It sounds ungracious to say I was glad to leave Hallstatt, but I was glad we left this morning. Kenric’s family was there 35 years ago. He often spoke fondly of it. We know Hallstatt is now a famous vacation spot, but expected it to be quieter after the day trippers and tour groups leave on the last boat at 6:15 pm. Not really.

No Photos

During the day, tourists flood the town, screaming at each other to pose here, pose there, to retake the photo; talking unnecessarily loud; disregarding traffic signs and basic etiquette; ordering restaurant staff around rudely; etc. After years of such invasion, I understand why the locals are fed up with us, and are not shy about it. I have seen at least four of the same sign around town.

I was so focused on the words and the big “No Drone Zone” that I didn’t see the two little “No Photo” signs until now. There you go, another tourist that didn’t obey the signage. The sign says:

Frustrated Locals

On top of the rude hotel owner, the lady at the boat rental place tried to charge us for 1.5 hours even though we returned the boat in the 55th minute. At a restaurant, a server grabbed the paper napkins on the table, and threw them over the banana split I was still eating. She wasn’t malicious. Once she realized we weren’t done with it, she reflexively took the napkins out, and apologized. I didn’t resume eating, not that I needed it anyway. She was just generally frustrated, I guess. The group of tourists at the next table was indeed hella frustrating. It was also a very hot day.

I left Hallstatt feeling bad that we had encroached on the locals, and frustrated them in their home. Knowing what I know now, would I still have visited? Yes, but for fewer days. We would have avoided the market square area even more in hope of minimizing our role in this love-hate relationship.

Venting Machine

We went to the vending machine to get a bottle of orange juice, and a bottle of Coca-Cola to swish them around in our mouths. We had enough coins for only one – we went for #46 Multivit Juice. You guessed it. It ate our money. €2.20. Poof!