Sometimes, I remember a place not because of its beauty, history, importance, but because of some triviality which at that particular time of visit, wasn't much of a triviality to me.
Austria's now in the news with a covid-19 serious outbreak in Tirol (region of many ski resorts), and a strict lockdown. It has reminded me of such a triviality.
Who hasn't heard of Lock Ness, the lake and the monster of Scotland ? The story is been going on for decades. In April 2009 (some 20 years after my visit there), I wrote a post on it including the theories about the monster (fondly referred to as Nessie) and my humble opinion about the whole thing. (Yes, would you believe it, I had an opinion on something explored by some great minds. Cheeky me!).
After spending some time at the lake, visiting the old Urquhart castle on its bank, and watching a Scotsman playing bagpipe, I headed to the bus station for Inverness (the town capital of the area, located at about 8 miles from the lake).
At the station, I met an Austrian couple that told me they had missed the last bus and were about to try and get a lift. We exchanged a few pleasantries (me trying to use on them my german 'for beginners'), and then I said I would join them in the effort to stop a car. I positioned myself a few steps away from them and raised my hand.
Urquhart castle
After a minute or two, I thought there was something behind me. I turned to see what it was (nothing, apparently); when I turned my head back, I couldn't believe my eyes. No austrian couple. Vanished. A car had probably stopped, they got in quickly without thinking of me or calling me. I was left alone, and felt rather humiliated.
When I got back to my hotel room in Inverness, I said to myself, "Oh,well, Austria, the birthplace of Hitler. What can you expect of these people. Bad, antisemitic stuff, no manners, no kindness ." I knew deep inside me that it was an unfair, untrue generalization, but at that time I needed a bit of consolation, and I got it.
Anyway, since then, whenever Lock Ness or Inverness are mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is my 'desertion' by the Austrians, not the beauty and mystery of the area.
Nessie - humoristic card bought at Inverness