Innsbruck is around 2 hours away by car and we still haven't actually been to visit. So I convinced everyone to load into the car with the promise of snacks and shiny objects and away we went. With mom playing DJ and the girls doing their best T-Swift impressions we made it to Innsbruck in seemingly no time. Yet all were a bit confused when the car didn't turn off the highway and head into town for the expected lunch and city walking tour.
The secret was short lived however as once we got near Innsbruck signs for the Swarovski Crystal Worlds started appearing. The kids were a little slow on the uptake but Amanda can spot a diversion from miles away and caught on to my gambit almost immediately. Undeterred, I pressed and after a quick stop for lunch at a local pizzeria we made it to the Museum.
While I had done some research on the museum several weeks before I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was certain whatever was hiding behind the waterfall spouting face in the mountain would surely be fascinating.
And we were not disappointed. After entering under the waterfall the first room greets you with the largest cut crystal in the world at 310,000 carats! Charlotte and Olivia were fully enamored with it.
So much so they hardly paid notice to the full sized Crystal adorned horse that was watching over them.
After literally pulling them away from the giant crystal we came to a winter wonderland complete with "snow" that was accentuated by crystals in the scenery and and one the trees. It's a little hard to see in the photos but the entire room was glistening.
With Mom and O shivering we moved onto the next area. A room completely covered in glass and mirrors with a platform suspended out into the middle. Behind the some of the glass sections were various crystal sculptures and ornaments and every so often the light would shift and the new source would bring even more shiny spectacles into view!
After the sudden appearance of the crystal skull startled C we moved on to a room devoted to Swarovski Crystals in pop culture. Here you could see pieces designed for icons from Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe to David Bowie, Madonna and Elton John to contemporaries such as Katie Perry, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.
There were several other rooms that contained various illusions generated by various effects all playing off the reflective and refractive qualities of the crystals which were impossible to capture effectively. Although the glowing crystal sun that Charlotte was trying to control with her "magical powers" was subdued enough to capture, even if Charlotte couldn't harness it.
And not to be outdone Olivia had to have a go as well!
But one of our favorite displays was the Crystal Christmas display!
Once through museum we wandered the several acres of outdoor displays which included a mirror pond with crystal clouds and giant jelly fish jumping out of the water!
A multi-story play tower,
and a carousel
Amanda even got a little jewelry out of the trip. Although she won't show it off until she gets a new dress to pair with it. I think I've been had guys!
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| cause who doesn't like getting take for a ride everyone once in a while |
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