Seegrotte and Burg Liechtenstein

Today we went to Europe´s largest subterranean lake that can be used by boat. It is in an old gypsum mine 60 meters under a mountain in the town of Mödling. We took a boat and looked at the fabulous light effects and reflections.
The mine was started in 1846. During World War II the Nazis built jet engines in these mines. They had to drain the lake to do that.
This was our tour guide.
This picture was taken by the "small lake" which is right above the "big lake."

Around the corner from the mine is Burg Liechtenstein. This was the first castle of the Dukes of Liechtenstein. It was started by Hugo of Liechtenstein in the 1130s. Later those guys moved out West to where they have their own little country now.

We decided to tour the castle.

This is the main entrance. They didn´t let us take pictures inside.
The castle sits on a light colored rock which was the namesake of the Dukes. "Liechtenstein" means "light (colored) stone."

Schneeberg

Today we went to Lower Austria´s highest mountain. It is called Schneeberg, which means "Snow Mountain." They have snow up there all year. It is about 1800 meters above sea level.

We took a special rack-railway up the mountain. The train made a stop where we could buy "Buchteln" - a local delicacy.
This was our train. It is called Salamander.

This was on the summit. The church in the back was dedicated to Empress

Elisabeth after her assassination. This was the end of the Salamander.

We checked out the church....

... and the view.

Thomas looked at the Jackdaws.

It was cool up there but the view was great!

We also found some snow.

And we found a cabin for some food:

Thomas had a great Schnitzel!

We found some gentian.Here is a close up of this famous Alpine flower.

We ran up to the cross at the summit.

Here we are!

Kahlenberg

Today we drove up to Kahlenberg, one of the mountains around Vienna.

The view was beautiful.

Then we went to Elisabeth and Bernhard´s house and had dinner together.

FLAK Tower Aquarium

We went to Tichy´s ice cream salon.
Later we had some hot chocolate.

Then we climbed an old Nazi FLAK Tower. It houses a great aquarium today.
Thomas is on one of the platforms where the anti aircraft guns were located.

Then he climbed into one of the air bubbles under one of the aquariums.

Trolley Museum

We went to the Trolley Museum today.
We saw Thomas´ favorite classic trolley.

We saw a J line, which doesn´t exist any more.

Fairy Tales Woods

It is always nice at the Heurigen.
We went to an amusement park called Märchenwald -
Fairy Tale Woods.

Gerda came with us.

We went on the Roller Coaster.

Thomas went on the large slide.

Thomas had a liver dumpling soup...

.... and some Wurst.

Technology Museum Vienna

We went to the Technology Museum today and saw an old Steyr Baby.
This is the miracle machine. It takes 10 minutes to run and is powered by kids on a crank.

We measured how loud Thomas could scream.

We checked out the pulleys.

We put Thomas in a hamster wheel.

And we played with water.
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