Blogs from Austria, Europe

Our objective today was to the Swarovski Crystal World at Wattens about 20kms from Innsbruck. They have their own shuttle bus so it was just a case of us meeting it at the Hauptbahnfof almost outside our hotel. We have been there before but figured this was a "must do" for Lynny and Kevin and we knew we'd love to visit again. Last time we were on bikes on the Inn River Trail so this was a much more sedate visit. How do you explain the Crystal World? It's impossible, as it's like nothing you would see anywhere else. Nearly everything and every scene you see is created by hundreds and thousands of crytals. It is truly amazing. A glittering Wonderland! First there is the huge inside pavalion built into the hill with eighteen themes. The ... read more

Our week in Mayrhofen is over and we've moved on to Innsbruck. We got the train around midday and headed off down the Zill valley to Jennbach where we changed the train to Innsbruck. The Zillerthal valley was populated most of the way down with pockets of residences, small towns and higher farms and lifestyle properties. I'll remember it as a very attractive place to visit and a nice peaceful place to stay although no doubt winter and skiers will make it pandemonium. On arrival in Innsbruck we found our Ibis Hotel just across the road from the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station). It is a strange building. A big long black oblong of a building above the road level and station. It is a relaxed hotel but has very clean rooms and is amazingly quiet. They ... read more

We had been recommended to visit the Stilluptal valley with it's resevoir, waterfalls, guesthouses and popular hiking and biking path. We had thought it would be a narrow winding road up a valley to a lake and a waterfall, and yes it was, but it was a lot more. The weather was dicey. It was overcast, looking like rain, but calm. As it turned out we got a smattering of rain but it was perfectly suitable for a hike. We were picked up by the shuttle bus in town and headed off to the Stillup side valley. The narrow winding road led up to an open valley with a serene reservoir lake and not one, but many waterfalls. We were dropped off at the beginning of the lake and arranged to be picked up at the ... read more

Am Pfingstmontag fuhren meine Mutter und ich wieder von Admont zurück, wobei wir in Wels einen Zwischenstopp einlegten. Diese Kleinstadt hat einen schönen historischen Marktplatz, eine Burg, mehrere Schlösser und liegt an der Traun (aber einer anderen als bspw. Traunstein). Wir aßen auch ein Eis und tranken einen Cappuccino. Auf der weiteren Fahrt sahen wir die Baustelle der A94 beim neuen Autobahnkreuz Pocking, die fast fertige auf der A99 bei Aschheim und den Eingang der Landesgartenschau in Kirchheim. Letzteres wäre aber ein Ausflugsziel für ein anderes Mal.... read more

Am Sonntag besichtigten wir die Innenräume des Stiftklosters mit der berühmten Bibliothek (die größte in einem Kloster weltweit) und mehrerer Museen. Im Klosterladen kaufte ich auch einen Likör und einen Wein. Danach fuhren wir in den Nationalpark Gesäuse, wo wir eine kleine Wanderung am Fluss machten. Im weiteren Verlauf des Tages tranken wir auf dem Hotelzimmer einen Kaffee, ich besuchte den Spa-Bereich, wir aßen im Stiftrestaurant zu Abend und nahmen einen Trink in der Hotelbar. Abends genoss ich dann noch die Aussicht vom Balkon.... read more