Munich and Innsbruck

Hello from Innsbruck! Wow, Wow, Wow!!!!  What an amazing time so far! After a long overnight flight from Singapore, we landed in Munich yesterday morning (was it only yesterday????) around 5am…… and we have done so much so far! We have already developed a dislike to our big bags so decided to leave them in a locker at the train station and hoped that they were still there in the morning! For 5 Euro, it was a great plan and saved our backs! The weather was great, 20C, warm enough to be out with shorts and a t-shirt…. Although many of the locals looked at us as if we were mad, as they were still rugged up in their woolies.

We walked through the main  part of the city of Munich, which is a pedestrian street only,  for many hours…… cobble stoned roads, amazing buildings, many of them with huge centre courtyards which now house cafes and restaurants, we went into St Michael’s church (goosebumps)…. said a prayer for Kim (Anna’s friend who passed away last week).

We just HAD to go into a Hofbrau Haus for a beer (on Astride’s recommendation!)  phew, even Tina had a half litre!!!!! 

Strawberries are plentiful (cheap, at 1.50 euro for 500g…. that’s about $2.20), white asparagus are the in thing, meats, cheeses….. we have found the prices to be reasonable as we convert Euro to Australian $’s.

 We tried so hard to beat jet lag, but an early night was needed!

This morning we caught a train from Munich to Innsbruck, a very pleasant 2 hour trip with breath-taking views of chalets, mountains, church spires and more snow-capped mountains. Again, we walked and walked the old city of Innsbruck….. what can I say, you really do need to be here to not only see but to feel this city. People love to be outdoors, they eat, drink and talk as they stroll or sit at outdoor tables. Paul has a new BFF…. Steve Liebman (ex-Today Show host). 

We saw two weddings, complete with rose petals and rice….. people were giving their congratulations to the bride and groom out in public, in front of the Golden Roof, so……  I went up to one of the brides to congratulate her too! I told her we were from Australia and that she looked so beautiful. Maybe she’ll remember that brief but unexpected greeting for years to come!

There are insufficient adjectives to describe the mountains, Paul loves the mountains, but even he cannot find the words. They are majestic, regal, as if sketched with charcoal and water washed paints. With the brilliant sun shine the snow covered peaks are blindingly white. The view from our bedroom window looks upwards towards these towering limestone peaks (too bad about the crane in  the middle of our view!)

The bell tower chimes every fifteen minutes, and then gloriously annunciates the hour -thank goodness for ear-plugs!

Tomorrow, being Sunday, the shops are closed, so we plan to visit the mountains via funicular railway  and cable car to take in more breath-taking views at 2,300 meters.

We do apologise if blog updates are sometimes few and far between, finding WIFI access seems to be harder than anticipated.

Hope you are all well, wish you were here (no, not really, it would be too crowded in our modest room - it's the compromise you must make for great views!)

Thankyou to all who have left us comments, they are greatly appreciated .  Lau.... my ears were fabulous, no problems at all. Alex.... always a wealth of knowledge! Bruno.... you are right, it does look like a saucer! Anna.... thankyou for acknowledging Lisa in your Mother's Day Run. Teresa, Joe.... we hope your mum's recovery is steady. Marcelle.... spent money already in Innsbruck, what a pity the shops are closed tomorrow, there were a few more things i had my eye on!!!! BG.... assuming it's Bob G..... thanks, We ARE here!!!! thanks too to Connie and Gino, Angela and Terry, Murray and Sally!!!!  Miss you Sal and Tim - heaps, Shads too. (that's from mum) xxxxx

Yr 2/3's .... hope you all have a brilliant start to Term 2, good luck with NAPLAN preparations!!!

Off to Milan on Monday, stay tuned!