Kaiservilla and Hallstatt
Day 5
"Traveling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller."
~ Ibn Battuta
This idyllic scene was on the path between the main road and the villa. European cities have their own appeal and sights, but sometimes you have to go into the rural areas to feel like you're *really* not at home anymore.
The Kaiservilla was a favorite hunting lodge of Emperor Franz Joseph, and serves today as the residence of the current Archduke of Austria. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but the exterior was certainly impressive!
It was here that the Emperor, spurred by the assassination of his nephew by Serbian nationalists, penned a declaration of war against Serbia, thereby beginning World War I.
After all that history, it was time for a journey straight into fantasy. We traveled to the otherworldly beauty of Hallstatt. It felt like jumping into a postcard, much like Mary Poppins and the Banks children jumping into a chalk drawing. Even the fog is picturesque! Our visit began with a boat ride on Lake Hallstatt.
And I managed to get the only selfie of the trip where a) we are both smiling, and b) neither one of us is holding a beer.
The Hotel Grüner Baum, where we stayed. It was probably the nicest hotel of all of them (and that's saying something!).
Literally the view out our hotel room window.
Hallstatt is tiny, but so worth exploring. There is an archaeological museum and a salt mine you can tour, but it's easy enough to spend an afternoon wandering around asking yourself, "How can this place even exist??"
The town is reputed to have been one of the inspirations for Arendelle, the kingdom in "Frozen."
My dad found this dude sitting outside one of the shops and decided to sit next to him, because "We're two grumpy old men." Dad didn't do such a great job of looking grumpy though.
Prost, Hallstatt!
