In Austria there is a lake that isn’t. That is, during the winter it is a grass-filled valley full of hiking trails and benches, and during the summer the snow melts and the valley becomes Austria’s Green Lake full of clear, green water. Also, grass, hiking trails and benches.

Sounds amazing. Have any of you ever been?

Despite all of the words beneath it, this post is a Wordless Wednesday entry.

Photo: Alex Barth via Flickr

the water is perfect!

Yes folks, people still do this.  Toady we hear from freelance travel writer and Uptake blogger, Zach Everson (link), who spent three months backpacking his way around Europe.  Above you see Zach standing in cold water in Olympos, Turkey. Why he’s smiling is anyone’s guess.

Zach explains that there are obvious things to watch out for, but that it’s safe and cost effective.  There are so many young people doing this, it really is quite normal.

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It's a lot bigger once you get up there. Ain't that always the case though?

Do you remember ABC’s Wide World of Sports? Saturday mornings after cartoons, if I recall correctly.  Maybe it was Sunday. Hard to tell, I’m old.

What I do recall in crystal clear fashion is that “agony of defeat” guy. Remember? *dramatic announcer-guy voice* “The thrill of victory, (dramatic pause) and the agony of defeat.”  And when the dramatic announcer-guy said that, the clip was some poor bastard loosing his balance and going arse over teakettle off the side of this huge ski jump. I remember my brother and I laughing and carrying on and deciding that we would have to fashion some sort of ski jump for our own selves come winter.  We never did. That’s probably a good thing.  The emergency room knew us by name already.

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Here’s what you need to know about catching the Dave Matthews Band as they tour through Europe this spring: do it.

Easy, right?

I caught the band a few summers ago in Southern California and it was a blast. This was due to both the show and the fact that we spent all afternoon tailgating at the Yard House – mmm, beer.

The DMB won’t be back in the U.S. until July (at the time of this post), and that’s your loss, America. Dear Europe, have fun. Read More »