{"id":14488,"date":"2016-08-30T11:38:50","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T11:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=14488"},"modified":"2016-08-31T19:15:34","modified_gmt":"2016-08-31T19:15:34","slug":"troll-castles-buttercup-eaters-austria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/troll-castles-buttercup-eaters-austria\/","title":{"rendered":"Troll Castles and Buttercup Eaters – Austria"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"troll<\/a><\/p>\n

I just had a few main aims on my birthday this year – to go up a mountain, come back down said mountain a bit later, read a book for at least an hour in peace, and to have a glass of champagne and maybe eat some chocolate at some point, that was honestly it…<\/p>\n

Location wise, thankfully all of the above was possible. \u00a0 I even managed (almost) an hour’s peaceful reading while the baby slept in the late afternoon – but by far the most memorable part of the day was the time we spent up here… My tiny butter cup eater <\/a>was most appreciative!<\/p>\n

\"Checking<\/a>
Checking out all the alpine flora and fauna<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"alpine<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Buttercups<\/a>
Buttercups everywhere, and no his hat isn’t pink, it’s red and white stripes!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, I am sure there are people who feel sorry for The Small people in terms of some of the places we have taken them to. How can Japan be interesting for children<\/a> for example? \u00a0Why do we constantly drag our children around cities like Vienna<\/a> or Budapest<\/a>? \u00a0And what on earth would possess us to make them trek around Berlin<\/a>? \u00a0 The list goes on and on… But as for dragging them up mountains all the time?!<\/p>\n

I like to feel I have answered a few of those questions in the links I have included above – but the mountain thing?How can they possibly be interesting for Small People? There’s nothing specifically aimed at them up there usually, especially when there’s no snow – just wide open nature and plenty of fresh fresh air…<\/p>\n

\"Mountain<\/a>
Nothing but fresh air and beautiful scenery?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, \u00a0apart from secretly thinking that it’s actually a good thing for children to be a little bored from time to time in life (it is<\/em> bloody boring at times isn’t it?) rest assured if we intentionally visit somewhere that might not be 100% of interest to the Small People, we will always make sure there is something aimed at them during the trip. \u00a0They usually pick out the best bits of the guide books to decide what we see!<\/p>\n

And when it comes to mountains in this part of the world, let me let you into a little secret… Of course there are alpine peaks that are left completely natural – and probably not that interesting if your children aren’t so much into nature and stunning scenery…<\/p>\n

\"family<\/a><\/p>\n

But then there are mountains like this, and the fantastic Hexnwasser<\/a> in Soll, where clever people have created complete mountain top paradises for small people – environments that the adults with them get to enjoy too, even if they aren’t aimed at us…<\/p>\n

This picturesque and quite dramatic looking Spruce Castle<\/a> is hand carved (by Wood Sprites apparently, although we had some arguments over the German translation when one of our party insisted they were trolls, so it’s henceforth known as Troll Castle in our house!) and without a single piece of plastic in sight!! \u00a0 A fabulous way to spend an afternoon, made even better if you bring a picnic – or your own charcoal and BBQ food (they have thought of nearly everything!)…<\/p>\n

\"Troll<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Troll<\/a><\/p>\n

\"troll<\/a><\/p>\n

We spent a lovely hour or so here once we had finished the “baby up a mountain” photo opportunity, and our relatively small hike (it was hot, and I had a lot to pack in if I wanted to tick everything off my birthday list!), where the Small People thoroughly enjoyed lots of climbing, plenty of exploration, and working out the answers to the wood sprite<\/del> troll quiz (prizes collected from the top here or at the restaurant at the bottom) and getting soaked\/cooling down in the water maze.<\/p>\n

\"completing<\/a>
Completing the quiz by embossing their cards, and somehow not whacking each other with that mallet!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"mountain<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Troll<\/a><\/p>\n

\"mountain<\/a><\/p>\n

I even got to enjoy a moment in the shade (I am English after all!) to \u00a0relax and enjoy the views whilst the Small Baby got in on the troll castle action with his dad… \u00a0See, something for everyone!!<\/p>\n

Then it was back down the mountain for chocolate consumption and a spot of champagne imbibing, and out of pure luck (not because it was my birthday!), strudel<\/a> night at the hotel<\/a> – quite possibly the best kind of birthday cake…<\/p>\n

\"back<\/a>
Back down the mountain again…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tips:<\/h3>\n