Time flies when you are having fun!

How did this happen so fast?  Our trip is over except for the awful part....flying home. We are dreading the next 36 hours, but know that this too, shall pass.

We spent the last 10 days in Austria, without a doubt one of the most beautiful countries in the world.  It is the second time I have visited and I would love to go back if it ever stops raining there for more than 2 days. We spent 3 nights in Innsbruck, and we loved the old part of the city.  The river Inn runs through the valley, and it was swollen almost to flood levels. There are many museums to visit, sausages to taste, beers to drink and coffee and pastry to sample. The Alps surround you, and there are miles and miles of bike and hiking trails right in town and leading to the many ski areas. Very stunning, if the clouds lift.

Busy streets of Innsbruck

Larry and I were joined by my dear cousin Mark and his wonderful wife Deb for the Austrian adventure.  Our plan was to ride hard and wear ourselves out before our return to California.  We got in 3 days of riding and lots of scrabble. 

A curious thing is happening in Austria, parts of Switzerland and Germany. The Arab tourists have descended upon the region in droves.  Who can blame them for wanting to escape the heat of the Arab summers!  It is just such a culture clash to see the women in this Alpine environment completely covered in veils, headscarves and lots of full burkas. The Austrians are clucking their tongues all the way to the bank....

Risking being the ugly American and culturally insensitive by snapping this photo in Zell em See

I find Austria to be a bit confused about its lifestyle also.  They have a country of beautiful mountains and ski areas, kilometer after kilometer of bike paths and walking trails, a population that embraces the outdoors and the active lifestyle and more smokers than anywhere else we have been; followed closely by the Germans.  Austria is the only place where smoking has still been allowed in restaurants and most public places.  Odd contradictions!

Amazingly large hammock on the bike path.

We celebrated a milestone on this trip.  My dear husband had a significant birthday last week.  We didn't get too rowdy; just lunch out in town in the rain.

Happy birthday, Lar-bear

 

 

 

 

A few more shots of the crowd on the deck, on the bikes and the little train in the valley chugging back and forth.

A real steam engine, and the sweetest whistle

More birthday toasts

Our big day of biking in Zell em See

We left Austria and headed to Munich for one night.  Love that city. So clean, interesting, charming; very German!  Had a walk down memory lane as we (especially Larry) spent a lot of time there in the late 80's. 

Below is the obligatory Glockenspeil picture on the Marienplatz.  Full of tourists from every corner of the world!  But the sun was out!

(Have I mentioned how much it has rained this year???)

We have driven for the past 3 days making our way to Paris, where we will fly out Tuesday morning.

It has been an amazing adventure, and I recommend a trip like this for everyone.  I hope to follow up soon with some final reflections. Thank you for reading.  See you soon!

Soggy Doggy

I will begin again with the weather report.  Wet.  The wettest year in many in this area.  Just wish we could send some of it to California!

A shrine for cyclist atop Passo Gavia

We have been in the Bormio, Italy area for the past 8 days.  We started in a small condo about 5K up the mountain overlooking town and the mountain ranges.  Very cold up there! We are now down in town at a very comfy condo close to the source of some of the delicious dairy products found in this region...

Looking down from our condo into the valley.

This part of Italy is a very Alpine environment, and sometimes you would have to wonder if it is Austria, Germany, Switzerland or Italy where you are currently residing.  The style of houses in all those areas is very similar, the abundance of geraniums cascading out of window boxes has me vowing to try harder to make mine grow next summer in Truckee. 

Great flowers, bad building example.

 Along with this Alpine environment comes a lot of wood chopping for winter fires. (And summer fires, for that matter!) There are many examples of awesome wood stacking, which seems to be a competitive sport here, but we have declared this guy the winner for artistic merit!

Wood stacker extraordinaire!

There are three famous rides out of this area, and the Passo Stelvio is the most famous of them all. The highest, the most switchbacks and by far the most popular.  With everyone.  Sooooooo many people on the road and at the top it is a circus atmosphere. Skiing, biking, hiking, motorcycles, cars, campers, vendors, photographers, restaurants.... All in an area about the size of the parking lot of your local library. 

Just one side of the four corners of action. I will remind you, this is also a 2 way road!

About 1/2 way up the Stelvio

The view from the top!

The Stelvio goes up to over 9,000'.  As you are riding up, at about 7,000' you start to wonder if your brake is rubbing or if you have a flat tire. By 8,500 you are convinced you are the weakest rider in the world, by 9,000', you are watching the tenths of a mile tick off on the odometer, knowing what the final number should be and really hoping you are going to make it there!

 

  We made it!

The photo op below the circus at the very top!