THE HIGH VALLEY OF HALLSTATT - Phil & Jill

After glorious sunny weather which we have enjoyed for weeks, some thunderstorms and heavy rain were predicted for the next two days We have seen the pretty village of Hallstatt at its best in the sun, but we haven't gone up to the Top of Hallstatt on the funicular. Well we actually attempted to do so yesterday but the crowds were so great and the queue so long that Phil didn't think he could manage it. I didn't show my best side ( !! ???)

about that but we came away and later took the ferry on a round trip from Hallstatt to Obertraun. At the beginning the weather was fine, but as often happens in the mountains, a thunderstorm erupted quickly when the ferry trip was nearly finished. We all scurried to find some shelter whilst staying in the top deck as we were approaching the church again and they say the best views are from being on the lake. It was still impressive in the gloom and as usual I couldn't stop clicking. Boy I am going to have a big job preparing my holiday photo albums. Still best not to think about that now.

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However good man that he is, Phil got us going early this morning (Sunday) and we were belting down the door of before the funicular got crowded with other tourists and at 9.00am we were on one of the first runs of the funicular which moves you up 838 m above sea level in around 5 minutes. Of course there is no person driving the funicular, it is all done by a press of the button at the control desk. The village of Hallstatt just got smaller and smaller. We felt as if we were racing to the clouds. We were fortunate that even though it had rained heavily overnight, the morning was fine. Cloudy but no rain.

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The so called 'World Heritage Sky Walk' is named because of the floating platform 350m above sea level that you walk out on, is standing free. The pointy shaped steel structure is located below the Rudolfsturn which was a former defensive tower, then the residence of the Salt Mine Manager and is now a restaurant. You can walk up the track to this point but the funicular, plus the panoramic bridge and the elevator has made it very accessible to everybody. The structure has a total weight of about 200 tons. A 60 m3 counterweight serves as a counter balance to allow the absolutely free 'floating' of the platform. It is breath taking.

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You walk out 12m to the tapered point from where everyone wants to have their photo taken. You can't help but to hold on to the railing but when you gaze out at the natural beauty of the mystical village of Hallstatt below, flanked wonderfully by the panorama of the Dachstein plateau and the reflections on the lake - you can't
help but to be happy to be alive. You look down on the world below. The ferries look like ants and the densely packed medieval town of Hallstatt appears mystical and picturesque. It is exquisite.

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Seemingly jutting out into nothingness the World Heritage view was offically dedicated in 2013 and is like a magnet to tourists. A definite highlight.

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