We started our visit to the centre at the palace gardens, a showcase of roses and begonias. Then we crossed the river and visited several squares with impressive churches and plenty of outdoor cafes. We took shelter from more rain in one of the cafes and enjoyed a couple of beers. A group of American teenagers sat beside us and I was reminded of my trips and glad that I’m not doing that anymore. It was great, but nothing like the freedom and fun that comes with traveling with my family. When the rain stopped, we pushed Tim up the hill to the castle entrance for a view of the city. Lovely spires and pointed, red tiled roof tops. One of the high meadows of the nearby hills must have surely been where Maria sang ‘The hills are alive…”
the gardens
the city from the castle gate
the walk down in the rain
13 july
The only thing worse than setting up camp in the rain is taking it down. We watched, with envy, RV after RV fold up their awnings, put away their chairs, shut their doors and drive off as we attempted to get our tent down with as little mud on it and us as possible. We did surprisingly well and didn’t have a single argument. The more we do together, the more compatible we find ourselves. Our drive from Innsbruck to Salzburg meant a quick jog through Germany, but the border crossing was invisible save for a couple of good-bye and welcome signs. Our campsite here is not as well fitted as the one in Innsbruck, but it’s clean and comfortable. The rain is still with us, but that hasn’t stopped us from seeing the sights. No, we didn’t take a Maria tour nor did we visit the salt mines. The town has enough to offer without these. We visited a monastery with a beer hall, actually several beer halls in one huge building, full of people. The monks brew the beer and it is tasty.
the castle above the city and the 'lovely' weather
12 july
We spent a lovely day in Innsbruck today. The guide book makes the city seem dull after seeing the golden roof, but that’s not what we found. The medieval centre is full of twisting, narrow cobbled streets that reveal a new delight of architecture with each turn. Sometimes it’s an intricately carved wooden door or a curly-queued iron sign with gilt accents or a balcony with hanging geraniums. This evening, we took advantage of the wi-fi in our campsite and did a lot of on-line work. Most of the day was sunny with broken clouds, but the rain moved in for the night.
one of the many shop signs
the golden roof is the main attraction in the city centre. it covers a balcony where dignitaries used to address the people
signs of the weather change
11 july
We drove from Interlaken to Innsbruck today. For the first hour of the journey, we played peek-a-boo with the glorious scenery as drove in and out of tunnels. There were so many that I began to think that they were built simply because they could be built rather than because they were needed. We stopped for a photo in Liechtenstein (deleted because Paul didn't like it) and to give Tim a break. It’s a pretty place but can’t compete with Switzerland. Our campsite in Interlaken was nice; the one we are in now is fantastic. It has a beer garden, restaurant, wi-fi, and friendly proprietors who we’ve heard speak German, English, and French fluently along with recognizing that someone trying to speak German was from Romania! Her new hire spoke fluent Romanian. We had to set up camp in the rain and it’s cooler here, but the low clouds and temperature add a new dimension to things. I know when we’re in southern Turkey and it’s hitting 41C/100F, we’ll remember this with fondness.
our campsite in Innsbruck
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