Day 10 - Hallstatt, Austria

The Parkers and we spent the day in Hallstatt, Austria (yes, I know we keep hopping back over that border, but we were literally right on the border!) The day started out pretty drizzly so we thought we could start out in the ice caves and maybe it would clear up by the time we were out. Sounded like a good idea???

Here is the cute Parker family trudging up the mountain to the ice caves in their matching rain ponchos. Those kids were troopers!

We traded wet (outside) for wet and REALLY cold (inside the caves)!

It was magnificent though! This is ice age ice!

Nathan smiling through chattering teeth, Just kidding! (sort of)

A view from the top when we got out of the caves. It did clear up a little and it did stop raining for a while.

We enjoyed some time browsing around Hallstatt. It is the "oldest still-inhabited village in Europe" It dates back to 800B.C. and there have been pre-Celtic artifacts found in the area from 1000B.C.! It is a beautiful little village nestled on the bank of a gorgeous mountain lake!

It is also home to the famous "Karner" or "Bone House". It has been used as a burial site since the 17th century. Yes, it was creepy!

But the town was anything but creepy, I would use the word "magical"!

It was neat to be in a place where people have lived for so long!

In the evenings Nathan and I had to drive down the mountain to a little payphone on the side of the road to use out calling card to call home and talk to the kids. Very dark and usually pouring rain, but we would never miss an opportunity to call home!