Stranded in Europe Day 3 (I think)

Beginning my 3rd day being stranded in Salzburg.  Good news is the flights are flying all over Europe and while our little group is scattered all over the continent from Rome to Amsterdam things are improving.  Two couples have made it back to the US on stand by flights everyone else has confirmed flights out either on Saturday or Sunday.  If things continue to improve we should all be back at work Monday.  Never Thought I would want to get back to work. 

As for being stranded in Salzburg I have gotten to know my way around the city and it is a pretty pedestrian friendly place.  It is very easy to walk around as long as you obey the walk and don't walk signals.  I am totally amazed at how the cars, bikes and people all share the streets without incidents like you see in the US.  Maybe it is the more laid back life style here or centuries of training.  Be interesting to look into (any of you research people out there need a topic).  Another thing that is a bit unusual for Americans is you don't need a prescription to get drugs here.  Just walk into a Apothacary (drug store) and tell them (in my case show them) what you want and they get it for you.  Prices for generic drugs seem to be very similar to what my insurance pays for generics. 

As far as prices in general other than beer everything is more expensive than it is in the states.  Funny thing is just looking at the prices you would think they are the same (and number wise they are) but since the Euro is worth about a $1.30 or so, every thing is about 30% higher.  Not a big thing at the low end but it is at the higher end.  Another interesting thing is the price listed is the price you pay.  Taxes seem to be already built in.  Which is nice.

Today is the last day I will have company here in Salzburg. Jon & Cheryl Ogden are off to Munich tomorrow by train to catch their  flight. So we are going to do something something together this afternoon/evening.  Probably the Augultine Brau (beer garden) and watch the world go by.   I'll see them off tomorrow morning and might even catch a train myself to Frankfort and see if can go standby on a Saturday flight.  We will see how things are going out of Frankfort Airport this afternoon.  That's it for now...