We went to Austria last weekend, to find the snow (it still hasn’t arrived properly down here) and for a long over due catch up with friends staying in the area.
Our home for the night was in Saalfelden (on the edge of Berchtesgaden), a gorgeous dorf of Heidi style dimensions… There seems to be nothing here but mountains, white (snow and cloud!), green (grass and trees!) and beautiful alpine buildings. And along with such glorious unspoilt vistas, comes something equally precious – silence. That rare kind of silence which makes you realise you might actually have tinnitus, broken only by the odd rumbling mooo from the resident dairy cattle on our farm. Did I mention we were staying on a farm? Quite literally too – a huge part of the barn was below us (you would never have guessed, the accommodation was extremely comfortable – not that we saw altogether that much of it!), and shortly after meeting our new found furry friends, it was christened Ferdinand’s House thanks to the infamous story of a peace loving Bull that’s a huge favourite amongst the smaller members of our family (in fact most bovines they meet now get called Ferdinand, regardless of gender!)…
Ferdinand and Family…
We spent a few minutes topping up vitamin D levels on the rather handsome alpine balcony, before it was time to make tracks to nearby Maria Alm (which I loved by the way, it’s a really sweet little resort!) – but not before I vowed to myself to get up at the crack of dawn the next morning to catch the sunrise, with that scenery, it would seem rude not to….
Skis and boots hired for the Small people (I am not buying them when they are growing so quickly!), it was time to catch up with the friends from the UK – also here in search of the snow (incidentally, if you are about to embark on a family ski trip, you might appreciate a recent article I wrote for BritMums – you can read it here!)… This particular group might not hail from these parts, but they now how to enjoy every single aspect of this kind of holiday – which meant that getting up for the sunrise the next morning was not a particularly easy task… But I managed, and having struggled with the blinds for a few minutes (armed with my camera for the dawn), I finally managed to open them to reveal the foggiest morning I have seen in a very long time (the photo below was taken a good few hours later!)…
Thankfully the cloud obliged and lifted a few hours later, so the more intrepid members of my family were rewarded with glorious sunshine in which to enjoy their favourite pastime of chucking themselves down mountains. And me? I got to indulge in one of my favourite pastimes, a chat with an old friend (who sadly couldn’t ski thanks to a broken wrist!) some caffeine imbibing, and a trip to the top (I’m fond of those!) in a cable car for lunch…
And once all mountains had been conquered (and lessons for small people completed), the sledges came out, and the last drops of energy were burned up in the remaining daylight before the drive home (I will never get used to the fact that we are able to do that here!).
And I might have partaken in a spot of speed sledging myself, albeit accidentally – I trod on the corner of a flat plastic sledge helping the six year old halfway up a slope, and have the bruise to show for it… Until next time!
Scenic drive home
Love the mist in the mountains! The cows are lovely too :) Great post, congrats. Good luck and safe travels!
Thank you Luna! :) Safe travels to you too! :)
Great post! We’ve driven through some of the rural parts of Austria and have always been blown away by the scenery. Unfortunately, we always seem to be in a rush and never take the time to stop and visit some of the beautiful small towns we pass – something I guess we will have to stop now. Safe travels!
They are well worth spending time in I have found! Thanks Travis, you too! :)
I’m not a morning person, but that view would be worth getting up for!
And I like your name for the place – even without the horns, those are some pretty Ferdinandish cows.
Thanks Jess! :D
You know I do love a good cow #milky
Wouldn’t be any chocolate without them would there? :D Thank you…
I love Austria it is so beautiful – wonderful photos :)
Thanks so much Swazi! :)
WOW those shots are breathtaking! x
Thanks Fritha! :)
I love all the morning and fog images, it looks so perfect for an Austrian getaway, thanks for the trip. Hope you can also link up your post for Travel Photo Mondays, the link is up for the entire week, hope you can join us.
Thanks Noel… Will pop over tomorrow! :)
Sounds and looks like a divine trip. (Minus the final ‘trip’ on the sledge that you made!) I would so be with you on the caffeine imbibing, cable car riding, view appreciating approach. And probably on the falling over too!
I am so clumsy! :D Thanks Mary! :)
I’m not a fan of fog but these photos are stunning!
Thanks Laura! :)
Wow, those pics are stunning. I’m rather jealous. Can’t wait to move out of the greyness that passes for Winter here in the UK. Glad you all had a good time :)
It was pretty grey here today too… Thanks Emily! :)
Looks like you had a brilliant time – your photos are brilliant x
Thanks Cass! (:
wow such beautiful pictures! looks like an amazing place
Thanks Anna (:
How beautiful is that!!! Austria is stunning! And your pictures! Your pictures! Love the one of the cows, and the church in mist – so stunning. How lucky you are to live in a place where it’s so easy to go skiing – bet the children absolutely love it! X
Thank you… I think they think it’s quite normal now, but they will be in for a shock when it’s time to move on one day! :D xx
Just wanted to echo another comment thanking you for sharing this great post with this week’s Sunday Traveler link-up!
This looks like a really great place and I have to commend you for your amazing photos you have here! Hopefully we will be heading over to Austria sometime soon to experience this for ourselves but this post certainly encourages folks to visit!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! I am glad you like the photos too! :)
Looks beautiful
I’m not a cold weather person it makes me moody lol but I think wrapped up warm enough I could cope for the sheer beauty
Thanks Laura, it is indeed beautiful! :D
It has always been a dream to visit Austria. Your beautiful pictures have just reminded me why.
Thanks so much Vaichin! :)
Austria is never somewhere I’ve had on the list but recently I’ve seen lots of stunning photos and there is so much to see, especially in the summer when the snow has gone! Favourite film is Sound of Music!!
Well then it’s completely perfect for you! Salzburg is lovely, but I think Vienna is my favourite! :) Thanks Anna!
I’ve never been to Austria, but desperately want to. I’ll admit I don’t ski because I tore my ACL last year doing so and it’s now about the only thing I’m terrified of doing, but I’d go for those views and the cows! Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler this week :)
I just go for the views and the cows too, don’t worry! I couldn’t hope to keep up with my expert husband, and the children would now over take me too! :D
It looks so beautiful there and you capture the scenes so well.
Thanks Fiona! :)
What a beautiful place and how lovely that you can drive there.
Thank you Gretta! We are lucky in this respect, and shall make the most of it whilst we are here! :D
What a fabulous place – you were so lucky to spend the weekend there.
Thanks Fiona! I know, I need to remember that sometimes! :D
Emma, this sounds like a holiday from heaven! And your pics are stunning, make me miss Switzerland so much this time of the year!
I bet, Switzerland is a gorgeous place! Thanks Oana! :)
Ohhhhh this looks a great place to be right now. I love the name Ferdinand, but those poor girls…. why can’t they call them Ferdinandia?
Thank you! They didn’t even get names poor thing. The big dark brown one was Ferdinand and that was it! :D
Thanks heaps for linking up to #SundayTraveler. My comment still stands about the names. I am sad for the wee ones who never got a name… poor little beef steaks. I’ll also go and pin this now, hope that’s okay.
Of course it’s OK… Thank YOU! :)
A fantastic weekend adventure – love the look of the horse and ‘sleigh’ would have had to have a go on that. x
Thanks Mum… If you look closely it has wheels too, genius! :D xx
Austria is on the men of the house list here!
And I think they would like it! Thanks Jen! :)
Fabulous post and the photos are wonderful as usual – especially love the balcony and the last one. Looks like a really great trip :)
Thank you Charly! :)
Those cows, those cows, love that shot! #BetterPhotosProject
Thanks Luci! :)
Oh my gosh! Those views! That last picture is something special :)
Thanks Keri-Anne! That picture makes me laugh, he is such a little speed demon! :D
oh my goodness i just drool at your pictures so different to anything you get in the uk i swear you live in fairy land your children will look back on their childhood with adventure what a gift you have given them #CountryKids
I hope they will look back on it in fondness one day, thanks Helen! xx
Wow that is so beautiful! I would love to visit some day. Stunning photos x
Thanks Charlotte! You should! :)
Wow that looks truly amazing. Makes me want to go to Austria try our 1st family skiing trip.
And I couldn’t recommend a better place. Have a look at Maria Alm, it’s so beautiful, and has some good runs!
It is so beautiful. I love the mountains. We always argue over where we would retire…the mountains or the sea. I have not been to ski in years which is a shame. We had to trek a bit to find snow this year as well but no skiing just chucking it around and grabbing a lovely lunch.
Thanks Brina, I think skiing is like riding a bike, you never forget! You should be able to pick it up again in no time! And as for retiring, it’s a tough one, having lived next to both now I can’t decide! :D
Ferdinand the bull, sitting in the shade smelling the flowers – one of my favourite childhood books. Thanks for reminding me.
Just breathtaking photographs – I can just smell that beautiful clean air.
Thank you Trish… Such a lovely book isn’t it? xx
How brilliant to be able to drive to the slopes for the day – though quite like the thought of sitting on that alpine balcony too… looks gorgeous!
Thank you T! :) xx
I love Austria, I stayed in Zell am Zee.
You have great photos. I would love to go back!
Zell am Zee is lovely too! Thank you Mellissa! :)
Some very nice pictures .x
Thanks Hannah! :)
Wow those photos are gorgeous. I hope we get to visit one day. We have a dream of taking a driving holiday through Europe when the kids have grown up and moved out!
Thanks Shell! That sounds lovely! :)
I always love your photography but I absolutely adore the photos in this post! Wonderful and I loved reading all about your trip. Maybe I need to add a skiing holiday to my ‘must-do’ holidays ;-) I did go on one myself years ago but my son hasn’t!
xx Jazzy
I bet he would love skiing too! Thanks Jazzy xx
What stunning photos, Austria is so beautiful and how wonderful to have those views from the veranda. The sledging sounds like fun and our children would definitely enjoy throwing themselves down snow covered mountains – it all sounds very idyllic. Thanks for linking up and sharing your winter fun with Country Kids.
Thank you Fiona (:
That looks absolutely beautiful. I’ve always fancied visiting Austria.
I really like Austria, it’s stunning, and the people are really lovely…
So so pretty . Makes me want to go there
You should, you should! :D
This takes me back to watching Heidi as a child! Super jealous! I am off to daydream of holidays now….
It really reminds me of Heidi too, every time! :D
Lovely photos, the Alps are such a beautiful part of the world. #betterphotoproject
Thank you Hellie! :)
Love the photographs, very atmospheric. I lived in Austria for a while so your posts bought back memories!
Thanks Christine! :)
Looks gorgeous and like you all had so much fun (except for the bruise part!! – hope it has healed) #CountryKids
I will live! Thank you… :D
What a stunning view x
Thank you Carolin! :) xx
beautiful – am singing Heidi songs (not sure where Heidi hails from) anyhow… I utterly snorted at the last paragraph!
I love that you always manage a small disaster/hiccup – it’s a special skill! I am proud of you. I shall be disappointed if future posts do not include one of these anecdotes. (soz)
Thank you, it’s a big part of being me! :D Heidi is actually Swiss, but did believe spend some time in Austria and Bavaria as well! :D xx
I am going to have to admit that you probably know Austria better than me… sigh. I am SUCH a Pseudo Austrian….
I bet I don’t! :D Thanks Maggy! :) x
I am so envious!
Bet you wouldn’t be jealous of my bruise! :D Thank you…
Lovely photos as always
Thanks very much Mary! :)
I am jealous it looks glorious. What a beautiful place. Elinor x
Thank you Elinor. We are lucky to have it on our doorstep! :) x
Beautiful pics. When I saw the title of this, I wondered if ‘Ferdinand’ had anything to do with the bull – that’s my absolute most favourite children’s story. I even have a fairly original copy of it, sourced from a bookseller in the States no less.
A gorgeous book isn’t it? Jealous of your original copy too… Thank you! :) xx
I’ve always been a big Ferdinand fan, too! This place is so beautiful–it seems you had a great time!
Thank you Di… It’s a beautiful place isn’t it? We shall return! :D
Lovely balcony, Lovely drive home. The snowy bit in the middle : meh! Lol
Hahaha… You actually sound a bit like me! My poor old husband definitely married the wrong person when it comes to skiing! :D
Austria is a beautiful country. Sounds like you all had a marvellous time! : )
Thanks Louisa, it was lovely! :)