April 7, 2018
Short stop in Austria/Innsbruck. What a place – so pretty in April, with spring slowly coming around. We can practically see the forsythia budding out. and then of course the great expanse of the snow covered Alps. It’s amazing!
Day 1 – we arrived by train 7Apr around noon. What a pretty sunny 65deg day. 2hr train ride. We settled in, lovely place with back terrace, and then headed out for a walk thru the old city and then round about here and there. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and it was fun seeing the Austrians enjoy the day after a long cold winter.
The alps are still snow covered and stunning against the blue sky. Photos of Innsbruck later! Lunch place recommended by our host. They brew their own; I got amber and Thom got dark. Reported to be the best brew here! It’s terrific.
April 8, 2018
Today was an adventure aided by the Innsbruck Card, which enables travel on all transit options. So with the funicular and 2 long gondola rides I went to the top of the mountains to the north of the city. Oh my….. I felt I was at the top of the world at about 7400ft. At the very top, after the second gondola ride, it was windy but warm in the sun. Yet on the slip and slide further to the top, it was chilly. I stayed until my hands started to feel it was below freezing! to look out at the mountains to the south, on the other side of the city, and see them as nearly eye level was an experience. What a day!!!
We had 1.5 days here in Innsbruck. A beautiful place to experience Austria – not nearly like Vienna, but it’s not supposed to be! I think I really like the proximity of large mountains in your view. maybe not as much as the ocean. but it’s still amazing. Every turn has a snow covered mountain in the distance. So cool
Tomorrow we leave the alps for Italy – Verona at 11:30. A 3.5 hr train ride. We’ll remember our stay here, and the lovely flat, and the great views and wanderings.