We went back to the room to get our stuff together and Leah made up a game that lasted for the rest of the trip. In the room there was this little mat to put your shoes on and a plastic shoe horn. To Leah, they became a baking sheet for her cake and the knife that served the cake. She and Cam fought over and played with the two things until the moment we stepped out of the room every day, and they both went running for it as soon as we got back. Who needs two backpacks full of toys and a DVD player when you have a plastic tray and shoe horn??
Leah cutting and serving her cake
We headed over to Salzbergwerk, a salt mine that you can tour.
Checking out the river that flows in front of the salt mine. The water was a really neat color and it was flowing quickly so the kids thought it was really cool.
View from the top of the visitor center. There are mountains out there somewhere.
We had a bit of time to wait before our tour started. Here is Cam checking out a giant salt rock.
Leah being super cute.
They called out tour and we went in to get our salt miner outfits. The last time I was here (I think 15+ years ago), the outfits were a pair of pants, a button down shirt and leather butt cover (for going down the slides). They have upgraded, apparently, because now the outfits are pretty cool coveralls with the butt cover built right into them. Here is Leah modeling her adorably tiny coverall outfit.
Leah and Daddy
There was a school group with us and they were all oohhinng and aaahhing over Cameron and Leah and how cute they were.
Family picture in our coveralls
To start the tour, we got on a little train and rode into the mine. The kids loved this part because the train went very fast and the tunnel was pretty narrow. If Tim or I would have stood up or leaned to the side a little bit, we definitely would have hit our head. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures inside, but they took our picture a few times and we could buy them (of course!). Here is a picture of everyone on our train car.
Once inside, they explained the salt mining process and how the mine came to exist with a series of displays, things to look at, interactive monitors and even a laser light show. The coolest part was two slides that they had that you used to go to a lower level of the mine. That is where the butt cover came into play - the leather helped you slide down the slide without your butt getting too warm. We got to slide together as a family. At first the kids were a bit tentative because it was a HUGE slide, but after we did the first one they loved it and wanted to go again.
There was also a boat ride across a salt lake and a spot to taste a bit of the salty water. Leah tried it and thought it was funny tasting. Daddy tried it and couldn't get the horrible taste out of his mouth for the rest of the day! To get back to the start of the mine, we rode on a cogwheel train,then back to the train that took us in.
It was a great tour and everyone enjoyed themselves.
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