Above timberline for the night in the Alps

This is the "high" point of my trip--staying overnight at 2,000 meters above sea level--at timberline, among the peaks of the Alps.

I took a tram up to the top of the peaks that are just north of Innsbruck and then hiked in 7 kilometers to a hiking hut that was built in 1926 and still run as a guest house high up in the mountains.

The mountains were beautiful and the day was mostly sunny.  The food served was about as good as any I've had in Germany and they seemed to enjoy all of the guests for the night.

There were sheep up at that elevation grazing with their bells around their necks and still snow on some of the trail.

It made me feel so at home!  Here there is no language barrier.  I felt like being in the high mountains of Utah and Colorado.

Innsbruck from above.

There are two trams.  The second takes you to the very top.

Crosses atop every peak.

Places where they had installed cable alongside the trail for a little help.  Austrian flags painted on the rocks made sure you didn't lose your way.

Still snow on the trail in places.

You know you are not in the US when you see these alongside the trail.

The "hut."

A few more of Innsbruck

The rain is gone--a beautiful day out my window.

Old Town Innsbruck.

The beautiful cathedral.

The Inn River.

See the tops of those mountains?  That is my next posting.

Innsbruck, Austria

It is so beautiful to go into the Alps mountains in southern Germany and Austria.  There is still a quite a bit of snow on the tops.  It has been spoiled a little by all the rain that lasted most of the day, though.  It enabled me to stay inside and get my laundry done, though.  This trip has been mostly rain-free, so I have nothing to comlain about.

Detail from the stained glass windows at the Frauenkirche in Munich.

Kufstein, Austria

Actually, it just means "bright!"

Innsbruck - the Olympics were held here in 1964 abd 1976.

By a fountain.

"Bacon Room."  My kind of place!

Tschuß to Bad Mergentheim, Hallo to München!

I gave my final exam this morning, graded it, and caught the train to Munich, on a 250 kilometer per hour train!  250 times 6/10 equals 150 miles per hour!  It was practically flying.  Even quickly passing the fast cars on the Autobahn alongside at one spot!

Munich is a fun place, and very busy with a) tourists and b) many Middle Easterners.  The area around the train station makes you feel like you are on the streets of Turkey or Saudi Arabia.

Speed monitor on the train

A typical tiny European hotel room.  The bathroom is just barely big enough.

The most decorated church I've ever seen.  The amazing Asamkirche from 1746.

Looking up at the fully-painted ceiling.

Death cutting the string of Time.

The "New" City Hall.

A department store where they don't sell worms.

A version of the Bavarian flag.

Gravestones on the side of the church.

Of course, I don't drink ... but you can't go to Munich and not visit the Hofbrauhaus.

Inside the Hofbrauhaus.

Another food picture ... the best rhubarb tort.