This morning we got up super early and left the house at around 7:30am to get to the salt mines of Berchtesgaden. We had to leave early so that we got there close to when it opened. I read that the later you go, the longer you have to wait in line. It’s close to Salzburg, so it’s too bad that we couldn’t do both of these things at one time. Anyways, when we got there, it was pretty empty, and we got on our miner’s clothes and we just made it in time to catch the train.

The salt mine people were really smart. They figured, no one would come to see the mines if it was just the mines. So what they did was build a small train and some slides as an attraction and so now they have tons of visitors. I don’t think it’s something to see just in itself, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, it’s definitely worth a visit. We had a short train ride on the small train, then we got out and walked to the slide. I was expecting a gynormous slide because in the brochure, it looks huge. Turns out it was just the wide angle lens. It’s actually pretty small (maybe 2 stories), but it was still fun. There was also a pretty cool movie about how the salt got there and the process they use to get it out. We learned a lot about the salt! It was kind of irritating because the tour guide dude was German and would speak to the German people, then they would all leave the area, and he would press a button and the English version would play. But we felt like we were missing something. He also told some jokes in German that wasn’t on the English version! Not fair! Anyways, there was then yet another slide and a vernicular (sp?) and then the train ride back. I was really looking forward to the raft ride, but it was broken or they no longer was doing it. We did pass by the lake and it didn’t look anything at all like what the picture showed. Kind of dingy. All in all, it was a fun time and I’m glad we went. Of course we had to buy the pictures they were peddling. I thought it would be 10 euros each, but they were fair about it and it was 4 euros or 3 for 10 euros, totally reasonable.

After that, we searched in vain to find a rodellbahn (one of those slide things), we had to pay 10 euros just to drive on that mountain. Instead of just wasting that money, we stopped, walked a little and got a nice view. Michael made my mom spin around like in “The Sound of Music” and took some pictures.

Then we went to a mountain (can’t remember the name) nearby and went up the lift. The lift was a 2 person car, and it was super hot in there! 2 tiny windows all the way down did NOT help at all. We were all dying! We finally got to the top and had a nice view and lunch. The food at these places aren’t all that good, but better than nothing I guess. Alas, we couldn’t stay very long and had to head back. On the way down, it was much cooler, I guess because the wind was blowing against the car and going in a little.

We were all tired when we got home, but I don’t think as tired as the time we took the boys! Dad made his stir fry…mmm.mmm.good!