house, splurged on some necessary haircuts, and enjoyed a slice of the famed Sacher-Torte. It was very good, don't get me wrong, but the consensus at the table was ...

We were finally able to muster a bike excursion today on an unseasonably warm day in Salzburg. City bikes are available free for the first hour, after a €1 registration fee. Amazing! For as little as €4 we were able to see most of Salzburg in a couple of hours. After a scenic hike around a city park, we headed to the Augustiner Brewery, where we were treated to a mix of traditional German songs and a healthy dose of North American pop. We even heard 'Take Me...

Sort of a hodge-podge day today that included this fetching monument: an ode to the glorious pickle! Definitely the most random decoration that we've encountered on our travels, and it seemed all the more strange considering that Salzburg is so meticulously put together. We also found excellent Italian food (twice), sat and watched old men play chess on a giant set in the square, and enjoyed the fall colours strolling through the park. Salzburg has a laid-back fe...

Our last day in Bavaria was well spent as we once again flexed our walking muscles and joined a free walking tour around Munich. The tour covered everything from the Nazis to beer over a three hour trek on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. After enjoying a final sausage that redeemed Bavaria's culinary reputation, we hitched a train to Salzburg where we will be hanging our hats for the next few days.