Austria
August 7 to 29, 2010
kaiserwelt
hike back to westendorf
At about 3 pm we decided we had to wrap things up in order to make it back to the lift in time. The kids got in a few last rides in the playground and then we headed off. Rubby carried Christopher much of the way since we were in a hurry but Samantha hiked it all herself. We took a slightly different route back and had enough time to stop and pick up some malachite and azurite rocks as souvenirs.
Back at the lift the kids were super excited to get to ride in the "Barbie" lift. (Some of the gondolas have advertisements for the tourism office and the kids thought the woman on the advertisements was Barbie!) Back in Brixen we had just 15 minutes to get to the tourism office to get our bronze Brixen hiking pins for all our stamps that we'd collected. Then just a few food stops (bakery, butcher shop and grocery store) and off we went back home.
Dinner of Fleischkassemmeln and leftover Marillenknoedln for the kids. Then time to relax, recharge batteries (literally and figuratively!) and off to bed.
On the way home, Sam stops to milk a cow.
The mystery of the wooden cow revealed.
A last glimpse to the Kaisergebirge.
Mountain boy.
On the way down we take more shortcuts across the pastures rather than following the windy road.
Looks like another storm is brewing... got to hurry to make it back to the lift before it closes!
Another shortcut, but this one is a little trickier.
We're in a hurry but there's always time to stop and collect some minerals - azurite and malachite.
Sam wanted a picture with her and the skiing penguin.
Christopher goes for a horsey ride while Sam tries out the bouncy castle.
The kids are excited to get a "barbie" lift.
Although it was threatening rain, it was sunny and warm back in Brixen.
The church and fountain in Brixen.
A quick trip to the butcher shop.
Lots of yummy foods!
What you don't get from the pictures is the amazing smell.
"Opa's flower".
Stopping to get a couple of groceries on the way home.
Admirable wood stacks.
Opa checks out some of the local metal craftsmanship.
He seemed less than thrilled when we suggested he take a look at some crosses for his grave. ;-)
A peek into a local garden.
The squash seemed to enjoy the sunny side of the garden wall.
A hawk of some sort on the way home.
Choo-choo train!
The 3 km hike from the lift station in Brixen back to Westendorf
can seem long after hiking and playing on the mountain all day.
The kids were amused by the peeing boy fountain.
All the mountain peaks have a cross at the top... even the smallest ones. ;-)
Samantha hiding behind the geraniums.
The big wood oven in the foyer.
The kids having leberkaes sandwiches for supper.
Our collection of Austrian jams in the fridge.
Rubby's scars for the day.
After a day of fresh mountain air the kids never have troubles falling asleep!
-= end of this day =-
austria menu:
still to come:
august 20-29