Hallstatt

We went to Hallstatt, a tiny village that has been settled since the Bronze Age.

They have made an exact copy of the town in China,

that's why the REAL Hallstatt is overrun by Chinese. 

 The mountains are pretty and the weather was perfect. 

 It was hot and the Chinese tourists were hiding in the shade.

 The Gothic altarpiece by Leonhard Astl had no visitors. 

 Neither did the Charnel House...

 where the painted skulls of former village inhabitants rest now.

 The picturesque cemetery is too small to hold more people. 

We took a seat on the steep, covered staircase leading up to the church.

Then we drove to Bad Ischl to have coffee at Zauner's.

Mr. Zauner made all the sweets for Emperor Franz Joseph.

I've never seen it this empty!

The cakes are still good!