So, time to catch up on the past two days... this may take a while.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was another travel day to get from Bratislava, Slovakia, to Hallstatt, Austria. I left my hostel at 9:30am and just made the 10:30am ferry from Bratislava to Vienna. What a trip! A beautiful ride down the Danube.
 |
| Bratislava |
 |
| The windswept look |
 |
| A beautiful, ruined castle |
 |
| Another angle of the castle |
 |
| A different castle! |
Then in Vienna, I had to find the underground, get a train to the main train station, get above ground, get to the main train station above ground, then find my train (I had about half an hour to do this, and I did).
 |
| Yay! |
I successfully got off at my next stop, missed my connecting train trying to figure out if it was the right one, took another train one stop and caught up to the train I missed. Running on sheer, dumb luck.
 |
| The view from the train to Hallstatt |
Then a ferry from Hallstatt station to Hallstatt.
 |
| First view of Hallstatt |
 |
| Off the back of the ferry |
Upon arrival in Hallstatt, I followed my map and went in the wrong direction. I eventually found my Air B&B.
 |
My Air B&B
My room is at the top with the orange in the windows |
 |
| The view from my window |
I went out for tea and admired the view. I don't think I've ever spent so long admiring the view.
Today (Wednesday) I went to the Five Fingers. I couldn't find where to catch the bus, so I walked there. Turns out it was about 7km away. And I think I climbed halfway up the mountain (well, it felt like it). But I didn't get very lost at all! Impressive considering it was me and I had no idea where I was going.
First thing to do was to take a cable car to the middle station.
 |
| Cable car! |
With an all inclusive ticket, I started with the Mammoth Cave, so named because it's about 68km long.
 |
After about 50 minutes, we'd walked through less than
1% of the cave |
 |
| It would take about 2 ¹/₂months to explore the whole cave |
Then on to the Ice Cave! The coldest part is about -1° at the moment (summer).
 |
| The oldest ice is no more than 500 years old |
 |
| Stalactites! |
 |
| The different colours denote different thicknesses of ice |
 |
This was 3 high when they found it
It's now 9 metres high |
Some amazing views all around...
 |
The exit of the ice cave
This is a natural entrance to the cave |
 |
| The view from the exit of the ice cave |
 |
| Astounding valley |
 |
| Cable car to the top station! |
 |
| The top of the mountain - and snow in summer! |
Here I had a look at the resting place.
 |
| So many mountains! |
 |
| Someone trying to take off... |
 |
| ...and succeeding! |
 |
| Found this sign |
 |
| Home is that way |
 |
| Wow |
 |
| Mountains everywhere |
 |
| A nice, relaxing spot |
 |
| Mountains just fading into the distance |
Then I walked out to the Five Fingers. So much walking! But the views are worth it.
 |
| Looking down at the lake |
 |
| The light bit on the left shore is Hallstatt |
 |
| Rocky mountainsides |
 |
| Tree-covered mountainsides |
 |
| Enjoying the view |
 |
| Picture perfect |
 |
| Amazing |
 |
| I was leaning back here, and found out I have a fear of falling |
 |
| What a backdrop |
 |
| Roads in the valley |
 |
| The mountainside below the Fingers |
 |
| Rocks, trees, and natural beauty |
I found a different place for tea tonight, and once again enjoyed the view. I don't know what tomorrow has in store, I shall decide in the morning!
No comments:
Post a Comment