HALLSTATT
The gorgeous, clear weather that skipped us in Switzerland returned for our one day and night in Hallstatt, Austria, which we consider our favorite stop of the tour. It's our vacation from our vacation!
Upon arrival, our group boarded a boat for a private one-hour cruise of the lake with Captain Ernest. This is definitely a time to make good use of your camera! After we dock in this cute village, there is not much on the itinerary other than a group dinner at the hotel tonight. Options include renting watercraft on the lake, strolling the town, and a funicular ride up to the above-mentioned salt-mine tour. |
Hallstatt is older than Rome! Salt mining was very important here, even dating back to 800 B.C. Salt was traded throughout the centuries as people came to and from by boat. You can learn more about this history on a salt-mine tour, where you follow a guide through the caverns and learn about mining techniques. The tour ends with two long slides down the banisters. The less adventurous can buy salt products from various shops.
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OUR HIGHLIGHTS:
-The private cruise on the lake.
-Renting our own electric-powered boat for our own excursion.
-Relaxing with each other and our tour buddies on the hotel's back dock, simply enjoying nature and the company.
-Stumbling upon a folk dance event at a nearby hotel.
-The private cruise on the lake.
-Renting our own electric-powered boat for our own excursion.
-Relaxing with each other and our tour buddies on the hotel's back dock, simply enjoying nature and the company.
-Stumbling upon a folk dance event at a nearby hotel.
All aboard! Time to commune with nature!
Upon arrival, we check into our hotel. Today is a good day for laundry; there is a convenience store/deli near our hotel that has a washer and dryer. So we decide to kill two birds with one stone. We drop off our laundry (the owner even offers to transfer our clothes to the dryer so we don't have to come back twice!), and pick up some cold cuts, cheese, chocolate, and other picnic goodies.
There are two places in town that rent electric-powered boats (or kayaks, or pedal swans, your choice) for about 15-20 euros per hour. When we arrive at the dock, we find a teenage boy and his 8-year-old sister running the business. We pay, hop in a boat, and the little girl pushes us out while reciting what I assume was a safety spiel in thick-German-accented broken English. We have no clue what she really said, but we love sharing this story because it's something that would never happen in America. No life jackets? No waiver? No adults?!
Here are some photos from our excursion. We bumped (literally) into our friend Steve, who took some of the photos of us. Others were taken by Rolinka or other tour-mates from the shore.
There are two places in town that rent electric-powered boats (or kayaks, or pedal swans, your choice) for about 15-20 euros per hour. When we arrive at the dock, we find a teenage boy and his 8-year-old sister running the business. We pay, hop in a boat, and the little girl pushes us out while reciting what I assume was a safety spiel in thick-German-accented broken English. We have no clue what she really said, but we love sharing this story because it's something that would never happen in America. No life jackets? No waiver? No adults?!
Here are some photos from our excursion. We bumped (literally) into our friend Steve, who took some of the photos of us. Others were taken by Rolinka or other tour-mates from the shore.
We knew we should've payed for two hours. Oh well. There was still the beautiful village to explore. There's no way around it, you'll have to tackle some hills here. But each lane just offers its own stunning views or charming surprises. You might stumble upon local shops, staircases, an old church and cemetery, or a waterfall that starts high up the mountain and trickles its way through town. Since Hallstatt is famous for salt, that's what we buy: eucalyptus bath salts and essential oils, and Salatsalz for, well, salats. The owner is welcoming and friendly and takes the time to share her passion.
Ahh, now it's time to relax. Rick describes Hallstatt has a great place to rest or get well. We agree. The weather remains perfect well into the evening. Our hotel has a set of covered patio loungers which we spend a couple hours on talking, wishing we could live here, wondering why this can't be a two-night stop, and enjoying a beer. Other tour buddies eventually arrive and we enjoy each other's company. Some of them even take a dive and quick swim into the lake (it's very cold!).
Afterward we head inside for a dinner of freshly-caught trout. Tonight is bittersweet, as we bid farewell to our driver Jocze (she'll have to drop us off quickly tomorrow in Vienna). The group presents her with a scarf. Thank you, Jocze! She is a wonderful addition to our tour: a safe and knowledgeable driver, and we enjoyed her company at many group dinners.
After dinner we take one last evening stroll through town, which is even more beautiful with the lights on. We stumble upon a folk dance event at a nearby hotel (ahh, the beauty of Austria!). Tomorrow we're off to Vienna!
Afterward we head inside for a dinner of freshly-caught trout. Tonight is bittersweet, as we bid farewell to our driver Jocze (she'll have to drop us off quickly tomorrow in Vienna). The group presents her with a scarf. Thank you, Jocze! She is a wonderful addition to our tour: a safe and knowledgeable driver, and we enjoyed her company at many group dinners.
After dinner we take one last evening stroll through town, which is even more beautiful with the lights on. We stumble upon a folk dance event at a nearby hotel (ahh, the beauty of Austria!). Tomorrow we're off to Vienna!