Traversing Austria with Borders of Adventure

Visit Austria: What inspired you to do embark on a #YearInAustria?

Becki: I’ve always loved visiting Austria and writing about it, and when I moved here I wanted to make the most of that and see as much as possible in a way that I could share with my readers, without becoming an expat blog.

My writing is about perception changing and especially destinations with a particular reputation or a singular vision of what people think of it. Austria is incredibly beautiful, but it’s still misunderstood in parts and riddled with clichés. While some of those clichés are actually great things, I feel it needs (and deserves) a younger injection and for people to see there’s much more to it in terms of contemporary creativity, fun and adventure.

Also, not only do I have neighbouring countries that are easily accessible within one hour or more, but an entire country that is well connected and where each state is very different from one another. Each trip I take is never a repetition of the same things, and you forget how a country can be small, but incredibly varied.

Visit Austria: What are you looking forward to experiencing in Austria?

Becki: I love mountains and have yet to climb one in Austria. This is the one thing I want to achieve during these 12 months – a challenging but ultra-rewarding hike in the Alps to sit alongside my memories of the Himalayas.

Also sharing the stories of the local people. There’s an entrenched sense of community that is the glue of a lot of Austrian regions, as well as people doing creative things that retain traditions but move them into a contemporary setting.

The history here is seriously complex too, but that fascinates me. The desire to unravel that will keep me occupied.

Visit Austria: What is the favourite place you've visited so far?

Becki: It will always be Vienna first, as that is home. I still have so much of the city to explore and uncover, so I am never bored. I know the story I eventually want to write and it will take a long time to research it. However, at the end of this project, after seeing so much of the country, I am sure I will be able to pick a favourite place away from the one I always hapilly come back to.

Tirol will always be my ‘Narnia of Europe’ of course. My grandmother used to read me the Chronicles of Narnia when I was a child. I eventually found it and I wish I could tell her.

Visit Austria: We'll revisit this question at the end of your #YearInAustria...