Innsbruck, Austria – Day 2
We woke up even earlier today to head to the train station in Innsbruck. After storing our bags in a locker, we grabbed some water and snacks and boarded the shuttle bus to the Swarovski Kristallwelten. The pictures in all of the tourist maps were rather misleading, and we were both disappointed to find that the giant head with a waterfall flowing through its mouth was actually very small, and rather than taking a boat underneath the waterfall to enter the Crystal Worlds, we actually walked along a path. Kendra seemed to enjoy the exhibits much more so than I did.
There was one dome-shaped room covered in mirrors, which the brochure claimed made you feel like you were trapped in a crystal – not a position in which I ever hope to find myself… but it was an interesting experience nonetheless.
Aside from that particular room, and some interesting artwork by Warhol, Klimt, Haring, Dali, and some lesser-known artists, I was not enthralled. The entire exhibit was like walking through a time machine and being bombarded with bad avant-garde art from the 1970’s… think new wave music composed on synthesizers, and abysmal installation art. On the plus side, there was a beautiful garden outside of the museum (for lack of a better word), as well as various pieces of sculpture strewn throughout the grounds.
I was happy to get back on the shuttle bus to Innsbruck. Our next stop was the Hofkirche, a royal court church built in 1553 by Ferdinand I. It houses the sarcophagus of his grandfather, Emperor Maximilian I. The church itself was quite impressive. We walked upstairs to the Silberne Kapell (Silver Chapel), built in 1578 upon the orders of Archduke Ferdinand II. He, along with his wife, Philippine Weiser, is entombed in this small chapel that connects the church and the Royal Hofburg palace. We returned to the Hofkirche, and explored its finer details. The sarcophagus of Emperor Maximilian I is surrounded by a royal guard of 28 bronze statues depicting his relatives and ancestors. The detailing on each statue was impressive. Clearly, a great deal of time was spent on enshrining the late Emperor’s connection with Innsbruck, despite the fact that he is not buried here, but rather in Wiener Neustadt.
After spending time at Hofkirche, we were ready for lunch at a small café in the Altstadt. We both had strudels – mine was spinach and feta, Kendra’s potato. Served with a German potato, bean, and garden salads, the food was incredible. I also had a cappuccino, which absolutely replaced the one I had in Naples as the best cappuccino I have ever tasted!
We then visited the Hofburg palace, home of the royal line until 1918. Though most of the building is now used for office space and private flats, we were able to tour a small section of the palace. Though it’s not how I would choose to decorate my home, I could appreciate the furniture, paintings, and ornamental styles for their place in time. Kendra loved the palace – she has an affinity for them much as I do for old churches and castles.
After our tour of Hofburg, we naturally needed a quick stop for some ice cream. We enjoyed while standing in some shade next to the river Inn. It was then off to the Maximilianeum (the Maximilian Museum), where we learned a great deal about the history if Emperor Maximilian I. We both enjoyed the short film about his life, as well as the small exhibit on display. We also had the opportunity to look out of the balcony with the Goldenes Daschl. We were quite surprised, and amused, to see some rather risqué paintings on the ceiling and walls. Which led us to our next stop…
We traveled to the main thoroughfare of Innsbruck, Maria-Theresien-Strasse, and stopped to snap a few pictures, including one of the Annasaule (St. Anna’s Column). It was built in 1706 to celebrate the withdrawal of Bavarian troops in 1703. From there, we traveled up Museumstrasse to the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (the Tyrolean Provincial Museum) to see the Kulturgeschichte der Sexualitat exhibit. Though not very large, this traveling exhibition showcases artwork depicting 100,000 years of human sexuality, fertility, and love. We spent some time walking through the exhibit, then proceeded to roam through the museums more permanent collections. There was also an exhibit of Rembrandt’s sketches, a temporary show commemorating the 400th anniversary of his birth. Though we enjoyed the museum, our train was nearing its scheduled departure.
We headed back to Innsbruck’s Hauptbahnhof, collected our bags from the locker, grabbed some mozzarella and tomato sandwiches for dinner, and hopped onto the train. We shared a compartment with two lovely Austrians, both from Innsbruck. They were quite amiable, and we spent the two hours train ride discussing everything from American, Austrian, and European politics and education, to the standard cost of living in our respective countries. We arrived back in Salzburg at 7pm, with enough time to rest, shower, and prepare for a fun evening at the local bars.
Tomorrow promises to be a restful day, with Kendra doing homework while I catch up on journaling and editing our hiking video. I am looking forward to what the next week will bring!
