Austria holiday - September 2008

After failing to even start our planned two week holiday in California tagged on the end of one of Daddy's conferences - we were told at Newcastle Airport check-in that Liam needed his own passport to get into the States (he's been on his Mum's for his entire life), a minor technicality that eluded the otherwise thoroughly professional service we received from our travel agent and the Italian Consulate, but it's always the LITTLE DETAILS that matter, isn't it? - we looked around for somewhere else, and Valeria found Zell am See in Austria.

Zell am See town pictured from the top of Schmittenhöhe mountain (1967m, reached by cable car.

Zell am See town pictured from the lake, with the Schmittenhöhe mountain in the background (above); The lovely lake, taken from a pedalo with Liam steering (below). Imagine what all this looks like covered in snow, too...

I think it's fair to say we travelled more in hope than in expectation, but we have to report to everyone reading this, especially with young kids, that Zell am See itself (pictured) and the Hotel Stadt Wien (pictured) are both completely tremendous: a revelation.







The hotel had its own heated outdoor pool, which Liam LOVED. We had some little games we played, and after certain cues Liam had to swim toward me. He can't yet, but I alternated my hands pushing him up by his tummy while he thrashed his limbs (see pics), and he loved the danger of nearly drowning - or 'nearly swimming', as we preferred to think of it.

The town also has a couple of great outdoor public pools (pictured) on either side of the lake, the one across the water being particularly dramatic.

This is a lovely photo of Liam and Valeria lying down on their towels after a long swim.

Here is Liam steering our boat on the lake cruise - a peaceful way to while away an hour (provided Liam consented to eating his cheese sandwiches...)

We took two trips away from 'Zell', one a guided tour to Krimml waterfall and the other on public transport to an Animal Park/ Adventure Playground called Ferleiten. First up, Krimml.Krimml is apparently Europe's tallest waterfall, and is certainly gorgeous - but Valeria and I did see Iguazu on the Brazil-Argentina border on our honeymoon, and they are the falls by which all others (including Niagra) are judged.

Nevertheless, the forest hills you walk through to reach the summit are gorgeous, and the hour and a half it took to conquer Krimml was great fun, Liam alternating between walking two switchbacks and going on Daddy's shoulders. But he made it. Here he is at the start, looking like an intrepid, and slightly eccentric, explorer - replete with lollipop.Ferleiten, meanwhile, is about 45 minutes away by bus, and is a great little animal park, with bears and ibexes (long-horned goats, in essence), and has some good rides, notably the electric cars (see a home entry on the ones back in Durham elsewhere), and electric boats, as well - set in gobsmackingly fantastic mountain scenery. Here is Liametto Fittipaldi, tearing around the track.
So - notwithstanding the usual, expected disciplinary challenges (a seeming inability to eat any food prior to the 12th request and/or threat of a 'timne out' - we had a great break.

So good, we're planning on going back next year. Especially as kids under 12 stay for free.