The Best of Europe Day 10
The Best of Europe
Day 10 Monday September 15, 2003 - Innsbruck
We had a later start this morning. At 7:15 the alarm went off and we took our time getting ready and packing the suitcases. I think we made the right decision as people said that at 7:45 there were three groups of people trying to go through the breakfast buffet at one time.
We did go down at 8:30 and it was very nice. We ate our usual breakfast, returned to our room to put the suitcases out and then left the hotel for the brisk walk to the Hotel Monopol to use their internet.
They again were very nice, let us use it for a long as we wanted, 30 minutes as we not only responded to some people but also got the football scores and wrote them down for the rest of the group.
We walked back to our hotel, picked up our carry-ons and went downstairs. While we waited for the departure time, we walked over to the Olympic Bobsled Run and a private golf course that gave us an overlook view of the city below.
Everything is so green, but winter will be here soon. As the bus began to leave, Otmar pointed out the full bobsled run and the luge, both sports that originated in St. Moritz.
Both runs look like a hiking paths during the summer, but with high stone walls where the sleds make their turns. These are known as the fastest tracks in the world.
We enjoyed a leisurely drive north on the Engadin Valley noted for its very regulated hunting of the Ibex. We eventually entered Switzerland's Inn River Valley and arrived at Martina, where we were able to exchange the Swiss Francs we had been using for Euros.
Like all of Switzerland, the drive is very scenic and because of the recent upheaval of the mountain range, the peaks are still very sharp and have not been rounded with weather, wind, etc.
We stopped at the border to the Austrian frontier near Landeck and were waved through by the Austrian authorities. We continued down the Inn Valley, following the Inn River, an area where the borders of Italy, Austria and Switzerland all meet.
This area was very popular with smugglers after W.W.II as Austria was in such dire straights until the early 1950's and goods could be brought in from Switzerland and Italy through the Brenner Pass. This area is known as the Tyrol, famous for their Tyrolean hats.
Otmar, an Austrian, reminded us that we have now entered God’s country and that we should note how much better the roads are than in Switzerland. We were given a history of Austria and how his country chose the wrong side in two world wars and how much territory it lost.
Austria has 8 million people in 9 states. The Austrians are doing well in the EU but are not as prosperous as the Swiss.
As we pass through Tyrolean landscapes to mountain ringed Innsbruck, we went through another set of tunnels that would put the Eisenhower twin bores to shame. The first was 7.2 Km, the second was a short 1.6 Km, and the third was 5.1 Km, all of these within an distance of 25 miles.
Many of these tunnels are built to go from valley to valley without having to climb to the top and then back down again. Others are there just to bypass cities and the congestions that occur.
We got near Innsbruck (Bridge over the River Inn) and we stopped at a Rosenberger Restaurant on the highway (A12). These are really magnificent.
All buffet, they have sandwiches, full dinners, salad, dessert , Belgian waffle and pancake bars. Everyone commented that the food was excellent.
Gennie and I had large salads - something we have missed while in Europe and a sparkling apple cider drink. We ate outside in the sun, by the River Inn. We were fortunate as we were in and out in 40 minutes, not bad for a group of 49 travelers.
Otmar told us that the last three days have been one of the best he has seen in this area. As we entered Innsbruck, he told us that if we were to return to this city 10 more times, we would not see the blue skies, the shining sun and the beautiful mountains that ring this large city.
We drove around the city for a little bit, seeing the world premier ski jump, where the athletes fly out over the city with the cemetery just below! We then went through town, passing by the old city to our hotel, the Grauer Baer.
We were given our keys and we are on the top floor with a slight view of the mountains to the north. We left our carry ons in the room and went on an orientation with Otmar featuring the Golden Roof, Wilten Basilica, and Hofburg Palace.
We then had some free time, where Gennie and I had an opportunity to see the people of Innsbruck, look at the shops and best of all and explore the small alleys of the city.
We returned to our room at 4:30 to download our pictures and begin to work on this journal. Tonight, dinner will be at 6:30 and then at 8 PM we will leave to go to a show of Tyrolean music.
We had a dinner of wienersnitzel and other enjoyable items. We left for the show and enjoyed a lively evening of traditional Tyrolean entertainment.
Singers, dancers, and musicians dressed in national costume provided a colorful show of folklore and fun. Before and during the show we were served two drinks of our choice. By 10:30 we were on our way home and a 5:45 alarm.
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