Spring Break in the Alps

Last week, EGT had spring break. It seems a little silly to have a week off of school after having been on winter break just over a month and a half ago. I really wasn't ready to go on another extensive travel trip, but this was our second to last big break and I didn't want to waste the time. The American teachers scattered themselves across Europe. Becky and Eric went to the Ukraine. Whitney and Rachel went to the England and Scotland. Mark stayed in T-Town to work on seminary applications, and Heidi and I travelled to Austria to stay with the host family she lived with when she studied in Austria during high school.

The first leg of our journey was a six hour bus trip to Bratislava. We spent the night there with Phil and Sue, a sweet retired couple, who are also missionary teachers for the ELCA is Bratislava. The next morning, Heidi and I went with them to the Little Church for worship in ENGLISH in the city. It was lovely to hear a Lenten message in our own language. I took notes on the sermon and I have enjoyed reading and re-reading them throughout the last week.

The second leg of our journey consisted of an hour long bus ride to Vienna and then a five hour train ride to Innsbruck, our first destination. Heidi's host brother, Emanuel, a twenty-four year old student at the university in Innsbruck, met us at the train station and took us back to his flat. We spent two days with Emanuel in Innsbruck and enjoyed every minute of it!

On Monday, we spent the morning hiking and the afternoon riding a cable car to the top of the Alps.

On our way up the mountains, we stopped by an old Jewish cemetery.





After about an hour of hiking, we hopped on the cable car and headed up the mountain. This me, a little stressed. I have issues with heights.



This is the view from the cable car window.



These are the Alps.







Here is a bird's eye view of Innsbruck.





On Tuesday, we went on a hike through the hills of Austria and into the Alps.

These hills were ALIVE with the sound of music.


"High on the hill was the lonely goatherd. Lay ee odl Lay ee old oo."



"When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!"



"Do, a deer a female deer. Ray, a drop of golden sun! Mi, a name I call my self. Fa, a long, long way to run. So, a needle pulling thread. La, a note to follow so. Ti, a drink with jam and bread. And that will bring us back to do."



"Edelweiss, edelweiss. Every morning you greet me. Small and white, clean and bright."



"Climb every mountain, ford every stream."



The trail we took led us up the mountain to a small chapel. Along the way, we passed the Stations of the Cross.



Here's the prayer chapel.





We had a snow ball fight at the top of the mountain, and then we came back down to do some shopping in town and to make dinner togther. Emanuel told us to "style up" (his phrase) and then he took us out for drinks.



On Wednesday, Heidi and I took a train from Innsbruck to Bregenz, Austria. Heidi's host family lives just off the Lake of Constance - which, I have decided, is my favorite place in all of Europe.

We spent Wednesday evening walking around the lake. The mountains in the distance are the Swiss Alps.







On Thursday, we took the train to Lindau, Germany and spent the morning exploring. We had coffee with Klaudia, Heidi's host mom, and then we walked home.

This is the small town of Lindau.



In Lindau Harbor, there is a lighthouse.



This is the lion that guards the harbor.



The Lake of Constance is full of swans : )



Later that afternoon, Heidi and I hiked Pfander, the mountain in her family's backyard. We took the cable car down, and Heidi's host mom picked us up at the foot of the mountain.

This is the cross at the very top of Pfander.



This is the reward we got for our hike. What a view!






Then, we went into the Alps to buy CHEESE. After spending five minutes in the cheese place, I can say with complete confidence that I know where the phrase, "Who cut the cheese?!" originated from. The cheese STUNK. I made sure that the cheese Heidi brought to take home was vacuum sealed. (I was worried about getting kicked off the train on the way home.)

The woman who worked in the cheese place was sweet enough to show us around.
This is the cheese locker room. The rounds of cheese (which are very, very heavy) sit in this room to age for one year. Three times a week, a worker will wash the cheese down with salt water to help enhance its flavor.





On Friday, Heidi and I spent the morning in Bregenz. We walked into town and did some shopping. We hit some second hand stores and enjoyed the ability to buy things that we couldn't get in Tisovec.

On Saturday, Heidi's other host brother Sebi came home from Switzerland to spend the day hiking with us. We hiked a small mountain a couple of towns away.

Because the weather was nice, the ice was melting. The trails were a muddy mess.



Still, the view is always worth the trip.



On our way home from the hike, Sebi took Heidi and I into Switzerland to buy some swiss chocolate. Later that evening, we had dinner with Heidi's host family and then hopped on the night train to Vienna. 22.5 hours, two bus rides and a train ride later, we were finally home in Tisovec. I have never been in a more beautiful place than the Alps. I think I'm in love. Still, I'm happy to be back in T-Town. T-Town is also beautiful in the spring time.