Gartenhotel Maria Theresia Hall in Tirol

... it is covered with a chocolate ganache- it was delicious, much better than the day before.

The afternoon was Greg’s choice and we went to the Bergisel Stadium which is the new ski jump facility which was opened in 2001. This was on the site of the original ski jump facility which was used for the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. You went in a cable car, then a lift to the top ...

... you couldn’t be convicted unless you had confessed to the crime, so consequently torture was frequently used. There was a slide show with a description of Maximilian’s life and achievements. As was the custom of those times, his first marriage was one of political convenience but they also loved each other very much. He was devastated when she died, but again married for convenience, this time to a woman who had a large dowry ...

Walked to the train station and did an expedition to the supermarket to spend our last Swiss Francs as we are back to Euros in Austria. Had a stopover in Zurich for a while and then caught the train to Innsbruck. Again this was a scenic trip over the mountains and it started snowing and was very deep as we got higher- just beautiful scenery. Innsbruck is surrounded by mountains, all of which had snow on them.

We checked into our hotel where we ...

... did a bathroom stop at Point 3 and then went up to Edelpasse to have a look and take some photos. The cloud was fast moving with thermals and one minute the mountains were visable, the next they weren't! The little car struggled up and down the hills..2nd gear it chugged up and smelly brakes coming down but it was all good! We then headed up to the Josesf Franz point and saw the Glacier that was there..it ...

... been cleared and there was a wrapped set of cutlery that they left behind when clearing the table, and he got stuck with this one. The waitress refused to give him a new set. It was a bit strange as it would cost her nothing but 5 seconds to get him a new one and make him so much more comfortable eating his meal. He took the risk and hoped that the cutlery hadn't been played with by the previous occupants of our table.

It was time to move on so we piled into the car and ...

... well as a crystal on display that is larger than my head. The exhibits in each room vary considerably. In this case I think the pictures describe the museum much better than I can. Once at the end of the museum rooms, the visitor must pass through the showroom and store before leaving the facility. Mom and I had a lot of fun in the store and the men waited patiently for us to decide on ...

This was a lovely little place we stopped at on the bus tour to the castles. Unfortunately, being Sunday, most everything was shut (except for the souvenir shops that is). They have a woodcarving school there that I plan to stop at for a weeklong course on the next trip. But of course it was shut that ...

... I did not have a single problem with any meal I have had until our dinner in Hall. I thought I had ordered spaghetti with cheese and meat sauce but what was put onto the table in front of me was anything but. It was pretty much a plate full of onions with melted cheese on top. I guess every meal cant be to my liking. I could spend the rest of my life eating every meal in Italy though. Off to Hallstatt!!!

Another work conference for my parents brought us to Oberammergau for a week. We stayed in the cutest little wooden cottage - like the whole thing ceiling to floor and including flowering window boxes was made out of wood! Totally picturesque like you've read about in Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Aromatic town bakery. Absolutely enchanting.

Sadly, I dont remember much about Austria. Too bad because I have read so much about it lately as the music and art centre of Europe in the 1700s, I'd love to check that out.
I asked my dad recently if we had been there before. He said, 'oh yes, many times, we loved it'. Hmm, what a pity. I suppose it still counts because the images of scenery must be in my mind somewhere... curse this short memory of mine!