Innsbuck and home

The train went from Seefeld to Zirl (our starting point) in a few short minutes and then on to Innsbruck. It was really hot there, especially in the sun. We wandered around looking for souvenirs and ice cream, and amazing ourselves with the prices of the gear in outdoor shops, and then walked along the river to the Hofgarten. We found a shady spot under a large tree in the park and sat and read. I read A Stroke of the Pen: The Lost Stories of Terry Pratchett, a collection of his early writings published in a local newspaper under a pseudonym. They didn't quite have the brilliance of his mature work, but it was still entertaining to read them.
As evening approached, we searched on Google for a suitable restaurant, but there was nothing to be found. Seeing it was a Monday, most places were closed. So, we decided just to wander into town and see what we could find. Somewhat to my surprise, we did quite quickly find somewhere good. There was a small restaurant on the cathedral square where we could sit outside and eat. Most of the customers were students, so the prices were reasonable as well. A group of swifts was circling around overhead, calling to each other.
Then it was time to get our train, so we headed for the station. This time, we were sharing our carriage with two other people. One was a quiet academic, who had been to a maths conference there. The other was a full-time professional mountain guide. He told us that he didn't like to walk up the same mountain twice as that would be boring. I nearly fell off my chair with shock. Before we started the trip, I had re-read Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain, arguably the best book nature ever written. She walked in the Cairngorm mountains for many years, in all weathers and seasons, before she felt that she had an intimate enough knowledge of the region to write about it. Also, from my own experience, I cycle the same tracks on the Veluwe time after time, and it is always different, and I never tire of it.
The next morning, we got in to Arnhem and Utrecht on time, and it was all over.Read more