Day 29

Day 29 - Innsbruck Tuesday 27th July

It's getting awfully cold!!!
After 'choofing' our way from Bolzano, we arrived in pretty Innsbruck at 1.00pm.
It took three cable car trips to get to Havelekar which is the peak of the mountain that looms over Innsbruck. The first cable car actually takes you underground before heading up the mountain. It was absolutely freezing up there and fairly cloudy, but we got some great views of the city and the mountainous surrounds.
You have to climb the last two hundred metres. The thin air had us panting in no time!

Walked through Innsbruck's old section of town
and saw the Goldenes Dachl with its gilded copper mosaics on the roof (see picture Day 30). It was built by Emperor Maximilian 1 and this part of the 'middle ages' city oozes opulence.













As you can see, the hotel room was huge - and only 60 Euros!

Day 28

Day 28 - Bolzano Monday 26th July
Mission Accomplished!!

A special message for 7A .... well, like I promised, I've finally met up with Otzi (The Iceman). I found him and all his bits and pieces in the South Tyrol Museum Of Archaeology in Balzano (northern alps of Italy)Unfortunately I was not permitted to take photos inside the museum but here I am outside. I feel almost like he is an old friend as I have taught about him for many years.
Otzi is in a special atmosphere controlled chamber and you have to look at him through a window about the size of a big TV screen (I'll get a picture off the net).

He looks just like the photos we studied but he was not very tall. He looks pretty good for 5,000 years old though!

Apart from his clothing, he was carrying an amazing amount of things with his primitive wooden back-pack. Arrows, tools, daggers, tinder, food and nedicine (fungus). All of these are quite well preserved.

Three hours of train travel took us from the romantic waterways of Venice to the top of the world in Balzano. We stopped over in Verona (Romeo and Juliet country) and followed an endless valley rimmed with steep escarpments to the alps.

Took the cable car up to Oberbolzen. Wow!! The photos don't really do justice to the views. Would love to come back here and do some of the walking trails.

Day 27

Day 27 - Venice Sunday 25th July

Can't believe it's our last day in Venice!
Took the ferry to Murano, the island in Venice that is famous for its Venetian glass.
At the glass blowing factory we watched as the man made a vase and a fish before our very eyes!! The quality of the glassware on display was incredible...so was the price! Had to restrain Debbie but I think she got under my guard a couple of times.
Murano is a relatively quiet, beautiful place.
Off to Balzano tomorrow to find Otzi!

Day 26

Day 26 - Venice Saturday 24th July

Didn't expect to see Nora Jones live tonight. She probably didn't expect to see us either! She was 'in concert' in San Marcos square. We saved the 50 Euros and watched and listened from about 200 metres away. The sound was perfect but Nora was a 'speck' on stage. She played some new songs and some golden oldies like "Sunrise'.


Spent the sunny moring exploring the narrow streets of Venice. Great shopping. Debbie was in her element, disappearing into jewellery shops looking for Venetian glass earings, necklaces etc. I was happier listening to the live music - violins, accordian, piano, clarinet and double bass. Checked out a couple of cakes too - apple and custard tart and an almond pastry!

After an afternoon siesta, we followed a line of people entering San Marcos basilica. Once inside we were trapped as it was actually a mass. I'm Mr Bean in church at the best of times and nearly slipped from my seat with boredom as I couldn't understand one thing the priest said! Luckily the choir was sensational and the gold leaf mosaics covering the ceilings were amazing. Very Byzantine!
Our stroll to Giardini was just in time for the sunset.

Day 25

Day 25 Venice Friday 23rd July

A restful, travelling day today. These 1st class Eurail tickets are the way to go!! Debbie seems to be finding the travelling a bit tiring - again! (see picture)

Caught the train from Genova to Milan for a two hour lunch break and then headed off to romantic Venice via Verona.

A slight language problem had me slurping on a lunchtime coffee liqueur instead of a cafe freddo (iced coffee).

As we approached venice, it bucketed down - our first rain! Fortunately, once we worked out the 'floating bus system', the skies cleared.


Venice is everything you would expect and the canals are amazingly clearn. There are boats darting all over the place, including the wildly romantic ..and wildly expensive... gondolas.

We made the most of our ferry tickets and toured the watery streets at night. As you can see, we were treated to a spectacular display of lightning in the distance which made a dramatic backdrop to the silhouetted city with its lights reflecting across the water.
Sat down for tea at a restaurant just down the road in Lido - lasagne and Greek salad!

Day 24

Day 24 - "Cinque Terre" Thursday 22nd July

Happy 21st birthday James!!!! Hope the Sunbury party went well! It was great to talk to you this morning.

Well, we have another 'must see' for all of you future Europe travellers. Cinque Terre is amazing! And..'mama mia', the trek between the villages can be demanding at times!
It takes a few hours (including stops) to walk the 12 km track along the cliff tops that join the five coastal villages. Fortunately, four of the five villages have excellent swimming off the rocks and this was welcomed as the humidity and heat made us a tad sweaty. The climbs between the last two places were fairly long and steep.
Words can't describe the incredible vistas you get of the villages propped on top of the cliffs.
Great food, magnificent scenery, friendly people, wonderful swimming, pretty villages ... what else could you ask for??
This was a BIG day...left at 8.00am and returned at 10.00pm.