Tiny Charming Hallstatt

Up early and saying goodbye to our funky little Salzburg Hotel, Krone 1512.   Stopping in at Sbux for a quick breakfast on our way to the new Salzburg train station.   It's the new train station because the old one was obliterated by Allied bombing in WWII.  I would have like to have seen the old station as that is where the Von Trapp family had their big going away party when they boarded the train to go to Italy and then America.  I'm sorry, did you really believe that they "fled on foot over the Alps to escape the Nazi's"?  Didn't happen, but not many people would want to see a movie about a family moving for the opportunity to make money.

The train ride through the iconic Austrian countryside was beautiful even in the rain.  Judy had read a number of articles which listed Hallstatt as one of the most beautiful towns in Europe.   Even in the rain it fully lived up to its billing.

Arriving at the Hallstatt train station you have to walk down about 200 meters to board a boat which takes you across the Hallstätter See to the town itself.  Perched on a small wedge of land and creeping up the mountainside Hallstatt is everyone's idea of a fairy tale village.   Spent the afternoon exploring and gawking at all of the amazingly beautiful sights.  Two things we noticed:  1. there were a large number of Asian tourists in Hallstatt, and 2. the best tourist scam ever - you can rent a dirndl for €23 an hour.  

 

After another good meal in a real sit down restaurant for a change instead of a beer hall we retired to our luxurious room complete with a lake front view.