Arrived in Innsbruck after a long night on cramped and full airplane via Frankfurt. We were greeted with rainy, chilly weather. Picked up our rental car - an Audi A3 wagon (just like yours, Karen!) and found our way to the house, Villa Wilhelmine (see www.Oberperfuss-villa.com.) It's only 10 minutes from the airport. The house is warm and cozy. We are settling in nicely. It felt good to take a hot bath (big European bathtubs!) and then have a nice dinner in our dining room. Although the house is quite spacious, the two small kitchens will be a challenge. We went grocery shopping at our local M-Preis, it's walking distance from the house and I bought the first round of kitchen ingredients. They have their own bakery and bake breads and rolls on the premises. The breads here are fantastic! So we had Linsen-Suppe (Lentil Soup) and bread and a nice salad for dinner. And then a very good long sleep under the oh-so-comfy Federbetten.
Today, Tuesday, dawned bright and sunny. Here are three photos taken from out the windows:
Ski run up the Ranggerkoepfl from the backyard. New Gondola!!!
View facing south
Das Hexenhaus
We went electronics-shopping to set up our computers, cellphones, Internet phones, printer, and printer paper. Also bought a hairdryer. We had a lovely lunch in the Altstadt in Innsbruck in the restaurant Happ, which Jim discovered on his last trip hiking with Bob Forman in September. It just may become our favorite little place. Great Austrian food and a wine bar. I had Wildragout with Spaetzle and Jim had Cream of Garlic Soup and salad. Jim has started sampling the local wines -last night a Kaltersee Auslese Classico, from Sudtirol. After lunch we found a great indoor produce, meat, & cheese market where we loaded up. I even found herbs in pots which I put on our sunny windowsill. Tonight we are having Polenta for dinner. We also went to a bookstore to get reading material in German. Among other books, I picked up two Tyrolean cookbooks which I plan to study tonight. So I will hopefully be ready to delight our guests when they start arriving later this month.
Above: Looking across the river from the Altstadt in Innsbruck.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
First Day in Austria
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4 comments:
Well, there are a few things that I would have mentioned if it were my blog -- like the lack of snow at the lower levels, the miniature kitchens in a house with otherwise generously sized rooms, or the ongoing adventure with getting a cell phone to work. We are using both kitchens (one of us in each) and carrying stuff up and down the stairs. One kitchen has a dishwasher, the other a microwave and toaster. Each has just enough counter space for a cutting board. The refrigerators are not that much larger you would see in a college dorm. These are truly galley kitchens. Too bad if you are in front of the stove, somebody else is at the sink or counter, and you need to get to the refrigerator!
The VoIP phone is working great, and with two cordless phones attached, it's just like the real thing.
Today was a day to recover from jet lag and shop for everything we forgot or couldn't find or didn't have the energy to look for yesterday. And to get ourselves oriented.
I'm hoping to ski for the first time tomorrow or in the next few days. There is snow, and more at some areas than others. And there's glacier skiing, which should be alright anytime.
glad you made it!
Good time to start being strictly kosher with two kitchens.
Maybe it will be cool enought that you can leave some food outdoors.
Keep us posted!!
Mark (and Denise)
Anita/Jim,
Nice pictures...looks and sounds like you are going to have a great time. Keep on writing. I am hooked.
Fred
WOW is all I can say, Anita and Jim. Sounds like a beautiful spot and inspiring spot, despite the kitchen snafu. Excellent blog, Anita, very evocative of time and place. I remember hiking in Austria and Switzerland right after B-School, after I had left Fred and Martha to venture out on my own (on reflection, that was a little strange to be with them on their honeymoon....).
Best, Russ
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