Hotel Klosterbraeu Seefeld

... 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 ...

... probably look even better in the daylight.

We went back to our very nice hotel. Normally we would not pick a place like this but when my parents took a room the guy at reception offered us a very good deal so we could stay in the same hotel. We told him we would think about it and went down the street to another hotel, and it was 20 euros cheaper but at least 40 euros dodgier. So we went back and I got my mom to ask if he would take another 10 euros of the price (I am ...

... 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 ...

... too.
The rest of the tour took us to Linderhof castle and Neuschwanstein castle. What magical looking places they were. Neuschwanstein is the castle Walt Disney uses the sillohette of at the start of his movies. Anyway, after the trip it was back to Munich for a day or so and then on the plane home.

... it was full of Dutch campers and had great facilities. A Dutch guy came over to us when we were hooking up the electricity and said "I just have to ask you, how the hell do you get a campervan to Europe from Australia?" So we talked to him for ages and then headed off 100 meters down the road to find the local pub. Well this was an even funnier experience because only the young bar tender who looked about 17 could speak broken English and his Dad who owned the bar kept coming up ...

... she likes crosscounty more than downhill, will be purchasing a suitable lycra outfit before our next x-c outing.... very hard saying goodbye to memma, bill and gina at the train station (it was 5 in the morning after all). Very efficient train into Innsbruck and only just made our connection on a train to Vienna (almost too efficient these austrians). Stunning mountain scenary for much of the trip....... ps. will pop up some more photos when we have access to the haebich's shots...

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!