Day 129: Salzburg Salt Mines

Unbelievably fun day touring the Hallein Salt Mine at Dürnnberg. Salinen Austria AG, the only remaining salt producer in Austria, runs 90 minute tours in the mines. We put on protective gear and watched an informative video on salt mining practices that started in early Stone Ages, improved to brine water lake mining in Enlightenment, and now modern practices with water pumps/tubes. The mines are still active today.

You ride a log cart deep into the mountain and are able to see modern equipment and the older methods including a salt brine lake. We got to taste the salty water which had 27% salinity (more than 6 times the ocean). We also saw aging whisky barrels for an “experiment” and could see salt crystallizing on the walls, wood, and rails.

Following the salt tour, we trained to Vienna, grabbed dinner, and prepared for a night out. It was finally time to hit proper European night clubs. We started at O der Club which didn’t open until 11PM. We were chilling on the couches in a hip hop dance room when an Austrian man sits down and asks if he can smoke. He invites his friends and it immediately turns into a party, but also drama between husbands, friends, and us just rolling with the events. He buys bottle service for our table and we eventually hideaway to other dance floors with disco and house.

After awhile, we decide it’s time to depart from this friend group and try to find more EDM style clubs. We metro at 2am to a club called Das Work and mistakenly walk into a different club called Grelle Forelle. Here they played DnB and techno; we dance for two hours before grabbing a kebab and walking 26 minutes home at 4am.

Hostel: MEININGER Hotel Wien Downtown Franz

Restaurant:
Gasthaus zur Bergmannstreu
Tonios Tacos
Würstl Kebap Friedensbrücke

Food:
Dumpling Soup
Tacos
Burritos
Kebabs

Spots:
Salzburg Salt Mines
O - the club
Grelle ForelleRead more