Skip to main content

TYROL/ZILLERTAL/INSBRUCK


After several multi-week trips to surrounding countries we decided to check out another part of Austria. The most impressive mountains here are in the province of Tyrol, where Innsbruck is the capitol.

We were able to book several nights in a private house in the Zillertal (a mountain valley in the middle of the Alps).

On the way there you can take the freeway (autobahn) but the back roads are so much more beautiful. We drove and wandered through the mountains on the way.

If you are ever in this area you need to stop for a few hours and walk the trails to the Krimml waterfalls. This series of waterfalls, the highest in Austria, cascade down the mountainside 385 meters.



From Krimml you can take the highway, or you can pay a toll and drive over the mountains (definitely the better choice). On the way you pass several ski resorts, and of course mountain lakes.


Now there's a scene straight out of the picture books. Alps, with little farm houses on the mountainside.

If you're going to Insbruck and have a half day to spare it is well worth the cost to take the trams up to the top of the mountain to the north of town ("Nord Kette Bahn").

There we are at the top, and yes, there's my trusty knee brace to make the journey go smoother...

When you look across the valley over Insbruck, to the mountains on the south, you can see in the distance the Brenner pass, which leads into Italy.

Yes! now there's some impressive mountains!

Of course, you're in Austria, so every peak has to have a cross on it.

Back in the city now, we spent some time wandering the gardens of the local palace/schloss.


Not to be out-done by Paris, Innsbruck decided they also needed an "Arch Triumph."

And of course there have to be plenty of statues.


Usually it is fun to wander the narrow streets in the center of town, but this year they had them all torn up for plumbing improvements, probably because there were almost no tourists due to COVID.

The royal palace in the middle of town is also worth touring.

Heading back to the Zillertal we decided to stop off at some small towns on the way and explore a few hilltop castles (Burgs).



Hmmm! Something got lost in the translation there...

And back in the Zillertal, if you drive up the end of the valley/canyon you end up at a huge reservoir almost at the top of the mountains. Italy is on the other side of that mountain in the background.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Hoher Dachstein" what a mountain.

We decided to take a day trip and spend some money to ride one of the trams up the Dachstein, the highest mountain in Upper Austria. There are a couple of trams, one which goes higher from the south side, and this one, the "Krippensteiner Seilbahn." At the top they have built this metal thing called the "five fingers," where you hang out over the cliff for a view.   Not much grows up here at this altitude except low lying shrubs and a whole lot of wildflowers. Wow, what an impressive mountain.   A whole bunch of crazy dare-devils come up here to jump off the mountain into the air.   OK, ready, set, go, and run like your life depends on it! It does, by the way!   If you catch the draft just right you go up rather than down.   We made it to the top... of this part of the mountain anyway. Incredible views of the valleys below. There's the Hallstättersee.
1 comment
Read more

Griasdi, Do sa'ma! (translation) Hello there, here we are!

OK, looks like we made it, and are off to our two year adventure.  Despite spending most of the first month getting our visa paperwork together, getting insurance, finding a place to live, buying furniture and other furnishings for our new home, and all that other not so fun stuff, we have been able to spend a little time checking out the beautiful sites and touristy things around here. Bad Ischl for the day Our new home. Let's hope they let us stay. The winter hasn't been very wintery. Going for a walk up the neighborhood street Across the street from the house An evening walk at the beach The Attersee (our lake) the Almsee Yep, it's winter here, but less snow than usual
1 comment
Read more

BRAC, CROATIA - Olive orchards, tiny fishing villages, and rocky coastline

 Made it to Brac, one of many islands along the Dalmatian coast. To get over to the island you have to drive or walk onto a ferry boat. . Ah, the sleepy little town of Supetar, the largest village on the island of Brac. It's October, past the tourist season, but you would think there would still be a few people here. The weather is mild, ocean still warm, but COVID travel restrictions killed their tourist business. We were the only tourists in a huge resort of probably 500 units. Pools were all drained, restaurants all closed, etc. The usually busy tourist options sat still, like this nice little boat that usually provides sailing tours. Ah, but the swim beaches were open. We practically had the entire beach and swim bay to ourselves. Water was still warm, so we swam around and watched the fish circle our feet and legs. Perfect opportunity to lay around in the sun and dangle your legs in the ocean. Spent a couple of days driving around the island to the other small villages. Not a ...
1 comment
Read more