You Go Nate!

INNSBRUCK, I MUST VISIT THEE...
(obscure title reference... see here)

The weather in April was especially spring-like. With the flowers in bloom, the leaves growing green again, and the sun growing warmer, I felt it was time to go back to the mountains. I had long had the wish the visit the heart of the Tirolean Alps just south of Munich in Austria. So on a sunny Saturday I took the train to the city of Innsbruck, nestled in the Inn Valley in the Tirol region of Austria...

On the way there the train passed by the town of Garmish, where I came a few times last year, at the foot of the high Bavarian Alps...

I passed by the town of Mittenwald, where I visited last October, on the German-Austrian border...

...as the train traveled further into Austria the mountains towered above on every side. There was even snow as the train reached the top of the pass...

...and then we started our descent into the Inn Valley....

From here the train ride was an experience in and of itself. As we passed over rocky cliffs, through dark and narrow tunnels, and under ancient bridges, it felt like a ride at Disneyland.

If you look closely here you can see another railway on the other side of the mountain...

Finally the train entered the valley...

And before long, I was in Innsbruck. I secured a map of the city and went out into town.

I happened by a flea market underway in the shadow of an old church. These Saturday flea markets occur all over Germany on nice days like this, and walking through is like a little museum with price tags.

What was especially interesting were the tables with medals, ribbons, and even helmets from WWII Nazi soldiers. The swastikas all had stickers placed over them. I'm guessing it is because Austria has the same law as Germany that it is illegal to publicly display swastikas. Here is the flea market in action...

There were quite a few tourists that day as I walked through the narrow alleyways....

And then I came to Innsbruck most famous monument, the GOLDEN ROOF...

From Wikipedia:

"The Golden Roof was built by Archduke Friedrich IV in the early 15th century as the residence of the Tirolean sovereigns. The Golden Roof actually is the three-story balcony on the central plaza at the heart of the Old Town. It was constructed for Emperor Maximilian I to serve as a royal box where he could sit in luxury and enjoy tournaments in the square below. Completed at the dawn of the 16th century, the Golden Roof was built in honor of Maximilian's second marriage, to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan. Not wishing to alienate the allies gained by his first marriage, to Maria of Burgundy, he had an image of himself between the two women painted on his balcony."

Honestly, it isn't that impressive, in fact it's kind of funny how popular it is.


Next to the GOLDEN ROOF is this fancy schmancy Rococo-art building...

Here we have the GOLDEN ROOF, the Golden Arches, and a Silver Woman...

From behind the column in this long plaza is usually a classic Innsbruck photo op, but the plaza was under construction. It's still cool to have the mountains towering high above you wherever you are in the city...

Innsbruck means "bridge on the Inn River"...

The riverfront area was very nice. Here you can see a forest fire going on in the mountains above...

Spring was springing all around with spring like blossoms and spring mountain spring snow springy spring statue spring springing spring spring...

For lunch I ate Goose with rotkohl, knödel, gravy, and an Austrian Almdudler to drink. It was very lecker!

After eating my goose I found a demonstration going on in the main square. It was a bunch of people dressed up like different animals and carrying a cross. A man in a butcher's outfit followed behind them with a whip while protestors brought up the rear carrying banners. They were protesting the slaughter of livestock for meat apparently, and even though it was Easter weekend, I found the crucifixion reference to be in bad taste (no pun intended... ok a little bit intended...)

They didn't attract too much of a crowd, but the police were there to keep order just in case someone who really likes ham decided to get violent...

Another famous Innsbruck monument is this arch that was built by the emporers for a wedding years ago...

I took a nice stroll into the southern foothills near the world-famous Olympic ski jump (upper left corner)...

There from had I a wonderful view over the city...

Back to the GOLDEN ROOF....

I realize that many of my pictures are of nature and architecture, so I decided to try doing a few people shots. It was a lot harder than I thought, and I wasn't too pleased with the results. But I'm still learning. Here are a few that were OK...

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?



Waiting...



What do Elvis, Johnny Depp, Bill from Tokio Hotel, Albert Einstein, and this guy all have in common?



Wetting of the Whistles

Next I climbed the steps of the City Tower...

for a commanding view above the city...

My heart started to soften towards the GOLDEN ROOF at this point...

This is best viewed on IMAX...

All over the city were ancient water fountains spouting fresh and cold alpine water. I made sure to fill my water bottle before leaving the city. This fountain even had a pony!...

Next was the St. Jakob Cathedral. Outside wasn't too remarkable...

But I found the interior to be very pleasant...

I walked by the Theatre...

...to the royal Hofgarten, which is now a park. Spring was springing a springlike spring spring again...

I liked this statue...

I thought I'd hit the money shot with this photo of a guy almost picking his nose...

... but it was just a scratch.

I felt like I was in a Jehovah's Witness pamphlet or something...

As the evening approached, I followed the river bank again...

Innsbruck is one of the most livable cities I've ever seen...

I finished off the day enjoying the sunset from a bridge on the Inn (where I also ran into the Mormon missionaries)...

And so I hoofed it back to the train station for my ride back to Munich.

Innsbruck, I must leave thee...

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