Thal, Austria

a very unique side trip!

09.07.2011

July 7, Thursday: I saved this bit of our day for a seperate story because it was so unique and interesting--in a very quirky way. After our time in City Center we took a lovely drive through the country to the village of Thal which is just on the other side of the hills around Graz. It was of interest to us because my sister-in-law spent the first 12 years of her life there…oh, and it is also the place where Arnold Schwartzennger spent his boyhood…cue Manuela rolling her eyes ; ) We would never have gone there just to visit 'Arnies' boyhood home but it just happened to be in the same small town.

Thal

Anyway, we did see his home from the outside as well as the elementary school that both Manu and Arnie attended but she some 25 years after he. That's my brother and nephew playing 'governator!'

Arnie's boyhood home

Manuela's elementary school

The other truly amazing and fun site in little Thal is what they call "The Kitchy Catholic Church" aka St. Jakob's. I'm not sure if you can appreciate how quirky this little place of worship is from the pictures but we loved it! Can you imagine being served communion from a Swarovsky crystal altar? This little gem was designed and constructed by an artist and I'm anxious to find out more about the story. Absolutely entertaining, playful and fun--God does have a sense of humor!