Excursion - Innsbruck

Splayed on the sofas of the Kartause library at 9:30pm one night were two students frantically trying to find somewhere enchanting and marvelous, yet delightfully affordable, for their four-day expedition. Bridget was intent on a whimsical mountain getaway, I was simply trying to get away.

The destination was Innsbruck, a respectable sized city known for its staggering mountains beloved by many snow-sport enthusiasts. It boasts the privilege of hosting the Winter Olympics of the year 2008,  the former summer vacation spot of some members of the Hapsburg family, and also home of the notoriously renowned Swarovski Diamond Exhibition. Innsbruck promised us a variety of wonders to consume and our excitement was only fostered on the train ride as we streamed past with jaws dropped in amazement at the dazzling snowy peaks.

Bridget and I immediately took ourselves to the summit of those breathtaking heights, passing skiers, snowboarders, and tourist hikers by lifted gondola. The experience I encountered at the top is comparable to nothing I have ever done before, and it happened to be the most serendipitous timing since each subsequent day of our stay would not have rendered such a beautiful view.

The rest of our trip, Bridget and I immersed ourselves in Austrian history, walking the steps of the royal Hapsburg family in the summer castle, city palace, and old town square. Prior to our arrival, I had gone in search of a classical music performance and landed on a music school’s recital fortuitously scheduled on Saturday night. We arrived prepared for an evening of harmonious delight and sauntered into the venue. Four floors up, we encountered Thomas: a hip Austrian trombone player and student of the music school. He graciously informed us that, alas, the aforementioned recital had occurred the month prior to our visit. But, his kind interaction was perhaps meant to be the fruit of our wild goose chase. 

Innsbruck is admittedly not the most ‘authentic’ Austrian city given all its tourist attractions, but its atmosphere was positively conducive to an authentic Austrian adventure.