Innsbruck Austria

Located in the heart of the Alps, Innsbruck is a place one never forgets visiting. A rare charm, combining city and nature. Our time spent here was well worth it. Beautiful snow capped mountains and blue sky supplied the canvas.






Sunday (Palm Sunday) we participated in a procession celebrating the coming of spring and marking the beginning of Holy Week. Austrians invited us tourists to join them journeying down one of Europe's most
awesome pathways, Maria-Theresien Strasse. Church bells
and chimes from all over Innsbruck greeted people as the procession entered St. James Cathedral.





An Easter market began after services. One could purchase a bit of spring to take home. Cups of cappucino (and one Coke) were sipped at a lovely outdoor cafe on the plaza. Sunshine, the impact of a well done religious ceremony, and fellowship; life does not get any better! We all were aware of that and appreciated the moment (very much)!

A Taste of Europe

With warm sunshine on our shoulders, the six of us- Dirk, Darbie, Karen, Terry, the chauffeur (Tom) and tour director (Katie) vacationed a week, enjoying bits of Germany, Austria and Italy. Our New Prague friends had expressed interest in seeing castles, countryside, concerts, cathedrals, cows, cloisters, cities and clowns. So we did just that!

Arriving by train to Bamberg (following a flight to Frankfurt) the chauffeur picked up the travelers at the "bahnhof". After a pretzel snack, the tour guide led an evening outing, walking and then dining at a "gasthaus" on traditional German fare (bratwurst, kraut etc.) Burp!
Thursday's schedule included shopping, people watching and a trip to an "eis cafe".



A quick drive up to Banz Abbey finished out the day with fantastic landscape and more local cooking.



Packed and on the road by 8:30 Friday morning we headed to Rothenburg. The well known walled city is preserved with a Middle Ages atmosphere. Many buildings date back to the 13th and 14th century. A photographer's delight! (How many pictures did Tom take?)





Bavarian Prince Ludwig II ordered two amazing castles to be built near Fussen in southern Germany. The "Neuschanstein schloss" (nicknamed Disney castle) is the more famous of the two. Hopping out, we admired the structures and hiked a bit in the fresh, spring mountain air.

Swiss Alpine Life

Farms and villages scattered among incredibly beautiful mountains and valleys describes the landscape of Appenzellerland located in eastern Switzerland. Everyday life still mostly centers around dairy farming. More young Swiss want to farm than there is available property. The land of yodelling and cowbells, as it is known, is sought after.


Hiking, biking and skiing have built up tourism. The Alps provide a scenic opportunity every direction one looks. Natural beauty as far as the eye can see.



Appenzeller's are known for their legendary hospitality, "storybook" friendly. The fictional character, Heidi, was created in these hills. Welcome mats are rolled out along with cheese fondue.








Traditional handicrafts (carving, painting, embroidering etc.) produced in the area were exceptional and also very functional. Craftsmanship with a golden touch was established and practiced proudly


Prayer, faith and family are anchored in people's lives. "Permanent values" according to Appenzellers.

Our 24 hour stay ended with fanfare. Bags packed, hop in elevator, push R for reception area, door closes, elevator doesn't move, push button again, nothing, push alarm, nothing, push alarm again and again, reception guy responds in German, we don't understand him, push alarm again, reception guy responds in English, "I'm working on it!"

My panic attack started two seconds after realizing there was no escape hatch in the ceiling.(this was like an MRI, we might die! maybe!) After 1o minutes or so reception guy had forced open the door with a wrench saying, "Would you like breakfast now?"

Driving out of Appenzell Town on the wrong road again (mountains block navigation systems) we felt fortunate to drive around, and around. Gorgeous mountains still look good the third and fourth time!

Our Swiss Hero

Leaving France Saturday morning the only gas station we found took credit cards, however for some unknown reason, not ours. Almost on the big "E" we headed to Switzerland, which might prove tricky, their currency is francs not the euro.(we had no francs)

Our gas gauge read 68 miles, Geneva was 65 kilometers. (uphill or downhill) Passing mountains weren't quite as stunning as they might have been if the "oh! oh!" thought would not have been hanging over us.


Made it to Geneva, now where is a station? Friendly Mr. Frydrick Gas Station Guy only took cash. We both gave him our best "pretty please smile" and he agreed to euros. He also had a headlight bulb to replace ours that had burnt out the first trip day.


Tom now admired the Alps more: snow peaks, green valleys, grazing farm animals and rural homesteads.

The Scarf (Enter and Win One!)

Here we have an American in Europe

fashionably wearing a scarf




We haven't had a blog contest in several months,

so here's 2009's first!

Four pictures of me with my favorite five-Euro scarf are featured in this blog.



ONE



Photos 1,2,3, and 4 show different ways of wearing a scarf from these four countries:



Spain, United States, France and Germany.


TWO



Identify which country is Number 1 etc. and write a 25 word essay on scarfs.







Do you wear them? like them? think I should wear them?



THREE




Be creative in your writing!






Please enter to win a SCARF! (of course) Deadline for entries is April 15.


FOUR

Your prize will be mailed to you along with a chocolate treat!






"Scarves are the must-have accessory of the moment, according to Yasmin Swell, fashion director of London's iconic Liberty Store, situated just off Regent Street. (anyone ever been there, haven't heard of it, Harold's in London been there, remember not to take pictures in the store, they don't allow it and let you know, quickly)

Seaside Digs

Tom felt like he had died and went to heaven when we visited Cadaques, a small whitewashed fishing village. It was dubbed the "St. Tropez of Spain" in the 1960s. A laid-back lifestyle appealed to him as he marveled at deep blue water and a bright shimmering sun from our room's balcony.

Salvador Dali, one of Spain's famous artists, had a workshop and home near Cadaques. We learned from our tour that the home was made from fisherman's huts structured into a labyrinth. Intellectuals and artists have often chosen the coastal town for inspiration.


Casino Coffeehouse, the local place to be, served a most creative little cup of brew. "Cremat" a rum/coffee drink with sugar sprinkled on top served flambe style. It was one of those flavors that sticks on the taste buds and clears out your sinuses for a few days. Thank you, but I think one of these bombs is enough! (Have to be daring and try these things!)

High on the Mountain

2,400 feet above sea level, high in the mountains, is the Monastery of Montserrat, considered the most holy place of Catalonia. It has been a pilgrimage site for over 1,ooo years. Today 30 Benedictine monks continue a lifestyle of work and prayer.

Blue skies and mountain air let one feel free and peaceful when visiting. A panoramic and dramatic view is much like that of Arizona's Grand Canyon. Nature's beauty is most impressive!
Montserrat looks over a valley northwest of Barcelona.




A small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary is the Basilica's centerpiece. The only Black Virgin found, she was carved sometime during the 12th century.










A lovely courtyard garden of votive candles honors Mary.







Well worth the challenging drive of a series of mountain switchbacks. Our afternoon visit was a perfect setting for reflection and appreciating life.