This is the continuation of my travel blog across one part of Austria, known as Salzkammergut (Salt Chamber Estate). In short, I traveled to Austria to visit my best friends' wedding. While I was there, I decided to ride a bicycle on legendary Salzkammergut trail. But surprising snow changed my plans, and for first few days, cycling was not an option. But some epic hiking was.
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On the second day, I decided to visit part of an mountain biking trail named Daredevil Extreme Course. Absolutely impossible climb, which I hardly hiked with only one question in my mind "How in the name of Zarkon somebody can ride this uphill?!??". With a touch of local legends, some amazing views of that area are the trademark of second entry with trippy name Austrian Lindworm of Eternal Wall.
So let's continue with the third entry, which will, hopefully, have a normal name. I do not know how many entries it will be by the end of this adventure. You are reading stories of the guy who didn't expect snow in the mountains in May. At least not in those mountains. So, let's see together how many stories we can find in the amazing Salzkammergut. But I can promise you that all of them are going to be beautiful.
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So, back to the business - on the second day I enjoyed amazing Ewige Wand and its strange legend. But, that was just the beginning of socializing with legends of this area. Once when my hosts started to tell me those stories, they could not stop. I blame Serbian schnapps which I bring them as a present. That's poison for the untrained mind. Poor people, I hope they are ok. Anyway, those legends are... well, you will see for yourself. To be even more interesting, my hosts guided me to one forest which has most of the legends displayed in a very unusual way. Let me take you there.
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The Punishment
Mountain area was very fertile and rich with natural resources. (It seems to be a leitmotif of all stories) But, people didn't appreciate that. They got wanton. (Sounds familiar and legit) People started to bath in milk, and worst of them even bathed their sheep in it. They had so much cheese that they build houses out of it just for fun. Nature watched for a long time how they waste her gods and decided to punish them. So one day, dark clouds pulled in and a mighty thunderstorm started with snow and hail. Nature started avalanches which took away all the people. After the storm ended, nothing left except wonderful landscape. The only remaining inhabitant of the mountains was the devil himself, who stayed there to watch for sinful people and punish them if they become wanton again. Especially in times of thunderstorms, he chases those who are unrespectful to nature.
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A good legend in my humble opinion. You must be modest. Period. ...Even though I really like the idea of the house made of cheese... As my house is being built while I typing this, I have some ideas for architect guy I should discuss as soon as possible... He is a nice guy... but his mental health degrading pretty fast... Dunno why... Hope he does not have a gun...
The Giant
(This one was really hard for me to understand, and most likely I didn't get everything, but.. what the heck, here it is)
Once upon a time, there was a mighty Giant living in the mountains. He had a daughter who could not find a husband. (Lack of giants... who knows) So, giant asked Mountain Ghost to help him. Ghost accepted but it had the condition - that Giant must remain silent and modest when a chosen man arrives. He gives to the Giant big gray roll and told to the giant to cover himself and his daughter and wait until the moon was out. Giant did that, but when chosen arrived, he didn't like him and shouted out and throw a stone at him. In the morning, inhabitants of that area found a big gray stone mountain in shape of Giant and his daughter leaning against his shoulder.
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Probably, this legend is about some strangely shaped mountain of that area... Or I am completely wrong, as usual, and the story is about bad parenting which turns kids harts into the stone... or something about that that your father is the mountain on which you should lean... or most probably... hey, stop yelling, I am not the wise guy here, just the damn storyteller.
A Singer and The Dwarf
Miners working in the salt mine of Hallstatt had to work very hard. Among them, there was a young boy who wasn't very strong and his skill was mediocre. But, he had a beautiful voice and he used to sing during his work. One day a little dwarf stood behind him and make a deal - he will work for a boy if he continues to sing for him. So little dwarf start to work while young boy sang. The boy started to sing faster and faster while his song echoed through caves dug by a little dwarf. During the time that singing becomes songs of tunnels in mountains. These songs are today known as Yodeling.
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Ok, there has to be an explanation for that terrible noise.
New King
A long time ago, there was an old king who was at the end of his life. He wanted to make sure that he will leave his kingdom in the right hands. So he sent out for a successor to his throne. Fox, Howl, Deer, Bear, Falcon, and Wolf came. (A big company) Animals give their best abilities - Howl was wise, Bear was strong, Deer was fast, Fox was intelligent and Hawk had the best overlook. They argued a lot and started to diminish attributes of other animals. Only a Wolf was at the side, quiet. When old King asked him why he is not talking and presenting himself as the next king, Wolf answered: I am not wise as Owl or smart as Fox or nearly fast as Deer and I am not strong as Bear and I do not have eyes and abilities of a Falcon. So how can I become the King when I would ask advice from Owl and if I shouldn't be able to solve a problem I would ask Fox. How I can be the King when I would need the help of mighty Bear when I need strength or Deer when I need speed. And for sure I cannot be the King if I need the help of Falcon when I need to see the whole picture. Only thing I have is an honor to serve and guide my brother animals.
So... he becomes the next King.
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This one is my favorite and a fairy tale for sure. In real life, Bear would be a mighty dumb King, while Fox stealing behind him and ruling in a shadow. In that time Deer would be minding his own business until he is eaten by the Bear, Hawk would flying and hiding in the clouds while shitting from above and Howl would nagging without any results, while Wolf would howling in the night for good old times when the old King was alive.
I hope you liked our little walk through Forest of Legends. I know I enjoyed. This is not all of them, of course, but I liked those the most. And, also, those are those which I recognized in the amazing sculptures in magical forest.
Until next time, greetings from snowy Austria.
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I hope you will enjoy in these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
This blog entry is part of My Travel Blog series.
I have many more travel stories in my bag, so stay tuned.
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