Incredible Hallstatt

Every now and then I find a place that exceeds my expectations, even when the conditions aren't ideal and my research ahead of time indicated I was in for a treat. Such was the case for Hallstatt, Austria, today. It had been a relatively long (3.5 hours or so) drive from Vienna, and I had in my mind an incredible vision of an alpine town on a lake, based on photos I had seen when conducting research about the area. When I drove into the area, however, I was in awe. It is simply amazing, and it will humble you immediately. The mountains rise up so quickly, and the lake is so peaceful, and the town is so perfectly blended with the two, that it creates an idyllic scene.

I took the opportunity to rent a small electric boat in order to get out onto the lake and benefit from a better vantage point. It was an amazing experience. The only problem is that the viewer of a photos such as this suffers twice. First, there is the suffering of not having been in such an incredible place as I had the privilege of visiting today. Second, there is the suffering of realizing that photographs simply cannot capture the experience of being in such a magical place. I did my best to capture what it was like, but I assure you I have failed miserably, and you're going to have to go there yourself to see what I'm talking about. I promise it is worth the effort.