Our next to last day in Europe includes travel book-ended by some fun. In the morning we visit the Hallstatt salt mines, the oldest salt mine in the world (since 5000 BC.) Then travel to Rothenburg Germany on those award winning German roads. We end our day with finding some nice rooms right in the old village of Rothenburg, a great German meal, and the night watchman's tour.

More awards (based only on our personal experience.) Award for best vegetables - goes to Switzerland. If only we could get carrots this good in PA! They taste great, don't look like they have been mangled by some machine and are real carrots, not those crazy mini ones. Award for most helpful person - goes to that guy in Switzerland who told us (in English) we can go through the detour even though the road was closed off. It saved us a LOT of time - he must have been an angel send from God! Award for best place to relax - goes to the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest. You could really sit around and pamper yourself, have fun moving around with the currents in the water, get in; hot water, cold water, warm water, any kind of water - whatever you wish - it is there.

Here is a summary of the day in photos:

Our breakfast in Obertraun Austria. Actually, the first time we had breakfast provided for us like this.

It really has been cool while we have been traveling. Now Ian and Nic don't have to sleep together, but they enjoyed playing under the big comforters.

Looking back towards Hallstatt Austria from the salt mine cable car high on the mountain.

Nic casts his spell on the salt blocks in the mine. Maybe it was the mining clothes that gave him the extra juice.

Ian sets the speed record on the long slide inside the mine at 35 kph. This is actually how the miners used to get down in long ago.

The boys in their duds, sitting on the train that brought us out. The USA safety folks would have cringed at this tour. Not that we felt in danger, but the usual USA idea to protect everyone from killing themselves if they do something stupid just doesn't exist here.

After arriving in Rothenburg we head for the night watchman's tour starting from here - market square.

Typical Rothenburg street scenes.

The night watchman himself. A very interesting historical tour of Rothenburg with just the right amount of funny stuff mixed in.

This is Pension for the evening Pension Becker.

View from the old city wall this evening after the tour.