Dear Diary,
Today was another adventure-filled day that I’ll never forget! I went to the Salzburger Freilichtmuseum, a magical place that’s like stepping into a storybook. I’m only two years old, but I had the best time exploring and discovering so many wonderful things.
The day began quite early as my mum planned to take the bus arriving at the museum at 11AM. It meant being at the main train station in Salzburg already at around 10AM to have enough time to grab some snacks and board the bus to get the best seats. Luckily, we managed it before the bus got full especially at the further stations in the city. Even though the scenery was just fascinating, like a real white winter fairytale, I didn’t feel like enjoying it from the bus window and was really impatient to get to our destination.
To make the time pass faster, I was looking into my book about things and focused on the pages with means of transport, trying to choose the best one for when I grow up. I gave a few suggestions to my mum, like a cabrio, a garbage truck, and even a boat, but she pointed at the picture of a train instead, and I immediately remembered the trips we made in summer and how exciting our train rides were! The bus ride was over before we could choose our perfect train and I was extremely happy to finally breathe in the crisp winter air on the way from the bus stop to the museum entrance.
The joy of Christmas in the Salzburger Freilichtmuseum
The entrance area was all dressed up for Christmas! Colorful lights twinkled, and the air was filled with the smell of pine trees and gingerbread cookies. It felt like I stepped into a winter wonderland right out of a fairy tale. My eyes got glued to a Christmas tree decorated with hand-made wooden and straw toys and my hands reached for the most beautiful ones.
Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take them off the Christmas tree, but my mum promised me to craft some together when we get back home. For that we needed some inspiration and a step-by-step guide, so we checked the plan of the activities and decided to visit a craft station located in one of the numerous museum buildings.
It was not a long walk, but we needed some time to get there across the numerous historical areas of the Salzburger Freilichtmuseum. During our walk, my mum and her friends decided to make a short stop to taste the traditional Austrian winter punch, and I had so much fun playing in the snow in the meantime! I did not even notice how my clothes became wet, but my mum insisted that I change into my waterproof overall.
On our way to the workshop area one of the first things that caught my eye was the railroad. The train was full of happy people who waved at me as they passed by. I screamed with excitement as my mum told me we’re going to ride the train as well. By that time I already forgot our plan to attend the workshop and could only keep asking my mum whether a coming train was ours or not. Finally we reached a cozy house which was bustling with holiday preparations. People were busy creating beautiful decorations, the room was warm and smelt like wood and cinnamon.
After some time there I felt hunger and the snacks taken from home were no longer enough. We all went to a restaurant right in the middle of the Salzburger Freilichtmuseum to have a proper meal and enjoy some winter treats. I tasted warm chestnuts that tasted like little pieces of magic and sipped on hot cocoa that warmed me from the inside out. Mommy shared a slice of traditional apple strudel with me, and oh my goodness, it was the yummiest thing I’ve ever tasted! The sweet apples and crispy pastry made my taste buds dance with joy.
As the day drew to a close, the sky turned a beautiful shade of orange and pink. I didn’t want to leave the Freilichtmuseum, but I was getting a little sleepy. We were finally on our way to catch the train that would bring us back to the main entrance of the museum. I was so delighted to finally be sitting in the open carriage and watching the tiny houses emerging from the woods every now and then. I could already imagine revisiting this place in summer and staying longer with the daylight. It might become our next favorite picnic location!
Today was filled with laughter, wonder, and new experiences. Salzburger Freilichtmuseum during the winter festivities was like a dream come true for a little adventurer like me. I can’t wait to come back and explore more of this enchanting place! The day was made complete by our unexpected family gathering at the traditional Austrian restaurant Johanneskeller where we exchanged stories and memories from the past winter seasons.
Love, Your Little Adventurer Alfred
P.S.: I hope next year I will be able to participate in more Christmas activities together with my great grandma who was unfortunately unable to join us for the Salzburger Freilichtmuseum this time.
