Aug 27 Swarovski Crystal World

In 1895 Daniel Swarovski and two others started a crystal cutting business in Wattens Austria (10 miles east of Innsbruck). The company now employs about 25,000 and produces a wide range of jewelry, chandeliers, watches, and figurines. To commemorate their 100 year anniversary, the company had a multimedia artist create an attraction called Swarovski Kristallwelten (crystal world) in a park like setting in Wattens. It is hard to describe. Words like modern, contemporary, and totally unique come to mind. If you like jewelry and contemporary art, you would probably give the Crystal World a high rating. If you are scientific and have an appreciation for the science of crystal formation and interaction with light but little interest in modern art, you might give it a medium rating. If you have no appreciation for fine jewelry or modern art or the science of crystals, you would probably think you wasted your money ($21 entry fee). The ratings/reviews for the museum are all over the map (understandably). Each room in the museum and area in the park was created by a different artist with various themes, but almost all are centered on themes involving crystals is some way. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

View from the Crystal World park toward 

the Swarovski production facility.

The museum is housed behind and 

beneath the Crystal World "Giant".

The entrance is on the left under the face.

Some pictures from inside the museum.

Life size crystal studded horse.

From inside a kaleidoscopic dome (inside of a crystal).

Crystal art

Room combining crystal shapes with

changing colors and images from world history.

Crystals, color, and reflections.

Crystal studded dress in the custom item exhibit hall.

Crown for Elton John

Swarovski crystals

Crystal studded crown

There  was a football field sized jewelry shop

at the exit from the museum to the surrounding park.

Crystal World childrens play tower.

Garden maze.

Hand with heart on the palm.

Reflecting pool with crystal studded trees

Walkway into the reflecting pool.

You are waist deep in water at the far end.

Water is 1 inch below the sides.

Now - what is your rating?

Art of a different kind at the Ferienwohnung 

(vacation apartment)

in Bad Reichenhall Germany (near Salzburg Austria).

Aug 26 Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen

The alps have many cable cars to mountain peaks. The best known in Innsbruck is the Nordkettenbahnen. There are 3 separate rides from the Altstadt to the highest point. A newer and very modern rail tram takes you to the 2nd station. Then another cable car takes you to the highest point with a view south to Innsbruck and north toward Germany.

Street ad for Nordkettenbahnen.

View south to Innsbruck from the 2nd station.

View from the highest station looking 

down to station #2.

The view east from the higher station.

View toward Germany from the higher station.

A walking trail leads from the higher station to 

the highest  point (15 minute walk).

On the walking trail.

Barb with Carla Watson on a viewing bench

for the north kette (Nordketten) mountain range.

(John and Carla were also traveling in Austria and

by coincidence we were able to hook up for this day).

Back in Innsbruck.

The Franz Joseph palace.

Aug 25 Leutasch

Leutasch, first mentioned in 1166, is a village 6 miles west of Seefeld with a lake where Emperor Maximilian loved to fish. The serene Gaistal valley from Leutasch to Mittenwald (10 miles) is filled with Tyrolean guest houses. The beauty of the area draws families for summer vacations and for nordic skiing in winter. 

After walking for a time in Leutash we drove the valley road to Mittenwald (just across the border into Germany) and sampled some apfelstrudel at one of the sidewalk cafes. In the evening we drove back to Leutasch for an outdoor band concert. The village band, dressed in Tyrolean uniforms, marched in to the plaza and then took their place on the stage for a one hour concert.

One of the many guest houses in Leutasch

"Zimmer Frei" means room available.

"Ferien Wohnung" means vacation apartment.

Apfelstrudel at a sidewalk cafe in Mittenwald

(10.00 Euro for both = $11.30)

With vanila sauce

With ice cream

The Mittenwald street with the sidewalk cafes.

A small stream ran through the street

and near the table where we sat.

Sign in Leutasch near the city plaza

20:15 o'clock

Today

Plaza Concert

The band as it marched in

The band on the concert stage

Aug 24 Lusens and back country roads

You never know just what you will find if you look at the map, find a remote village at the end of a dead end valley and head in that direction. There are, of course, many country roads that are not on the map, and if they appear to lead to something interesting, can be worth exploring. At least with the GPS you can always find your way back home. 

Yesterday we chose the village of Lusens as our destination (criteria: within 30 miles and at the end of the Lusenstal). Lusens turned out to be a large guest house and restaurant at a walking trailhead below a glacier. Along the way we had to stop for 4 donkeys who were in no hurry to get off the road and wanted to check out the car. If I had not rolled my window up, I am pretty sure we would have had a donkey head poking around inside the car.

Hay stacked on poles (stannger) for drying.

Before the days of modern round bailers

the hay was stacked on poles to dry. 

They are still used in  Slovenia, parts of Italy, 

and the eastern Tyrol region in Austria.

Okay - Enough with  the hay.

The farmer (barely visible by the house)

shared a wave.

The glacier above Lusens.

The road approaching Lusens.

The walking trail leading to the glacier

is visible to the left of the road.

By choosing roads that pass through villages

at a higher elevation on one side of the valley, 

there are some nice views to the other side.

A panorama from the village of Grinzens.

Begonias in Seefeld

Aug 23 Mittenwald and Tiroler Abend

Mittenwald, a village of about 8000 just across the border from Austria into Germany, is only 10 miles from Seefeld. The region is very popular for walkers and bikers with many guest houses and restaurants. It has been known for several centuries for village craftsmen making quality violins, violas, and cellos. A colorful village with painted facades on the shops and guest houses.

Pedestrian street leading to the church.

A sentry in one of the shop doorways.

The village church.

Painting on the church bell tower.

Painted facades on the village street.

Mountain peaks over the village

And the flowers - always the flowers.

Each night in Innsbruck there is a Tiroler Abend (Tyrolean Evening) show featuring authentic music, folk dances, and yodelling. The hall seats about 400 and is much like a show you might see in Branson, MO with talented musicians offering lively entertainment. The cost was 29 Euro ($33) for a 1.5 hour show of non-stop music and dancing.