Day 34: Innsbruck

We started with a nice breakfast in our hotel and then headed through town to the Hauptbahnhof (Main Station). On our way through town, we saw the Goldenes Dachl and strolled down Maria-Theresien Straße. The bottom of the Alps were visible and the boys were amazed and excited by them. They were equally excited when we stepped outside and realized it was snowing - quite a change from the 60º weather we were in two days ago in Rome! It was definitely fun to be in the snow, but Dave and I were wishing for the clouds to clear so the boys could get the full view of the Alps. On our walk, we were excited to see that the pizza restaurant where we had our first date in Innsbruck 22 years ago was still around - we will be heading there for dinner tonight.

We caught a bus up to Schönberg, at the edge of the Stubai Valley, where Dave and I taught at the Innsbruck International High School 22 years ago. There was enough snow for a small snow ball fight - I am not sure if the boys were happier about that or about getting to see part of our pre-children life. We walked past the old school and dorm buildings. The school is now a self-defense school and the dorm (Jagerhof) looks pretty abandoned and dilapidated. Still, just being on campus brought back so many memories of good times spent there!

 Although we had intended to hike to the next town, Mieders, given the weather conditions, we changed gears and decided to hike down to the Europabrücke instead. If we couldn't see the mountains, we would at least see the valley. It was cold and blustery, but the view was fantastic - hard to capture with a camera. It is also hard to capture the feeling of standing out on the second highest bridge in Europe (192 meters tall), feeling it bounce and sway under the weight of the huge trucks driving across it. One of the new additions since 1993 was a bungee jumping club - though they were not active today. Perhaps they are fair weather idiots. We felt nostalgic as we got on the bus to head back into Innsbruck on what is most likely our last trip on Bus 4140.

Back in town, we grabbed a late lunch and strolled through the pedestrian zone and eventually back to our hotel. Dave and I ran out to the post office to mail a package home. While we were in the post office, the cloud banks lifted and the ring of mountain surrounding Innsbruck could be viewed in all of its glory in the last bits of daylight. We hurried back to the hotel to drag the boys out before the light completely faded. We all stood on the Innbrücke and marveled at the massive beauty of the mountains covered in fresh snow, while the slate grey river flowed under foot and the Christmas Market was just beginning to gear up for the night. It was just one of those moments that even as you are appreciating it in its present beauty, you simultaneously understand that this will be one of your favorite memories of all time and that it is equally meaningful to each of the people sharing it with you.