Salzkammergut, Austria, Cut yourself some slack
Hi players,
I love challenges, so even when traveling, a time to rest and refresh, I push the itinerary to the most “effective” path—see more, Eat more, and Experience more.
Often, I need a vacation when I am back from vacation.
This time, I decided to cut myself some slack and take the easier path; therefore, this time, this blog will be shorter as well…
Here are some thoughts on taking it easy while enjoying it the most. Just another day…
Don’t plan so much.
The decision to travel to the lakes region in Austria (a three-hour drive from Vienna) took two days from inception to implementation. I had a rough idea of where to go; the rest was left to chance.
We took the time to put our feet in the lake and stare at the water, listening to the sounds of the waves hitting the rocks.
Drop the checklist and enjoy whatever unfolds.
Share the burden.
Every trip is different. Sometimes we travel with a group of strangers, sometimes with family or close friends. This time, it was just me and my hubby.
When on a journey, don’t do it alone; find the right partner to share the burden and the fun. It is better together.
There was no parking in Hallstatt, so we walked 45 minutes to the town—more time to play for me.
Don’t carry heavy weight.
I often think I need more knowledge, skills, and tools for the journey. You cannot climb high when your backpack is heavy.
Take only the necessary things.
Sometimes, all you need is just to be fully present. You carry a great weight within you.
No extra weight is needed.
Big view, small backpack😉
Check all your options before starting a journey. There might be an easier way.
The best views of the region are from the top. Almost all the lakes are surrounded by majestic mountains. You can hike, bike, or take a cable car up the hill.
As much as I love to walk, I took the easier way up in the cable car this time. When I reached the top, I had more energy to enjoy myself (and jump). Sometimes when we take the hard way and get to the top, we are so exhausted that we can no longer enjoy ourselves.
It is ok to take the easier way; no one will judge you when you are on the top as to how you got there.
Acknowledge your boundaries. Don’t over-push yourself.
It was noon.
We were a little tired when we arrived at a place that seemed like a leisurely walk in the mountains,
but as we looked at the map, our initial enthusiasm faded – it was a long walk up the hill.
We knew we could do it, and though I was tempted to go (my FOMO in action), I acknowledged that it was too much for today.
The lake was on the other side of the road, so we sat on the bench next to the water, put our feet in the water, and ate delicious fruit.
Boundaries are meant to be broken but also to be respected.
Stop to play and have fun.
You know me, I am all for fun. The mountain slides were great, and the slide from the top of the tree was fun, but I also did not miss the little children’s zipline next to the lake.
Don’t be afraid to behave like a child; no one really cares (but you when you take yourself too seriously) YOLO.
Mountain slides fun. Grunberg Mountain
We only had a short taste of the area. There is so much to see, but we took it easy 😉
We stayed the last night in Vienna to be close to the airport.
I got one more reassurance to acknowledge that cutting ourselves some slack is ok.
The sign that was waiting for me in the lobby of the hotel was:
“Don’t take life too seriously…Nobody gets out alive anyway.”
Playfully yours,
Rina😀
Our Itinerary (in a nut shell):
We were staying at: https://www.bauersepp.at/. Great location, wonderful hosts, and a tasty breakfast. 30-60 minutes drive to the main attractions in the area.
Day 1- Grunberg mountain, cable car to the tree top walk, Gmunden. https://gruenberg.info/en/
Day 2- St. Gilgen. https://www.zwoelferhorn.at/en/summer/. bad Ichl
Day 3- Hallstat. five fingers. https://dachstein-salzkammergut.com/
