There wasn't actually any snow settled on the ground down in Innsbruck itself while we were there, which we were kind of hoping for - but it was too early into winter. It actually did snow a couple of times while we were out and about in the Old Town - but it just never settled. I'm so glad we had 5 days there though because otherwise we may have missed seeing the mountains - which I would have found really disappointing! The place looked so different when the mountains were clear of cloud. We had cloud covering most of the mountains for the first 2 days... you could still see the snow on the low part of the mountains, like in the photos below and it still looked really beautiful but it's a completely different sight seeing the tops of the mountains and just how high they are. Innsbruck has some lovely buildings.
On our 2nd day we decided to take the cable car up the mountain to see some real snow! It wasn't as clear a day as we would have hoped but it was better than the day before so we thought we'd better just go. The girls were anxious to play in some snow too! The first 2 sections of the cable car are actually more like a cable railway. It was quite fascinating how it all worked actually - but I'm not going to even try and explain it!
Our journey started at Congress station which is at 560m, we went past the Alpine Zoo, which we thought if we had time we might come back to - but we never got there. So our first stop was at Hungerburg Station, which is at 860m. There were lots of houses here and it felt very much like the Winter Wonderland we had been looking for - everything was covered in white and it was really peaceful with not many people around.
We could see down into Innsbruck a little - not as much as we would have liked because of the cloud, but it wasn't too bad. There were a few stalls set up here for another Christmas Market (they are just everywhere really!), we had a bit of a look around and headed to the next cable car station.
{Check out the size of Em's snowproof gloves!!!)
This time we were actually on a cable car and not a cable railway. I'm not really a big fan of cable cars but this one was so smooth and felt really safe that I actually enjoyed it! The cloud was getting pretty thick though, so unfortunately we couldn't see a lot other than what was right in front of us. I did see a couple of skiers too - which kind of felt surreal!
When we made it to the next level we were at 1905 m and there were skiers and snowboarders everywhere. There wasn't much of a place to play with the kids - but it was good enough! You couldn't really see anything out in front of you past about 10 meters and it was amazing watching the skiers head down disappearing into the cloud! Elle got some cool snow sled things while she was in Finland - so she left them here for us to take and have a play on. The girls got a bit scared but they were so awesome. They were SO fast that we could hardly use them because you couldn't see where you were going! Can't wait to have a good go with them without the fear of a snowboarder running over you!
After a while Emily started to get cold and tired so we thought we'd better head back down. There was actually one more level to go to reach the top - which would have put us at 2256 m but because the girls already had colds we thought we'd better start heading down. It was a bit sad not to be able to go all the way to the top but I am so glad we didn't because Emily started coughing quite badly in the cable car (it was quite a worry at one point) but a nice man gave her a lolly to suck on which really helped. Not sure what the lolly was, it may have been some sort of cough lolly but when I went looking for cough lollies later that day - I couldn't find any because I couldn't read any of the damn packets!! (It's not all fun being in a country that speaks another language!)
When we were back at Hungerburg it started snowing quite a bit. It fell so gracefully and felt like magic really. Lani and I now know what it's like to be in a snow-globe!!!!
Not sure exactly what that lolly was Emily ate - may have even been a sedative - but she was asleep about 10 minutes later!! Here she is on Daddy's back with a scarf over her head to keep the snow out!
I thought we would return with lots more photos in the snow - but it's just too hard taking photos while trying to play in the snow - especially when it's actually snowing!
We took this photo the next day from out a bus window - right in the middle you can see the cable railway track - it was pretty steep!
Finally some blue sky! I was very excited to see some blue sky. It didn't make it any warmer - and maybe even colder, but nothing beats seeing a blue sky when you have been looking at thick clouds for a few days! These were taken on our third day - we caught a bus out to Swarovski Crystal World, which took about 30 minutes - but boy it was a nice 30 minutes! We were on a coach and it was warm and clean and had big windows - so the drive was really quite pleasant. Innsbruck all of a sudden got a lot bigger than we thought it was. The mountains don't quite seem so big when you are not completely under them, but it was nice to come out here and see them.
It's a little hard to get the full glory of it all in just a photo - because the best part is that these mountains are 360˚. I also strongly believe that I am finding them SO much more fascinating because we have been in England for 12 months, and like I have said before it is truly amazingly SO flat in England!! I am really looking forward to seeing Mount Wellington when we get back.
I just love mountains... especially tipped with snow! It was pretty cold out here though - freezing actually!
When we first researched heading up to Nord Park on the cable car we were so so excited and couldn't wait to get up there and take some pictures like this. But I guess you would probably have to spend a couple weeks there in hopes to get a perfectly clear day like that! Anyway check out some of these photos for a look at the cable rail and cars and the mountains in a more panoramic view! They are awesome.... and WE WERE UP THERE! (We just couldn't see anything!)
Skiing is definitely on our 'things to do list', so maybe when this next exam is over that's how we will celebrate!
6 comments:
These photos are beautiful. The snow ones look great. Seem like you had a good time. Not long and you'll be home.
LOVE the photos of the snow! And Em's snow proof gloves are a crack up!! Wouldn't skiing be so fun!! xx
I would love to go skiing too! Pretty sure I would suck at it though... Girls look cute in all their snow gear :) You'll need to strip off when you get back here, we've been having such nice weather!
Skiing is on my list too!!!!! SO when you go I am coming,. but I might make that my next trip.. so... that exam better be done soon!
p.s how funny is emily on micks back asleep lol!
You guys look so very chic and COOL in your snow gear!!
Leigh took me skiing once, I went ok...well really I suxed but it was fun. Over the N/Y we rigged up some plans to stay with some friends and ski some later in the year.
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