2024 Thursday Aug 29

Innsbruck

We got a late start, sleeping in after two very early mornings. Then required tasks of buying some groceries and visiting the laundromat kept us busy into the afternoon. The weather was sunny but hot—mid 80’s. Luckily by evening it began to cool a bit.

Richard’s Relive video is here:            https://www.relive.cc/view/v36ARGWB3Zq

The laundromat had more machines (20 washers!) than I’ve ever seen and no one there in the early afternoon. For 4 Euros per washer and 1 Euro for a dryer, we made quick work of a required task.
The buses are wonderful here. We’ve never waited even five minutes and have always gotten a seat. People seem to help each other and we’ve seen shoppers with purchases, baby carriages, and wheelchairs on the buses. There are racks outside on the back where bicycles can be stowed. Wonderful system.
The ski jump is viewed from the bus ride home from the laundromat. We see more buildings from the 1976 Winter Olympics near our apartment as well.
The festival seems to involve clowning and circus-like activities. From our perspective, it seems to be an end-of-summer family activity.
This woman seemed to be a Pied Piper, telling some story (?) while kids followed along.
Many of the trees had these goofy masks—each different.
Beautiful park gardens.
Back to the main tourist street Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse. This home with a Baroque facade, was decorated by a stucco plasterer who moved into it in 1723.
This golden-roofed house was the residence of Duke Friedrich IV. The late Gothic oriel window is covered with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) to commemorate his wedding to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan.
We ate at a restaurant in the shadow of this building, Ottoburg. It claims to be the oldest building in Innsbruck, dating to 1180 when Otto II built a defense tower here. It is now an inn as well as a restaurant.
The clock tower which can be climbed (not yet, Richard).
The Cathedral of St. James is an 18th century Baroque cathedral dedicated to the apostle St. James. The church was built 1717 to 1724 on the site of a 12th century Romanesque church.
I didn’t find much to identify St. James, except possibly this image on horseback.
The Bishop’s House is next to the Cathedral and was first mentioned in 1469. It was the residential home of priests of the pilgrimage. The sequence of numbers 1.1.0 is an approximation of the date of the birth of Jesus Christ, thus symbolizing a turning point in history. It also suggests a common emergency number and a fictitious date of birth for refugees without documents.
More views from the River Inn.
Leaving the beautiful river views just after sunset. Tomorrow will be another beautiful day.

9 Responses

  1. What beautiful buildings are amazing! the homes with the pastel colors are gorgeous! See any cool doors? I’m a sucker for all this architect, I’m hooked!

    1. The architecture is amazing and it seems like each building tries to outdo their neighbors. Hmm, I’ll think about any unusual doors and get back to you.

  2. You are taking such beautiful pictures. Especially like the clouds you’ve included in many of the backgrounds. Really highlights the photographs you’ve taken. Looks like the weather is holding up. Better a bit of heat rather than cooler with rain.
    Dan

    1. I am really tired of heat and nothing has been air conditioned since Washington, I now consider it a good hotel or apartment when we get a fan. I have mostly long-sleeved clothes so it’s laundry in the sink almost every night. Have you noticed we look the same in every picture?

  3. I like the sunset pictures by the River Inn. The lighting brings out some mystery. The trail, the steps certainly would rate this path as you had better be in shape.

    1. I don’t know if it is the weather or what made the unusual sky, but I last saw a similar effect when we were in Toledo Spain in 2022. I keep wondering if I’m too old to be in some of these trails, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hurting, but the body does heal itself so I want to keep going. It’s probably not a lot different for your half marathons.

      1. Jan and Richard, I don’t hike Bee Rock trail anymore. The balance is too tricky. Yes, the body does seem to heal and for hiking, well, it can be addictive because the sights are spectacular. Keep going.

        1. I think there are definitely trails that are too difficult/dangerous to be done again. Sounds like you’ve found yours, and I have several (Eiger Walk is on that list). Hiking has two gains for me—spectacular sights and the surprises when slowing down.