Interlude in Austria

Abstract

After the technical meeting of the International Union for the Protection of Nature, many of the participants and their wives were able to take part in the excursions arranged by the local organizing committee. On the afternoon of 18th September, we visited the Salzkammergut, a district east of Salzburg which could be compared to our lake district. Here is a network of beautiful lakes with steep wooded hills and sheer cliffs dropping to the blue water. At the Fuschl See, our first stop, Ribbentrop and Ciano had had many meetings during the war in the castle hotel overlooking the lake. The near-by pastures were covered with pale mauve meadow saffron, and beside the path we saw Gentiana germanica and a fine group of the shaggy ink cap fungus (Coprinus comatus). We went on to the Wolfgangsee and Mondsee, returning to Salzburg in the evening. Later my husband and I spent a few days on the shore of the Wolfgangsee and were able to explore at leisure.