Day 20 Boxing Day

We had to meet at the lobby by 8.20 am to be pick up by 8.30 to be taken out for the day for a sleigh ride about 1.5 hours drive from Salzburg. The bus took us through Salzach Valley and past many quaint villages. We went through 5 tunnels and saw another amazing fortress perched up on a mountain. We ascend the Steirische Ramsau to the base of an alpine glacier the Dachstein. In the small village we stopped and had a 2 1/2 hour stop for a wander and lunch at the hotel before heading for our sleigh ride. Jason and I walked around the village and took photos of the mountains, building and ski slopes. The village has a population of 2000 and accommodation for 6000. At 1.05 we were back on the bus to be taken to our awaiting sleigh.

The bus stopped and everyone was looking around. Should we get off?  I think was going through everyone's mind. Finally one group decided to get off and the rest followed. Greg kindly offers me the use of his waterproof pants. A little big, but they will do! Our guide then turns around and says, when the horses and sleigh arrive, "The south Africans!" Off they go. "The seven!" Our small group looks at each other, is that us? Yes! into the sleigh we go.

All neatly sitting in our seats, a cute little blanket laid over our laps, guide in our carriage and off we go. The sleighs were a four wheel drive/proper sleigh. So when we were on bits where there was no snow, the driver changed it to the wheels and on the snow back to the wooden skates. Two horses per carriage and the views all the way around were spectacular. Throw in a little singing and we have a very happy Aussie carriage.
We stopped after about 45 minutes while the horses had a chance to catch their breaths and for all of us to get a hot chocolate or coffee. Although, just off to the side of the little cafe/pub was a hill covered in snow. Duncan and Greg decided that the lure of gluwien/hot chocolate was greater than the joy of playing in the snow.
So the rest of us headed for this hill. Yay!!! Snow fights, rolie polies, running up and down, a successful snowman later and our half an hour break was up.

Back to the horses and sleigh we go. More spectacular views of skiers, mountains, doggies and beautiful houses we were back at the bus. Those of us that played in the snow were thoroughly exhausted. Although, we did get a few snores out of the two that went and drank in the pub. Too bad we didn't get a video.
Back to the hotel to go and get ready for dinner.  Our last night together before we part ways.
Jason found a brewery on Trip Adviser that was given 4 1/2 star rating.... about 1 km away from the hotel. When we left there was light rain but no one was concerned. Found the brewery after walking through back alleys. It was a micro brewery with its own German Style Beer Hall. When we walked in the first thing we noticed was very sticky floors and three large halls 2 non smoking & 1 smoking. Found a large table with only 2 people seated there and asked to join them they obliged. We didn't know what to do whether it was table service or self serve. I decided to do a recky and work out what to do. In the hallways they have small food stalls set up much like our food halls back home. Just decide what you want buy and take back to your table. Working out the beer purchase took me longer. They have shelves full of 500ml & 1000ml steins. You grab the size and how many you want and go to one of the two cashiers. Tell them how much you want and hand over the money and they give you a receipt. I wanted to buy three 1000ml steins one for Jason, Greg & myself. It cost 3 euro for 500ml & 6 euro for 1000ml. You can also buy cooldrink and souveniers from the cashier they just put it on the receipt. You next go and hand over the steins to the guy pouring the beer from an oak barrel so no gas in this beer. There is only one beer available so no choice. The beer pours very quickly and takes only a few seconds to fill up three 1 litre steins hence the sticky floors they all over flow onto the floors. With the three halls filled to probably 300 people in each room all wanting to buy beer there is no queue this system is very efficient. When you go back to fill your steins they have a water font there with 6 outlets that have motion sensors to turn on the water to rinse out your stein. The beer was great and not very strong so after two one litre steins we didn't feel very tipsy. After this fantastic beer hall experience it was back to the hotel and get ready for leaving tomorrow back to our various destinations.