An infusion session in a European sauna usually means the pouring of something with a nice smell onto the coals and wafting the aromas around with a towel. But a "beer" infusion - that was a new one on me! Fortunately it didn't involve turning the beer into vapour, but instead involved the handing out of free bottles to be drunk and raised in the air with the exclamation "Prost!". Someone dropped a bottle on the floor, which was followed by the awkward sight of naked Austrians trying to find the exit amongst the broken glass. Sorry readers, but I didn't get a photo of that! I was too busy watching my feet.

We stayed in Badhofgastein, but both of these towns are famed for the radon-rich water, around which many a spa has sprung, in which many a celebrity has dipped, taking advantage of the healing properties. For once then, a long session in the spa complex took priority over the outdoor activities, but we still managed a very pleasant walk high above the valley on the Höhenweg. Here we found a section of woodland with very tame wildlife - a pair of jays, a nuthatch and a group of black squirrels that were virtually eating out of our hands. They were very fast and camera-shy though, as the blurred photos can testify.

Posted on November 4th 2015.