A Vacation from the Vacation
Trip Start
May 04, 2008
1
12
18
Trip End
May 28, 2008
Hopfgarten im Brixental,
Tyrol,
Austria
Friday, May 16, 2008
We arrived in Hopfgarten, Austria at about 10am after a short two hour coach ride. After quickly dropping our bags off we left for a 26 km mountain bike ride through the Austrian countryside. We biked about 20 km with frequent breaks up the side of the mountain (not very far up though) to a small restaurant in the middle of the hills where we were served bratwurst, potato salad, and refreshments and had the option of purchasing dessert as well (which I did) including an Austrian cake with marmalade in the middle for 3 euro (quite tasty). After relaxing for about an hour we finished the final 6 km going downhill the whole time back to the campsite. This excursion was great since we had a beautiful day and got to relax from all the walking and have a break from the churches. If you do not go on the mountain bike ride but do paragliding, you would be going at this time, however I highly recommend the bike ride as everyone enjoyed it immensely
White Water Rafting
. Also, they give you the option of doing the 'short cut' to the restaurant. The short cut may take 20 minutes instead of the hour, but you're paying for a bike ride, so take it. Also, the short cut is up a steep hill the whole way (the way you come down at the end is the way up) and is actually probably more difficult than the regular route. Take in the scenery, take your time, take pictures, do the long way! You also had a chance to buy photos along the way as well. Immediately after you return from the bike ride (which you can keep the bikes til 5pm as everyone in Austria owns a much nicer bike then you, it wont get stolen) its off to go paragliding. Now, I am afraid of heights and the prospect of jumping off a mountain was rather daunting, but I love thrill rides so I had to do it. It is quite expensive to do this one, but everyone loves it (I would maybe pass if you've been skydiving before as you have already experienced this, although the views are breathtaking). 9 of us that went on the bike ride signed up for paragliding and hopped into a little van and went up the mountain to a gondola lift where we met our instructors who we would be tandem with. Since there were only 3 instructors we had to take 3 shifts going up to
the top, and I volunteered to go up first. You take the gondola up for some breathtaking views on both sides of the hill where you can see for 20-30 km in every direction
White Water Rafting
. It only takes about 5 minutes for them to unravel the parachute and to strap you in. The best thing about thisexcursion is you can take your camera with you and tie it on your jacket so that it wont fall. You can also purchase a roll of film that the instructor would take pictures from a long pole for 15 euro. I asked mine to do it however he must not have heard me and I did not get them. After getting strapped in you take a few strides and are air born for about 10 minutes (7 if you decide to do tricks, which are intense) while gliding over hopfgarten. The setup time is so fast the others I went up with said they turned around talking for a minute and when they turned back I was already gone. As for the heights, when you are strapped in it is so serene that you barely even notice that youre so high up. Worth every penny!
By the time these two were over it was about 4pm and we had a chance to go into town to buy some souvenirs. Of course I had to get my obligatory shot glass (1.5 euro) and a pastry for a snack (1.65 euro). After wandering around the beautiful sleepy little town it was back to the chateau for a shower before the dinner and the first theme party of the trip (80s night!). The chateau is definitely my least favorite spot of the tour as most of the rooms only had a toilet, toilet and shower, or nothing at all and the standard 4 beds in bunk bed style
Hostel Room
. I got stuck in the nothing at all option and had to share a communal bathroom that was not kept up in the nicest of ways. In either event it was just a brief shower and we were only there for one night so I can put it past me. For dinner we received a welcome shot of Apple Schnapps and had Goulash, Schnitzel, Potatoes, and an Apple Strudel to eat which were all amazing. After dinner we had a short break before playing Battle of the Sexes which the guys won handily in a tie-breaker strip tease contest (where the team leader got completely naked and danced on a pole). After the contest we had an 80s theme party with the other tour groups which was a lot of fun until the 80s music was stopped and crappy rap music put on. Then I decided to end the night as white water rafting was early the next morning!
May 17th, 2008
We woke up earlier today at 6am to catch a 6:45 breakfast with much welcomed eggs, bacon, and orange juice (real orange juice too). We left at 7:30 to catch the 9am white water rafting (those who did not go stayed on the coach and met us at the end). The rapids were rather spaced out and were considered to be level 3. Not too bad for never having done it before, but I would have liked it to be a bit stronger and more rapids. In either case, over an hour on the river was a blast even if the water was about 50°F and very cold. At the end of white water rafting you get a free shot of schnapps (at 10am) and hot showers which were quite welcomed. I recommend this excursion if you have never done white water rafting or would just like to take in the scenery on the river, it was a blast too. All of the excursions helped make Austria one of my favorite countries (behind Switzerland) of the entire tour. You also had a chance to buy photos along the way as well.
Once everyone was cleaned up we caught the bus at about 11:30 and headed into Italy with a rest stop for 45 minutes just over the Italian border where I purchased a Penne Pasta with Bread and Prusecco for 8.30 euro. Then from there it was another 3 hours and 15 minutes until we reached the campsite in Venice!
