Hallstadt, Austria and Linz, too! {Europe Trip, Part IV}

This was probably one of my favorite days of the trip- (Except that Manuela wasn't with us.  The little ones needed a regular day with mommy in the midst of our visit, so she stayed at home this day).  We visited a small 'quintessential Austrian' village up in the Alps.  Situated right on a lake in the midst of towering mountains, this small village had a charm like no other place I had ever been.  We had the most gorgeous weather we could have asked for.  So amazing!  I hope to go back again someday!  We met a couple from the US there who come to Europe every year and were returning to this village in particular after 20 years.  The man has had a picture of his wife in this village on his desk at work for the last 20 years.  He thought he should update the picture!  It was fun to meet them.
Hallstadt was just about 2 hours from the Erlacher's home, and a beautiful drive through the mountains.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!

My love and I

Took this picture to have the Hallstadt name on the side of the boat.

Storybook material, I tell you!

Love the flowers and vines.

Kenneth tried to make friends. . .the swam just hissed at him.

The houses go right up the hillside.

More ice-cream! Love the flowers! (and the house, of course)

There I am with my ice-cream in front of a house owned by Pilzes.  Notice the gray sign above my head.

We had planned on taking a trip on the big Hallstadt boat  in the picture above until we realized we could rent this little one for less money.  It was perfect.  I was the captain first, then Dirk took over so I could be photographer.

From the boat

Another from the boat

See how the village is squished between the lake and the mountain?  That's what makes it so cool!

A 'castle' across the lake from Hallstadt.

Amazing scenery

Hallstadt from the middle of the lake.

A hotel or two and the church

Kenneth, loving life!

There were also swan boats for rent.

I love the colors of the buildings and all the flower boxes on each balcony!

I made Kenneth pose so I could get a picture of that cute couple in the background in traditional dress.  They still wear it sometimes just to go out, Dirk says!

The swan again.  Amazing!

The main town square.  All the kids came for ice-cream after school.

Ah, the mountains!

A house we passed on the way back to the parking lot.

House right next to the parking lot with a field of sheep to the side.

View from the side of the road on the drive home.  It was so pretty we asked Dirk to pull over so we could take a picture!

On the way home, we stopped by a grocery store and bought amazing Austrian breads and pastries.  So delicious!  (Although at this point, I really needed some vegetables!)  We stopped in Linz on the way home.  These next few are Linz:

Cathedral in Linz- it is huge!

Streetcar in Linz.  I thought the gnomes were cute and that the kids would get a kick out of seeing it. 

Had to take a picture of a bakery.  Delicious!

Linz from a look-out point.

Church right by the look-out point.

A glorious day!  Only one more day of sightseeing left.