I'm Home!

Sadly, the hills are no longer alive with me, only in spirit! However, I did make it back safely! The plane ride was really long, but I had a window seat, so I could look out and see the Atlantic! On Sunday, I went to Athens to go to rush after little sleep. Now, I am trying to recuperate and get ready to go back to school. Classes start on Thursday.

Thank you so much to everyone who read my blog. I really appreciate it and all of the comments, especially Uncle Chris! Hope ya'll enjoyed it!

Week 6

Here is my last post from Austria!

On Monday, I finished my project for English. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent studying for my finals. Luckily, I had both of my finals on Thursday, so I got them over with and could relax on Thursday when everyone else was still studying!

Thursday afternoon, I went summer bobsledding with Hannah and Patti. It was awesome! It only lasted for a couple minutes and did bang my head back and forth, but it was worth it! Last night, I went out to a nice dinner with some friends to celebrate our last days in Innsbruck. There was a festival going on to commemorate Maximilian's jousting tournaments, so we watched that for a little bit. It rained every day this week, which cools everything off, but it is still so weird for me to see people wearing pants and sweaters when it is August.

Friday morning, while everyone was taking their last finals, I went to St. Jacob's, Innsbruck's cathedral and Schloss Ambras, the castle in Innsbruck as seen in the picture. Now, I have done everything that I wanted to do!

Tonight we have our closing ceremonies and then tomorrow the buses leave at 4:30am for the Munich airport. Everyone plans on staying out all night, so that will make for a fun bus ride! I will get into Atlanta at 2:30pm or so, but then I have to be in Athens at 7am on Sunday for rush. Yikes! I am actually looking forward to it because I can go home, see my family, get a good meal and some sleep, and then I will see my friends the next day, and then come back home to get ready for school.

This trip has been wonderful and an incredible experience, but I can't wait to see everyone back home!

Füssen and Zürich

On Friday morning, Elisabeth and I took the earliest train to Munich. There, we switched to Fussen, which is a city in southern Germany, actually right near Austria. It only takes an hour and half by car, by it took us nearly four hours by train because of having to transfer. This small town is a big tourist hub because it is the sight of the Neuschwanstein Castle! It was incredible! (If you haven't read my previous post, this castle was Walt Disney's inspiration for the Cinderella Castle and the sight for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) I hadn't really heard of this castle before, but my Aunts Cathy and Bonita came here twenty years ago when they came to Germany when Matt and I were born, so my mom really thought I would like to see it. Luckily, I reserved our tickets ahead of time, which saved us, so we could hike around the castle and take pictures! We decided to splurge and pay the five euro to take a carriage ride up the hill to the castle. I figured- how can I turn down a carriage ride to the Cinderella Castle?! The tour inside wasn't that great because the woman had a thick accent and it was very short. We felt like cattle being herded quikly from room to room. However, the rain started once we finihed taking our pictures outside and then stopped right before we had to hed back to the train station. Even though we weren't there for very long, I am really glad I went! It was a beautiful sight! Good thinking Mama! :)

From Fussen, we switched trains in a small town in Germany and then headed to Zurich. It was really neat to be in three different countries in one day- Austria, Germany, and Switzerland! We checked ourselves into the hotel and then went straight to bed! The hotel was not very nice- right above a bar and shared bathrooms, but it was right in the center of town and being students, we can sleep through anything!

Saturday, I used our family friend, Christy McConnell's recommendations! We strolled down the Banhofstrasse, which is like Paris' Champs-Elysees or Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive, filled with tons of shopping. There were even seven H&Ms! We also went into Hiematwerk, which is a neat store where everything is hand-made in Switzerland, but of course with a price tag! Overall, Switzerland is really expensive. First, everthing seems more expensive because of the dollar to swiss franc but then it is just a pricey country! We went into this one church that is known for it's stained glass, but most of the churches had weddings going on so we couldn't go in. Elisabeth felt bad not going to museums and such, but I personally cannot look at anymore art. It is all blending together!

After strolling around the city all day, we saved the best for last- the chocolate shop! I tasted chocolate from the two main chocolate shops in town and agree with Christy's choice, Teuscher Chocolate! Amazing truffles! That night we rode the big ferris wheel and saw Zurich all lit up!

Gotta love Swiss chocolate!

As my guide book says- the Swiss don't stand for anything other than themselves. They have Swiss flags everywhere!

The streets had tons of pretty flower shops like this one!

The largest clock face in Europe

Overlooking the river

Sunset on Lake Zurich

On Sunday, we went to mass at a Catholic Church. Turns out, those are hard to find because Zurich was really big into the Protestant Reformation- very different from Austria and Italy! The mass was in German of course, so we were pretty confused. Some things were different, but I thought well maybe it's just a Swiss thing. After the mass, we were invited to join them for coffee and biscuits. After talking with some people, we were then informed that it was a Catholic, not Roman Catholic Church. Whoops! This is where knowing German would come in handy! This church broke off after the first Vatican Council. They were really nice and wouldn't let us pay for our food!

Then, we did what every Zurichan does on Sunday- the lake! A river flows right throught the middle of Zurich and then meets with Lake Zurich. The water was really cold since it is glacier water, but the scenery was great! It was nice to just lay out and look at the mountains! I took my last train back last night- thank goodness because it was really hot and crowded!

The water was so clear and there were swans swimming all along the river!

Our great view on the lake!

The weekend was great! Everyone is Zurich was incredibly nice and the weather was perfect! Not too hot, not too cold- all we needed was a light jacket!

Week 5

I had such a great time this week! Last time I was kind of joking when I said I yodeled, but this time I'm serious!

On Monday, the Austria TA was giving a city tour, but no one else signed up to go, so Jackie and I got our own private tour! We went into a small churches that were out of the main town and thnen, we climbed the strairs in the City Tower to look out. We went to the Red Beans and Rice night with the program, and then I took her to the 360 Bar, where we got a great view of Innsbruck!

Jackie and I at the top of 360 Bar

Tuesday, I had an amazing time! Jackie toured the city during the day, and then when I got out of class, we went up to the cable car. This took us to the top of the mountiain, and then we hiked up even farther to the tip top ridge of the mountain! It was INCREDIBLE with amazing views looking out towards Innsbruck and then behind the mountains! It's why I love Innsbruck! I could really tell how Innsbruck would not exist without the flatness due to the river. It was windy and cold but so worth it! We even saw sheep and cattle up at the top!

Us at the very top of the mountain! It was windy!

I was really excited! The mountains were the reason I came to Innsbruck!

View of Innsbruck

I wanted to prove that I was at the very top

The other side of the mountains- beautiful!

We heard a bell, and it was sheep coming up the hill! Oh I felt like Heidi!

That night, we went on a lantern hike. The city of Innsbruck gives free hikes multiple times a day! We hiked up to a mountain house and saw the main ski slope for the Olympics along the way! Then, we were in for a treat! One man played the guitar while the other played the accordion and everyone yodeled and sang! There were people there from Austria, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia, and of couse America! The main man took a liking to Jackie and me, so we were asked to be the main yodelers! He took us downstairs and asked us to play along with him- we had to act like we knew the main song from Innsbruck and mouth the words and then when the time came for yodeling, we had to yodel at the top of our lungs! It was hilarious! But first, he insisted that we drink some "yodeling water" aka schnapps. Later, we danced the Austrian wedding dance and sang even more. Afterwards, we walked with our lanterns down the mountain! It was probably my favorite day in Innsbruck!

Sunset on the hike!

Yodeling!

A guy from Spain picked me to be his partner for the Austrian wedding dance! We had to spin around and run across the room!

With our lanterns on the way down!

Yesterday and today have entailed schoolwork, so I've been trying to find school supplies around Innsbruck, but it's tough when everything closes by 6!

Friday, I am going to the Neuschwanstein Castle, which is in Füssen, Germany. It is where Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was filmed and was also Walt Disney's inspiration for the Cinderella castle! Then, that night we are going to Zurich for the rest of the weekend! I plan on doing nothing but shopping, eating chocolate, and going to the lake for my last weekend! It will hopefully be relaxing because I am tired of traveling and planning hotels and making train reservations! I will be home in only 9 days!

Salzburg

The hills were really alive with me in Salzburg when I yodeled at the top of the mountain! Haha!

Friday was very nice and relaxing at the park. I felt like I was really a city European reading on a bench in a park as old men played chess on the giant chess pieces!

Saturday, I met Jackie in Salzburg. We went straight to the four hour long Sound of Music tour! It was great. We saw where they got married, the lake the kids fall into, the houses used, the gazebo! They played the music on the bus, and I definitely sang along the whole time! The tour was great, but being the Sound of Music junkie that I am, I didn't really learn any new trivia. We walked around the Mirabell gardens where the do-re-mi scenes were filmed afterwards and got some great pictures! For dinner, we went to a beer garden place so Jackie could see the typical Austrian dinner. We met some funny Swedish boys there who asked if I was studying skiing in Innsbruck! Turns out, it is the start of the Salzburg festival, so tons of people dressed in the authentic dresses and lederhosen. They rode around a statue in the city on horses cracking whips! Too bad we had no idea what they were saying because everything was in German!

Sunday, we got an early start. We went to mass, and the music there was incredible! Leave it to Salzburg for music! It made the mass an hour and a half, but it was really neat. In Venice, there were not many people at church and they all walked in late, but here, we had to stand it was so full. But then again, we were the few people there in our age group! Then we went to Mozart's birthplace, the famous Hohensalzburg castle, the abbey, and Mozart's other house. The best part was that we received audio guides in English along with our tours, so I actually felt like I was learning! (Mama, don't be so surprised!)

Last night, I gave Jackie a small tour of the city so she can get around while I am in class. I am so glad she is here because now I can do all of the tourist attractions in Innsbruck, plus we have lots of fun together!

Oh, I forgot to mention that I saw the Harry Potter movie last week, and I also finished the seventh book on the train! Yahoo!

Jackie and I imitating, "Stop. Don't stop!"

Who knew the headquarters of Red Bull are right outside of Salzburg? No wonder they drink it like Coke here!

Beautiful lake that is so clean you can drink out of it! Too bad the picture isn't great because it was starting to rain.

Church where Maria and the Captain were married

Salzburg's finest apple streudel with ice cream and hot vanilla sauce! Only 10 calories!

In Mirabell Gardens, singing Do-Re-Mi!

The garden was gorgeous filled with colorful flowers! (Note to Hale girls, they were begonias!)

Can you tell that we really like the Sound of Music? I'm not even adding every picture! We also took pictures at the abbey, the bridge, the Untersberg Mountain, and the ivy tunnel!

Mozart's birthplace

Salzburg at night! The castle is up on the hill and there are markets all along the river.

Part of the festival

View of Salzburg from the castle

This is the executioner's house- notice it's location. At least they have lush green grass!

Mozart's house later in life. This one was a better museum!

Fourth Week

This week basically entailed me recovering from Rome and working on stuff for school. I had to do a history presentation for English, which was difficult knowing that I had to find research in limited computer time. Luckily, everything went well! I am just worried because I have a project due in a week and a half that is worth 25% of my grade and I have to be creative! Hopefully that will go well with my limited art resources here! Everyone is freaking out that we only have two weeks left because we have so much we want to do in Innsbruck, let alone prepare for finals. These next two weeks are going to be very busy but really fun!

Hannah and I out Tuesday night!

Casey and I are both Sigma Kappas, except she goes to UNO. We are making our motto, one heart, one way!

Yesterday, I went with a friend to the lake after class. The lake was pretty cold, so I didn't stay in very long, but it was an interesting sight. It is interesting that in town, everyone wears jeans and long sleeves with closed-toed shoes when it is hot outside, but at the lake, men wear speedos and many women are topless. Don't worry- I didn't take any pictures! There is a New Orleans festival all weekend long in Innsbruck, so we went to it last night. According to my friend who is from New Orleans, the food wasn't really Nawlans style, but it was fun to listen to the bands!

Today, I woke up and got breakfast at a little bakery! (I would feel horrible about everthing I have eaten here if I didn't walk everywhere!) I strolled around Innsbruck and did some souvenir shopping. It is just really nice to be in the city without everyone else and to enjoy it without going to class! This afternoon, I plan on reading Harry Potter (I'm borrowing it from a friend!) at the park!

Tomorrow morning I am leaving to go to Salzburg. I am meeting my big sister from Sigma Kappa, Jackie, there. She is finished with her study abroad program in Prague, so we will be in Salzburg for Saturday and Sunday and then she will stay with me in Innsbruck for two days! I am really excited to see her! I borrowed my friend's computer and dvd to watch the Sound of Music the other day, so I am uber excited about going on the Sound of Music tour! It is one of my top 5 movies!

The famous golden roof!

Here is the shirt I bought. It cracked me up!

Innsbruck has linen shops everyhwere!

These ornament eggs are popular too!

A garden I found on my walk

Roma