Awed by the Austrian Alps!

1st of January, 2012:  Originally, we had hoped to go skiing this day - if we skied on the mountain on the other side of the river we could actually walk to the cable car from our hotel and take the cars right up to the top.  So, we donned our gear and headed out...only to find out that due to avalanche warnings/threats we couldn't ski that mountain.  Other areas were open...but it was already after noon...and if you remember how long it took to reach the slopes the previous day...it really wasn't looking good.  But!  We found out we could still take the cable car to the top to look around if we wanted.  Now...I knew that Innsbruck was tucked amongst a stunning mountain range...we had driven past it two years ago and I had drooled...a lot.  So far on our trip we had a clear day in Geneva, a really foggy day in Bern, medium fog in Lucerne, very snowy in Engelberg, and snowy in Innsbruck.  We really had not seen the crystal clear dramatic snow caps I was dreaming of...and here, we couldn't ski...and the weather was clearing more and more and more...(the image above was the view from our room as we headed out) and we decided very excitedly to ditch our ski stuff and grab our camera and the lenses and head out and make the most of our afternoon.  ...It was amazing!  We took the cable car from Congress Station to Hungerburg, changed cable cars and went up to Seegrube (where most people would ski from)...and at this point it was breathtaking...absolutely stunning.  And steadily clearing more and more and more.  Then we took the cable car up one more stop to Hafelekar - essentially the top of the mountain...so high that when we climbed up (which was nervewracking given all the fresh snow they have had and the fact that there were avalanche warning signs everywhere)...but you could actually see what was on the OTHER side of the mountain!  and it was...incredible!  One of the absolute most spectacular views I have ever seen and it was truly amazing and awesome.  :)  After all this we swung through old town Innsbruck - during daylight! and were able to climb the tower and see the city with the panorama mountain ranges all around it...truly glorious!  A wonderful way to start 2012...a year we hope will be a year of positive changes and opportunities for us.  :)

heading up the cable cars

AMAZING views!

they had an igloo ice bar at the Seegrube level

Daniel put the telephoto lens to work...our hotel is just behind that bridge to the right

:)

We took the cable car up to this point - Hafelekar.  From here is one of the steepest ski slopes in all of Europe (see warning below)

Daniel thought the warnings were all about the destruction he might cause...really it's an avalanche warning sign!

the other side of the mountain

Innsbruck is the city in the valley - this is probably my favorite picture from the entire trip

Innsbruck

Innsbruck

Altstadt (old town) from the Stadttower

Innbruck from the tower :)

Little tiny door

walking around town - gorgeous!

this is where we stayed!