Austria: where camping is a way of life
By RAINER ARNOLD

Sentinel photo/Rainer Arnold Aerial view of Grein Austria, its castle and the campingplatz on the lower left side.

Around Hiawassee there are camping sites. As a matter of fact, there are many spaces available near the lake. I have never thought of doing a story about

them. But, having seen what is going on in Grein, Austria, I thought I might send you all a

great story about the difference in camping here in Austria and in our area.

Near the place where I have a vacation cabin, Sarmingstein, there is a small town named Grein. It is called a activity type town here. And they have a lot to do for anyone that is on vacation. It is located on a very broad section of the Danube river and is a haven for bicyclists. And in this small town there is a Campingplatz-camping place. In addition to the Campingplatz there is a restaurant and an Internet Café.

The place has been in existence for about 20 years, but not until the arrival of Jorj Colesnicov and his family did this place join the 21st Century. Jorj has help. His wife (Luminita-Crina) and daughter( Larisa) work the restaurant part for the most part with the help of the husband. Jorj's son, also named Jorj (but we will call him Junior for this story), started the Internet Café.

Sentinel photo/Rainer Arnold Camplingplatz almost flooded because the mighty Danube overshot its shores, but the ducks liked it.

According to Junior, his father bought him a computer when he was young. But it was not a really good one so it always had problems. When the father got tired of all the repairs, Junior decided to start fixing it himself. Thus, today, Junior is actually a little whiz with the computer and he is beginning to be a small time businessman. Looks sort of like a father and son team.

They are open 7 days a week from 8am to 10 pm. They work long hours and the work is hard especially in the summer. The Campingplatz attracts 20-30 overnight campers each day plus hundreds of customers each day that stop during their bicycle tours to check emails from home or just sit and have a reasonable priced meal.

At breakfast time, Junior's mom bakes fresh bread for the campers and customers. After all, less than 100 meters from the Campingplatz is a bicycle ferry that takes bikers across the Danube and saves most bikers 15-20 miles of biking. Thus while they wait, the come to the Campingplatz Restaurant for a reasonable lunch or breakfast.

Sentinel photo/Rainer Arnold Jorj and Junior at their Campingplatz and Restaurant/Internet Café.

Since arriving as the manager of the Campingplatz, Jorj, has expanded facilities and improved the Camping facilities and made the entire place more homey. The bathrooms are immaculately clean as is the washroom and the shower faciltities. However, he has also has had to deal with the Danube flooding his business twice in the past six years. But, Jorj, a transplant from Romania was a Diplom Engineer in his native country, but was disenchanted with life there after the revolution and decided to bring his family to Austria. "We like it here very much," stated the father. And it is a truly beautiful place. Almost like a fairy tale. However, all has not been roses. He lost a lot of in 2002 as the Danube rose 12 feet over its borders and left 2 feet of mud in August of that year. "It took a long time to get rid of all the mud. It ruined the rest of the season for us," added Junior.

Sentinel photo/Rainer Arnold Clean washrooms and shower facilities.

As far as Junior is concerned, he finished school and is working at the restaurant and at the Internet Café. He plans on going to the University and study business. Of course he already has a headstart since he started the Internet business and knows the restaurant and the camping business well.

He enjoys the work and notes that it has given him the opportunity to meet many people from all over Austria and people from as far away as China, New Zealand, South Africa and just about every country in Europe. This association and a good education has allowed him to be fluent in German, Rumanian, French, English, and passable skills in Italian and "A few other languages so I can speak with most people here," added Junior.

As far as keeping the facilities clean, Junior explains that the family cleans every facility at least twice each day, however, he adds that many people help by cleaning up after themselves and that makes life better for all.

To spend the night in an RV with all necessities costs 21 Euros ($28), To stay in a tent for two people is 14.40($18.40) and one person in a tent is 8 Euros. Everyone is welcome to use the washer and dryers as well as the bathroom and shower facilities. The internet charges are only 3 Euros and includes a laptop. Should you have your own, the charges are a little better and if you have computer problems, Junior will be able to help you.

As a matter of fact, while I was there writing and sending stories, a girl from Hungary came in and started to do some computer work. After a while it dawned on me that this would be a good part of the story and I should ask her if I could take a picture. After I spoke to her, Eszter Lesso, agreed graciously to let me take a picture. She also told me, in broken, German and some English, that she was heading a bicycle tour from Passau, Austria to Vienna, Austria for her father, who is the owner of a Travel Agency in Hungary.

So, if you ever go to Austria, stop by the Campingplatz and Internet Café. They will welcome you and treat you right. Plus you will have visited a beautiful part of Austria as the town has a castle in it and several more within 10 miles or less.