Austria

August 7 to 29, 2010

steinplatte

alpine beach

After lunch we had the long awaited play time. We headed through the interpretive center and picked up some colouring sheets and activity pamphlets for the kids and then the kids changed into bathing suits and to the amazement of everyone, actually went in the icy waters of the little 'lake' which is touted as the highest alpine 'beach'. We had read about it on the internet but double checked that the kids were allowed in the water since no one else was going in. There was also a little raft that Samantha had fun on and a dinosaur alongside the lake that the kids liked. The lake seemed a lot larger last year but maybe that was cause it was so foggy we couldn't see the other side!

When the kids had enough of the cold water they changed back into their clothes and played at the playground a bit.

Samantha in her bathing suit ready to explore the highest beach in the alps.

Riding the dinosaur at Triassic park.

A giant piece of driftwood on the beach is always lots of fun!

Time to check out the shallow pools.

Sam starts by dunking her head.

And then comes the front float which made a couple of tourists turn their head and gasp!

Enjoying triassic park with the coral reef cliffs of Steinplatte in the background.

A great day for relaxing at Triassic Park.

Opa watches our stuff as the kids play in the water.

Bubbles!

While Christopher is fascinate by the bubbles, Sam plays on the raft.

Rubby and Christopher join Sammy on the raft. Don't get your shoes wet Rubby!

Christopher working on his own private pool.

Samantha had a blasat with the other kids on the raft.

Of course, riding the dinosaur also seemed to be a lot of fun!

Christopher decides to brave a lake crossing to join Sam on the dinosaur.

Half way across the lake!

Almost there!

Christopher is a little skeptical about the dinosaur at first.

But soon it's all hugs and kisses from head to toe!

Christopher and his new buddy.

After playing in the frigid waters, Sam warms up at the playground.

Opa's still guarding the bags... but wait, he's eating all our snacks!

Sliding and climbing.

After Christopher waited his turn patiently for an eternity, finally asked the kid who'd been on it for the last half hour to give Christopher a turn. The kid reluctantly got off but stood there the whole time while Christopher had his turn.

Dig, dig, dig! Nothing!

It's so nice to actually have the real-life panorama, not just the signposted one!

One of the thieves hanging around the restaurant.

Sam plays on another digger.

Then Christopher has a turn.

The other boys went back to hogging the diggers but the parents seem to care neither that no other kids are getting a chance nor that their own boys are fighting between each other.