Werfen ( pronounced vair /fn )
is a small village set in a beautiful valley surrounded by majestic mountains and green hills in North-West Austria, province of Pongau.
My friend Rilla and I had enjoyed a 5 week camping tour through Scandinavia, Finland and Russia in August /September 1970.  We decided not to return to Britain on the coach but to explore some more of Europe before grape picking in France in October. We made for Augsburg, Munich then Salzburg where somebody in the youth hostel told us of a small youth hostel contained in an amazing castle 
( Hohenwerfen Castle) perched on top of a steep wooded hill, within a valley  ( the Salzach valley).  So we thought... let's have a look!

Meanwhile, Gerry had completed a year of a Chemistry degree in Glasgow, decided Chemistry was not his life interest and would reassess. He loved languages and had kept his French interest going but also wanted to learn German properly and would do it the best way by immersing himself in the language.  So he travelled to Munich, got a job in the Lowenbrau factory where everyone spoke German. He enjoyed this period very much. He then decided to travel south into Austria, also German speaking and do some exploring and walking.

Consequently, when Rilla and I finally made it to the top of the hill to the Youth Hostel, we found it had just one other occupant - Gerry! He had arrived just a couple of days previously.  So Rilla and I met him together!  The youth hostel was small with amazing views and comfortable.  The 3 of us immediately got on very well and would walk down each evening to Werfen's  Gasthaus ( inn) and enjoy lots of talk.
Gerry, with his love of both discussion, meeting people and using German would also engage in conversation with the local people.

The 3 of us just loved our stay there and it has always been  very special place and time in our memories. We spent time exploring the valley starting our love of hill-walking. Our contact with Rilla always continued 
( she and I were to have much more travel in countries and more adventures together).  Rilla and Peter later visited us here in Govilon with their 4 children and we visited Rilla and her family at home near Rockhampton a number of times. Rilla was also our first contact in central West Queensland on our return to Australia 2 years later.

Hence, as it has remained a special memory for us, I posted 3 pictures of Werfen in Pictures, 2 of which I took during our amazing walk ( 8 - 9 hours ) that Gerry and I did in 1994,  when we made one of our trips back to  our wonderful meeting place. We have returned to Werfen 3 times, having a reunion with Rilla and Peter in nearby Salzburg in 2012 as Rilla mentions in her farewell to Gerry. Werfen also boasts fantastic ice caves in those soaring mountains (Eisriesenwelt bei Werfen) , the largest in the world. We did visit them and were overwhelmed. 

Werfen was a beautiful, very special place to meet and we both loved it, as did Rilla.  Gerry would have loved me paying this tribute to it! 

Ealey 

Hohenwerfen was the castle used for filming in " Where Eagles Dare", but the film doesn't show its beauty, containing so many closeup night shots.