Innsbruck

We packed up and headed from Budapest to Innsbruck by train today. The first leg was originally going to take us to Vienna, and we would switch there to a train to Innsbruck. However, we had comfortable seats on this train, and I noticed that it was actually going as far as Munich via Salzberg, so we elected to stay on the train. In Salzburg we had a short wait for the final leg of the trip, which was about 1 3/4 hours in length. We were lucky to get seats because the train was very busy and we did not have reservations. We chose two seats that were reserved. However, the individuals that reserved those seats didn’t show up for the ride so we had the seats to ourselves.

It was just before 6 pm when arrived in Innsbruck. It was raining so we put on our rain jackets for the 15 min walk to our hotel. At the hotel, we took a short break and then went out for dinner. We found a nice place just around the corner, but they were sold out and we didn’t have a reservation. So, on we went, looking for other options. Eventually, we settled on a pizza/pasta restaurant just across the street from our hotel. It was a good dinner at an affordable price.

The following morning we headed out to find a spot for coffee and breakfast. We ended up at “The Breakfast Club”, but just as was the case with dinner last night, we needed a reservation. Luckily, they had a place for us in a second location nearby. We each had a coffee. Laura ordered French toast for breakfast and I had rice pudding. It was good.

Using an app with a walking tour, we started visiting some of the sights in the city. It was raining lightly but we had umbrellas from the hotel and our rain jackets. We visited the Triumphal Arch, built in 1765 to celebrate a wedding between Archduke Leopold and his bride, Princess Maria Luisa of Spain. And, Eduard-Wallnofer Square, Maria-Theresien Straße (a pedestrian only shopping street), The Golden Roof (constructed in the 1400’s to be a residence for the rulers of Tyrol) and the Town Tower (built in 1444). We then picked up some food at a grocer and went back to our room for a lunch break.

During lunch we looked at what else was of interest to us in Innsbruck. With the weather not being great, we decided to head to Schloss Ambras, a castle built in the 16th century and converted to a museum in 1880. Archduke Ferdinand II lived in the castle and while doing so designated an area to be used to house his collection of art and other items. The museum has existed ever since and is now considered to be the oldest in the world. We were absolutely amazed by the collections we saw in the museum. Especially, the collection of armour worn, and the weapons used, in battle and jousting competitions in the 16th century. As well, we were able to tour the rest of the castle and see the original Spanish Hall, the Chapel and a number of other rooms as well as the grounds surrounding the castle.

One art item, The Fools’s Plate, caught our attention. It is a detailed painting on a wooden plate created around 1528 and is an incredible document of the carnival of the early 16th century. We watched a short film and learned all about the hidden meanings in the painting. At first glance, it seems to be a confused jumble of almost 60 figures in numerous scenes. A closer look, reveals an ingenious system as well as precisely thought out connections in the painterly design.

We spent pretty much the entire afternoon on the visit to the castle. We tried to grab a dinner at an IKEA located near the castle, but we were a bit too late getting there. Instead, we went to a kebab restaurant in town instead. We toured a bit more on foot afterwards, saw the Imperial Palace and walked along a stretch of the river, doing a loop between two bridges across the river. By the time we were back at our hotel, we had again clocked 20,000+ steps!Read more