Blogs from Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, Europe - page 14

These are the names of the two Villages south of Innsbruck where our campsite was. Innsbruck center was full of beautiful buildings but unfortunately full of tourists. So we decide to skip Salzburg which is supposedly even more touristy than Innsbruck and go to the less visited Graz in southern Austria (Steiermark or Styria province) and spend four nights there. This involves taking a train to Leoben in northern Styria where we will begin our cycle down the Mur river through Graz to the Slovenian and Hungarian borders. On the train we meet and chat with two pleasant retired women from Burgenland (eastern Austria) and a Californian couple who have spent their last five vacations cycling in Austria. ... read more

Hallo from Innsbruck! The train ride from Verona to here was spectacular. The plan was to stop here for 2 nights on our way to Munich, but we've fallen in love with this place and have been here now for 4 nights. This place is beautiful with so much to do, and with one discount card so cheap. On our second day we took 2 cable cars up the mountains over 2300m where we threw snowballs at each other and made a snowman, it was Neetz's first time in the snow. Would you believe it's summer here? After defrosting we went to the small Alpenzoo where we made fun of the mooses. Our third day we took the shuttle bus out to the famous Swarovski Crystal Worlds which was pretty cool. After that we went ... read more

First of all...where was the time going? I realized what a strange sensation it was to have every day so full and seem to drag on forever, but to have the time passing at a rate much too quick for my liking. I woke up this morning and ate some more bread and jam. Mmm. We ate quickly, and when we were finished, we went to our respective rooms and packed up. I took the easy way down - the lift! There was no way I had the energy to drag my suitcase down the stairs, though I have to say, I don't know how it got so much heavier...I hadn't bought THAT much. Strange. Anyway, I dropped off my bag and boarded the coach. I sat with Sara today, which was great. We talked shop ... read more

After Venice we were sooooo glad to be in Austria. We were overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains driving in, and were just even more amazed when we arrived at Innsbruk, a town surrounded by 'the hills that are alive with the sound of music'. It was so nice to be in a place of natural beauty. Our campsite even had amazing mountain views. We arrived in Innsbruk on 25 April Europe time - KELLIE'S BIRTHDAY. So we went down to the restaurant down the road and had lunch to see if it was any good for a birthday dinner. We wanted to eat light so Kellie had a salad that was lovely, but craig, his meal was a different story. What he thought he had ordered was meat and cheese with bread. What ... read more

I woke up to a long, rough tounge scraping across my cheek. Kaya, the dog who belongs to our hosts, Rene and Steffie, chose to wake me gently...with her saliva. Yuck. Today is the day that we get to go sledding in the Alps! Steffie generously offered to take us with her to meet her parents for a day on the mountain. I sometimes have to remind myself where I am. "What country did I wake up in this morning?" Austria. Innsbruck. Im Couchsurfing with a mountain guide and her rock climber boyfriend, I mentally take note. We packed our poles, snowshoes, borrowed ski pants and jacket, boots, thermal socks, gloves, extra rope, doggie treats, leash, water bowl, sunscreen and hat in preparation for the day. It reminded me of getting infants ready for a ... read more