Leaving Innsbruck, Austria

Wednesday was my last full day in Innsbruck before leaving for the UK. I needed to get some shopping done and Sabine need to go to an appointment so she dropped my off in the Old Town area and I did some looking around. So, only a few of you will understand my humor, but I'll give it a go. I'm walking in the Old Town down a very narrow street. All of a sudden a gray VW Bus comes driving toward me very very fast. Instead of getting out of the way all I could do was think, "Oh my God they found me. I don't know how, but they found me. Run for it Marty!" There's a reference for ya!

I walked around and found a really nice market. I don't know how to explain it, but it was like a farmers market, but indoors with a cafe', a butcher, a mini store, and plenty of fruit stands. It was a supermarket, but a little different than we have at home. I just thought it was cool.
Anyway, Sabine said she would take me Skiing today.

Skiing in Austria

Not Skiing in Austria

So, I didn't really get to go skiing. The equipment didn't fit and renting it would have been pricey and Sabine said, "I am not taking responsibility for anything that happens." We had fun anyway! Now, Sabine and I would head back in the house and watch an episode of "Married with Children" in German. It was fun! Al had a high whinnie voice, pretty funny!

Later Sabine took me to the post office and to a DVD store. I was trying to find the DVD of the Sound of Music since Sabine's parents had never seen it. No luck! BUT! Looking at all the German titles of popular American movies was a hoot! We took a car ride to a castle that Sabine used to work at and took a stroll around the grounds.

The Castle

The Grounds

Sabine and I hadn't really had that much time to hangout just her and I so I really enjoyed the little time that we got. We drove up the hill and stopped at another Austrian shop and then it was on to a small village called, "Igels". We walked into a local shop and then took a walk around the side-streets.

Igels

After, we walked into a small cafe and I bought us coffee and dessert. Sabine is a great girl and I do enjoy chatting with her. I always feel as if I've been a burden while I've been here because she is much quieter that I am so it can be hard to tell what she's thinking. However, there are moments when she lights up: like in the sweets shop, in the hat store, or when she finally laughs at one of the 1000 jokes I'm throwing at her all day. She has a cute way about her that makes her very pleasant to be around. Well, she's family after all so that's why she's so great!

We headed back down the hill and we had one more stop. It was a church and I knew exactly what it was. The very first day we were touring around Innsbruck Sabine #1 and Sabine #2 showed me a church. Sabine #1 said, "This is a beautiful church, but there one that I think is the most beautiful church in Innsbruck". Well, as I walked in the those doors on this cold Wednesday the most beautiful church in Innsbruck laid right before my eyes. I'm not much of a church goer, but this church was beautiful. I didn't walk in all the way because people were praying and I felt it would be rude. I stood in the back and marveled at the golden ornaments that decorated the interior. My favorite part was the beautifully painted ceiling. It was amazing!

Church

When we returned home it was about dinner time. Tonight was Schlutzkrapfen (a mixture of potatoes & cheese in dough). So very good! I gave the family a bottle of California wine (the only one I could find in Innsbruck) and a little present from Swarovski. My host family has been most gracious to me and I feel bad that I don't speak German well enough to convey my gratitude. They have hosted me for several nights, cooked/bought me meals, and even drove me to Salzburg. Every time I offered to pay my own way they refused and were more than happy to take good care of family. I'm sad to leave.

We've had a little running joke since I have been here. The weather has been gorgeous in Austria. While it has been cold, it has been sunny and clear. I told them that I have been very lucky this trip, I've had great weather wherever I've gone. They said that the good weather must follow me around. Sabine's mom joked, "When the weather turns bad, we will give you a call and that means that you must come back." I leave tomorrow; this weekend it's predicted to rain.

Innsbruck