Monday, January 18, 2010

24 hours in Innsbruck

On Saturday I worked from 7-noon and then Justin and I packed up and headed to the train station. We caught the 2:04 train to Innsbruck, and an hour and 20 min later we were there. We found a tourist info stand and the guy booked us a hotel room, and bought two Innsbruck Cards which got us free access to almost every tourist attraction and public transport. We headed out to the ski jump as the sun was setting. The lift from the base of the viewing area up to the jump tower was having issues so we were taken by taxi on a wild ride up the back hills. We looked around and took some pictures and looked down in awe of the height of the jump. We then took the taxi back down the hill and went in the stadium viewing area. We just barely missed the bus so we had to wait about 35 min for the next one. We walked around for a little and caught the next bus that took us back to town, then walked across the bride over the River Inn or Innsbruck. Our hotel was off this little single lane street just off the bridge. We had a little room on the first floor(American 2nd floor) dropped off our things, stopped by the movie theater two doors down from our hotel and found out Avatar was playing in 3D and in English that night so we got tickets and then went out to Magic Pizza for a bite to eat. We walked down to the Golden Roof which is one of the most photographed sights in Innsbruck and went back to the hotel for a 2 hour nap so we could stay awake for Avatar. The movie was good, we both enjoyed it and then went back to our room and slept. We got up and ate breakfast at the hotel and then checked out and walked across the bridge and got pictures of the Golden Roof and City Tower during day light, stopped at the St Jakob Church and then up to the Congress House train/cable car station and went up to the top of Hafelekar Mountain which is at 2256 meters. The stops along the way were breath taking rising up above the clouds. Once at the top we watched a group of people climb over the wall and make their own trail down the mountain. We rode down to the Alpine Zoo and again used our Innsbruck cards for free entry. We walked around and looked at the bear and lots of birds and the fish, as well as many others and then took the train back down to the Congress Center. We walked through town making a stop at the Triumphal Arch and then to the train station, grabbed a bite to eat and made it to the train for the ride home.
Slightly chilly but a great trip.
Check out some pictures at...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087488&id=44801562&l=5eab7592e8

Saturday, January 9, 2010

SC Riessersee Ice Hockey Game vs Munich

Last night Justin and I went to the Olympia Eissport Zentrum here in Garmisch for the local hockey team's game against rival Munich. We joined about 6000 others in the arena and found some seats in section Q in the second row. The game started with introductions with lots of lights and flame and many of the local fans lighting sparklers.



We had been told that there wasn't much contact in the German style of ice hockey but it seemed pretty similar to what we've seen in the States. There was a section to our right behind the goal that was filled with standing Munich fans and their drums and flags and at the opposite end of the ice was a section of Garmisch fans and their flags and drums as well. Due to our proximity to the Munich fans they seemed louder but I'm sure our Garmisch supporters were equally as loud if not louder. The score was 2 to 4 with Munich winning and Justin and I decided that with 4 min left in the game we were cold and the score most likely wouldn't change. The arena wasn't heated and we weren't prepared for it to be as cold as it was so a sausage as a snack and some jumping during the breaks warmed us some but not enough. We walked to the taxi stand at the Mc Donalds and paid the 5 euros to get us home the rest of the way. Fun but cold night. Next time we'll dress warmer.

Pictures of course....
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2086824&id=44801562&l=3a957cca54

Monday, January 4, 2010

2,962m

This past Sunday Justin and I woke up to a beautiful day and decided to make the trip up to the top of the Zugspitze. We got ourselves together and had a quick breakfast and walked to the train station. We found out that I had to get my ticket at the Zugspitze Bahn Station which is separate from the regular train station. So we walked under the tracks to the Zugpsitze Bahn and talked to the ticket lady, paid my 37 euro and got my ticket. We got on the 12:15 train and worked our way along the tracks at the base of the mountains. We had to switch trains once along the way and we snaked our way up and through the Zugspitze in a dark tunnel up to 2600m and the Zugspitzplatt. We walked around outside the Zugspitzplatt area and walked up to the highest church in Germany. Justin picked up a postcard of it for his grandmother. We then went back inside and waited for the cable car up to the top. We elbowed our way in and I got a spot next to the window for some pictures as the car worked its way up the last ~360m to the top. We walked around inside the lodge at the top which has a little history museum area and a restaurant and cafe. We then went up to the outside viewing area which is basically the roof of the building. The view was amazing! We took pictures and tried to stay warm. There is a walkway over the border with Austria which we went through and I took some pictures of the mountains to Italy and Switzerland. So pretty. We then went back inside and had a hot drink and snack at the cafe and then caught the Eibsee-Seilbahn cable car down the mountain which took only 10 minutes. We then waited for the next train(we missed the 3:15 one by about 30 seconds) and made our way back to the Hausberg stop where Justin works and walked home from there. Beautiful day with a spectacular view.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2086451&id=44801562&l=f37a327eff

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Prosit Neujahr! Happy New Year!

New Years Eve Justin and I both had to work, he during the day on the slopes and at the resort for the kids night out program, and I just for the evening at Market Station. We both finished at about the same time and we biked into town together while dodging the locals' fireworks and crackers they were shooting off in their driveways and on the sidewalks. I'd been warned about how intense it would be with everyone shooting fireworks everywhere, but wow. We met up with other Edelweiss people, had our drinks at midnight, then went into the fenced area where people were dancing to a DJ for a couple hours of fun times. We danced the night away.
Good times with great friends and an exciting way to ring in 2010.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2086159&id=44801562&l=b8ec67a4f7

The Russische Nationalballett

Justin and I both had Sunday off and I had seen signs around for the Russian National Ballet for that night. It's been a while since I'd seen a ballet, let alone been in one so I was excited to go. Justin had never been to a ballet I think so he wasn't as excited but still it was something to do and how many chances would we get to see the Russian National Ballet in Garmisch? So we walked down to the Kongress Hall which is a facility with several conference/show rooms. We were 45 min early for the ticket sales so we walked around the Marienplatz for a while and then returned and got in line for the tickets. We realized when we were second in line that the tickets weren't 10 euro like we thought and the cheapest ones were 26 euro each. This meant we were 2 euros short. We happened to see Tom and Anna(Ski and Snow board instr that work with Justin) in like behind us. Justin went to talk to them, got two Euro, and gave them the heads up on the price because they didn't have enough either so Anna ran to the atm. Once all of our tickets were purchased we walked to the gleuwein stand and had a drink while we waited for the show to start as it was still another 45 min. The show was great. I hoped there would be a theme like The Nutcracker or something but I couldn't figure it out if their was one. There were some really cute local girls and one little boy that danced too. It was a great night.
On Wednesday afternoon the Jura City Biathalon was happening in the Marienplatz. After work I went to base to get some groceries then walked to town and watched for about a half hour as the racers warmed up. I brought the food home and then went back into town for the evening. I met up with Justin and several of his coworkers and we watched the races and then some ATVs race at the end. We went to the after party for a little while before going to Rambutan, a local asian place, for dinner. Interesting decor inside the restaurant. Lots of fun and very interesting couple of days!
Check out the pictures...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2086160&id=44801562&l=f51bd6c500