Travelling with Stabilo #2: Destination - Hallstatt, Day 1

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I went to Nuremberg for my best friend’s wedding. After the wedding he asked me,

"So, where are you heading off to next?"
"I am going to Hallstatt, you know, the famous town that had been voted as the most beautiful small town in Europe?"
"Never heard of it."

Well, I guess this most beautiful town thing might have been just a hype amongst us Chinese. But still, I was determined to go. Even if it is not the most beautiful town in Europe, it must surely be close to it.

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Getting to Hallstatt from Nuremberg was not exactly easy. I needed to catch a ICE express train to Munich, from Munich to Salzburg, then catch a bus to Bad Ischl, from Bad Ischl catch a train to Hallstatt station, and then from the station catch a ferry across the Lake to Hallstatt town. I am usually a train person, so I was a bit anxious about catching a bus especially because I know zero German. But I was excited, as it was my first solo trip since my son was born 4 years ago.

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The trip was much smoother than I expected. There was a bit of confusion on which bus to get onto after getting out of Salzburg Hbf, but I got on the bus ok. The train ride was scenic as they always are in Europe, but the bus ride was particularly spectacular. The bus passed through Wolfgangsee Lake district, which is apparently one of the most popular domestic destinations for Austrians, and it is not hard to see why.

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After an enjoyable 5 hours journey, I finally got a glimpse of Hallstatt from the train across the Hallstattsee (See means Lake in German). And just as the train pulled into Hallstatt station, dark clouds can be seen floating across the lake. A storm was coming.

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By the time I found my AirBnB host I was soaking wet. She offered to give me a ride to my standalone studio on the next street. There was a huge puddle ankle deep just in front of the stairs, but I managed to wade across it without dropping my DSLR. She put a plank across the puddle so that I can actually get out of my apartment.

Luckily, the storm passed quickly because otherwise, I would have been stuck inside my studio with no food! As soon as the sky cleared out a bit I grabbed my camera and started to explore the town. The storm had not dampen the beauty of the town. In fact, the low lying clouds after the storm gave the town a bit of a mysterious veil.

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I walked alongside the lake and across the town. The one main street was dotted with tourists, with shops displaying colourful and tacky souvenirs enticing people to buy. Alleyways going uphill were lined with traditional Germanic Alpine houses with sharp roofs and wooden walls. Hallstatt is one of the oldest townships in Europe, dating back almost 3000 years. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Soon, it was pouring again and I ran into the nearby Church of Christ that was built in the 18th Century for the Protestants in Hallstatt. I watched people pray and candlelight sway while I waited for the storm to pass. It had been a long day. So as soon as the rain stopped I ran to the supermarket, grabbed some supplies and headed back to my studio for a well-deserved rest.

~To Be Continued~