Early in the morning on March 12th, MYP students headed to Austria for an exciting four-day adventure.

On the first day, we visited the International School Carinthia, an IB school in Velden, where the staff and students warmly welcomed us. We had a guided tour of the school and had the chance to meet fellow IB learners. Later, we went to the Pyramidenkogel, the highest wooden tower in the world. After lunch and some free time, we took an elevator 10 floors up to enjoy the breathtaking view of the forest and lake below. The most thrilling part was going down the 120-meter-long metal slide. Everyone had so much fun racing to the bottom!

The second day took us to the Hallein Salt Mine, more than 200 meters underground. We explored tunnels, rode open mining trains, slid down wooden slides, and even sailed across an underground lake. We learned fascinating facts about salt mining and even tasted some salt ourselves! At one point, we briefly crossed into Germany while still underground. After our tour, we had lunch and time to buy salt souvenirs. Later, we drove to Salzburg for a sunny city tour. We explored Salzburg Cathedral and the Mirabell Gardens, took a funicular ride up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, enjoyed original Mozartkugeln at Fürst Chocolaterie, and visited Mozart’s Birthplace, where we saw the original piano that Mozart played on - just one of many fascinating facts we discovered there. 

On the third day, we travelled to Linz and explored the Ars Electronica Centre. We learned about AI and robotics and experienced the incredible Deep Space 8K. Afterwards, we rode a small panoramic train to tour more of Linz, enjoyed traditional goulash and Linzer Torte for lunch, and visited Mural Harbour. There, we walked along walls covered in colourful graffiti from around the world and even tried our hand at drawing graffiti ourselves!

On our final day, we visited the Red Bull Ring. After a quick snack stop, we arrived in Spielberg and split into two groups. We saw Formula 1 racing cars, toured the pit lane, VIP terrace, race control room, media room, and the podium. Lunch in the restaurant with a view of the racetrack was the perfect way to end our adventure before heading back to Zagreb.

Our four-day trip to Austria was an unforgettable learning experience filled with fun, discovery, and teamwork. From climbing the heights of Pyramidenkogel to exploring the depths of the Hallein Salt Mine, we learned about nature, science, history, and culture in exciting, hands-on ways. Visiting beautiful cities like Salzburg and Linz, discovering technology at the Ars Electronica Centre, and ending our journey at the thrilling Red Bull Ring made this trip truly special. Not only did we see amazing places, but we also strengthened friendships and created memories that will last a lifetime.

Klara (MYP2)