On our last day in Austria, we visited the city of Hallstatt. This very tiny city sits between a lake and a mountain, and is known for its salt mining. The word "hall" is Gaelic for salt, and "statt" or "stadt" is city. We heard a story of a man who was discovered in the mines, buried in salt. After all the investigations and testing, it was discovered that the man was 3000 years old. That's how long they have been mining salt here.
The highlight of this trip was the trip through the salt mines. We dressed like miners, and were sent under ground.
We had to wait outside for our tour to start, and those clothes were sooo hot.
Inside the mine.
Getting ready to go down one of the two long slides inside the mine.
When we left the mine we walked down the hill and ended up at this area that resembled a few fair booths. They were making bread and soup, and the kids got to grind some of the wheat themselves, then pat it into a small little patty of bread.
More views of the city.
It was such a hot day, so I told the kids to get in the lake to cool off.
The boys ended up in their underwear, Pete ended up in his shorts and Annie was too modest to take her clothes off.
We wandered through the city in the sun so the kids could dry off. All the houses were built in a terracing style, because like I said- the city is smashed between the lake and the mountain. There was no place to build except up.
The word "schmuck" means jewelry, but I thought the sign was fitting for him.
We went into the cemetery, and more specifically, to see the church full of bones.
It wasn't so much a church, as just a small building. But it was full of skulls. People could pay money to the church before they died, so that their skulls would be displayed in the church.
A littel info on the church.
Just cause.
Doesn't Coop look happy?
A few more Hallstatt schmucks.
Oh, Hallstatt. I miss you.
No comments:
Post a Comment