April 30th Hallstatt Austria

Today we took the train to Hallstatt, Austria.  In the bronze age there is an entire era called the Hallstatt Era which was from 750 to 450 BC.  This is because it is the sight of one of the most important, and earliest found, salt deposits in Europe.  The Celtic word for salt is Hal, so that's how the name came about.  The Romans took over later to mine salt for the empire.  In the pictures today you will find a picture of a Roman  steam bath that was excavated under what is now a sports shop.  Hallstatt is on a big lake.  The town is trapped between the lake and the mountains, and the town is built up the side of the mountain.  When you arrive by train a boat meets the train and ferries you across the lake to the town.  This was one of the best days of our trip.  Hallstatt is one of the most calm, quiet, and relaxing places we have ever been.  We bought food in a store and had a picnic next to the lake.  There is not much land in the town.  When you die you get buried for ten years, then the dig you up.  They put the dug up bones in a chapel by the Catholic Church.  All these bones and skulls are on display in the chapel.  See the picture below.  Hallstatt was just beautiful.

SOME PICTURES OF HALLSTATT

THE HOUSE IN THE BOTTOM LEFT WAS ACROSS THE LAKE FROM HALLSTATT

 NONETTE WEIGHING AND PRICING THE PRODUCE AT THE STORE.

YOU PUT IN THE NUMBER OF THE FRUIT AND THE MACHINE WEIGHS AND PRICES THEM AND PRINTS A TICKET

ME ON THE BENCH READY FOR LUNCH

THE EXCAVATED ROMAN STEAM BATH UNDER THE SPORT SHOP

SKULLS AND BONES OF THE DEPARTED (MORE THAN 10 YEARS DEPARTED)

THE CURRENT LOT OF DEPARTED ( LESS THAN 10 YEARS)

GEORGE AND LA QUITA I SAW A WHOLE HERD OF HOGS IN HALLSTATT

THIS HOUSE DATES FROM 1597.  BELOW IS A PICTURE OF THE HOUSE.

WHEN WE GOT BACK TO SALZBURG, WE WENT TO THE MARKET AND THESE CHOCOLATE AND CINNAMON PRETZELS FOLLOWED US BACK TO OUR ROOM 

THE CHOCOLATE ONE IS ABOUT A FOOT IN DIAMETER

ONE PINT OF MILK AND IT DISAPPEARED