EUROPEAN RELOCATION: HALLSTATT, AUSTRIA

Sorry that I have not been posting more frequently. We have been home from vacation since August 12 but it's been hectic around here. Had to get my car back from the mechanic, get the dogs from the kennel, food shopping and endless laundry, etc.

There is still a few more days from our vacation to post about.

The next stop was Hallstatt. Wow, what a great little place to put on anyone's vacation bucket list. Now, I must admit it is definitely geared toward tourism. And specifically it seems to be a great draw for Chinese tourists. I asked a local why this little village was so attractive to the Chinese and he said because it is an ancient mountain village not unlike many of their ancient mountain villages. I looked into this phenomenon online and I discovered that a development company has made a $940 million dollar copy of Hallstatt, right down to the cobblestone and fountains! Of course, Hallstatt is a little unsure about whether imitation is truly the greatest form of flattery in this case since it could actually take a bite out of their tourist dollars that they count on each year! The "fake" village opened just this past June so time will tell.

In the meantime, enjoy my photos of the REAL Hallstatt which dates back to pre-historic times. Breathtaking mountain scenery to be sure.

VIEW FROM OUR BALCONY

EVEN THOUGH IT IS A BUSY TOURIST TOWN, IT IS FAIRLY QUIET BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALLOW CARS INTO THE MAIN PART OF TOWN. OF COURSE SOME CARS WERE ALLOWED (SHOP OWNERS, ETC.) AND YOU WOULD REALLY NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE.

OF COURSE THE BAD THING ABOUT NO CARS IS THAT WE HAD TO DRAG OUR LUGGAGE TO THE HOTEL (ABOUT HALF A MILE). THERE WERE HOTEL SHUTTLES EVERY HALF HOUR BUT WE WALKED.

OUR HOTEL; THE SEEHOTEL GRUNER BAUM

I FOUND OUT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THESE ANCIENT GRAVEYARDS AND WHY THERE ARE SO MANY NEW DATES. TURNS OUT THAT AFTER 10 YEARS A GRAVE CAN BE "RE-OCCUPIED". 10 YEARS SEEMS TO BE A SHORT TIME, DON'T YOU THINK?

THIS IS IN THE BASEMENT OF THE SMALL CHAPEL ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY. IF YOUR FAMILY DOES NOT PAY TO CONTINUE TO LEASE YOUR GRAVE SITE THEN IT GETS RE-USED. LONG AGO, CREMATIONS WERE FORBIDDEN SO THEY WOULD REMOVE THE BONES FROM THE GRAVE AND BLEACH THEM IN THE SUN, THEN RELATIVES WOULD PAINT THE SKULLS AND THEY WOULD BE DISPLAYED IN THIS BEINHOUSE (OR BONE HOUSE). THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A LINE TO STEP INTO THIS AND THEY CHARGE YOU A COUPLE EURO SO WE PASSED. I TOOK THIS PHOTO FROM THE INTERNET.

VIEW FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR LADY CHURCH

THIS IS THE ASCENSION OF OUR LADY. THE ORIGINAL CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1181 - THE TOWER STILL STANDING; THE REST OF THE CHURCH DATES TO 1505.

I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE SO ORNATE FOR SOME REASON.

FOR A SMALL CHURCH THIS PLACE HAS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. THERE IS A STORY HERE AS WELL. THIS IS THE CRYPT OF A MAN WHO DIED IN THE 18TH CENTURY. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE STORY BUT HE REQUESTED THAT EVERY 50 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH HIS COFFIN BE BROUGHT ACROSS THE LAKE AND PLACED IN THE CHURCH. IF I CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS I WILL UPDATE THIS POST.