European Vacation - 2009

In August of 2009, Theo and Jeff flew to Zurich and then drove through eastern Switzerland to Nauders, just across the border into Austria. We spent three days in Nauders and then drove on to Soelden, in the Oetztal valley, where we spent another three days. We returned to Zurich and spent a day walking through the shopping and university districts downtown. We then returned home.

This was mostly a hiking vacation. We did five fairly strenuous hikes (of from three to six hours duration each) up and down mountains during the trip. We also ate a lot of very good food. Despite the daily workouts, we both gained a few pounds from the big breakfasts, the pastries, the kaisershmarren (pancakes and apples or berries) and other excellent desserts.

Despite having our luggage delayed a few days, this turned out to be one of our very best vacations. We made some friends, had great hotel stays, took some superb hikes, and generally had a wonderful time.

Below are some pictures and descriptions of the trip.

The first few pictures are some general impressions of the scenery - lots of flowers and rushing brooks and castles: beautiful sites and pretty good weather.

This castle was in Nauders.

Pictured below is the town of Nauders, as seen from a field above. This picture was shot during our first hike. The hike was a guided group tour up into the mountains, with many stops to discuss, taste or otherwise understand the herbs, weeds, flowers and bushes along the way.

The group consisted of our guide, Babsi, and a German, three Belgians, Theo and Jeff, who took the picture below.

As we got up into the mountains, we experienced some beautiful views back into Switzerland. Below is a view of Martina, Switzerland and the Inn River, as seen from an Austrian mountain. We were also very close to Italy and we took a drive around Italy's Lake Resia while we were in the Nauders area.

During this Nauders hike we ate lunch at an overlook from which we could see all three countries. Interestingly, the trees looked like green pasta in Italy, green money in Switzerland and green apple strudel in Austria.

At one point in this hike, we walked through some old war trenches that had been dug by the Germans, dropped down into a cave and came out the other side to an overlook that dropped off a few thousand feet. At that overlook, one of the Belgians took the picture of Jeff and Theo below.

Looking down from the overlook, we could see the cross on a peak below. Babsi's father was the one who put the cross in place a number of years ago.

Another view of Nauders, as we returned down the mountain ....

This view below gives you a sense of the pastoral beauty of the land.

After three days, but only one hike (since we had to wait a couple of days for our hiking boots and trekking poles to arrive), we drove on to Soelden. Our first day we took a gondola up a mountain and then hiked back down. Soelden is pictured below.

A hiking route had been suggested by the hotel staff. We took a different, tougher and longer route. After a few hours it began to rain hard. Just as we were dragging ourselves back into the hotel, the staff was planning to send someone to look for us. They had assumed we were inexperienced hikers (and old to boot) and might be having trouble. [After our second hike way up to a restaurant on a different mountain, they knew otherwise. We may be old, but we're tough!]

Here's Theo coming down the mountain on that first hike - and before the rain.

Our path took us through some rocky terrain, as you can see below.

On our second day in Soelden, after a lunch of wiener schnitzel (Jeff) and mozzerella cheese and tomatoes (Theo), we took a long hike up the mountain to Kleblealm, where we had some Kaisershmarren (pancakes) and Spezi (which is Pepsi and orange Fanta mixed together). Theo was dressed for the rain or the sun, whichever appeared - and they both did.

Below is a view of our hotel complex, which is most of the buildings you see in the foreground. The complex had five major buildings, an indoor/outdoor pool, a spa and assorted restaurants, bars, etc. It was a superb place for a vacation.

On one of the days, we took a ride deeper into the valley to Vent, Austria. On the way, we saw this picturesque church, with the mountains in the background.

Below is a view from the church, looking back down the valley from which we had come.

Our third hike in Soelden was up yet another mountain to another restaurant. This is a view along the way, looking back down toward Soelden.

Here's our small group in the mountain restaurant: Theo, Jeff, Antonella, Pieri and Boris the guide.

This is a view as we left the restaurant, with the clouds starting to roll in. This is our favorite picture from the trip!

Here are Theo and Boris leading the way down.

On the day we left Soelden, we stopped in the northern part of the Oetztal valley to hike up to Stuiben Falls, the highest falls in the Tirolean Alps. Here's Theo taking a rest along the way.

Below is a picture of the upper portion of the falls, taken from one of five lookout areas along the hike.

Here's a view of the lower portion of the falls.

Coming back toward Zurich, we stopped for lunch and a walk around St. Antons am Arlberg, Austria. This town is a very popular ski resort, but seemed a bit commercial for our tastes. We continued on to Zurich and spent a day walking around that city.

Below is a view of Zurich from the university.

Here's a view looking west from a bridge near the Zurichsee.

Here's another view from a different bridge.

Zurich is truly a beautiful city and a great place to shop if you have more money than you know what to do with. We didn't, so we didn't buy anything other than lunch.

This trip will be memorable for the hikes, the people, the way we were treated at the hotels, the tremendous scenery, our lost luggage, and our day-long trek through Zurich. All in all, a terrific vacation!