As
I wake from a bus riding induced coma on board coach 'Contiki', I
struggle to focus and the first thing I see through bleary eyes is
jaggered ice-capped hills admist rolling green.
Lace curtains part
behind shuttered windows and brightly coloured flower boxes line the
panes of slanted roofed chalets. It is breath taking. I am in Austria
and the hills are alive with the sound of music!
And
what better way to wake up to the fact that I am in the Austrian Tyrol
than being splashed in the face with ice cold water. And by that I
mean- ice, ice, ice cold water. What better way to experience ice cold
water from the Tyrol than go white water rafting!
Besides
the minus degree water- the white water rafting was amazing. In between
waiting for my fingers to thaw out enough to hold my paddle the
surroundings were simply may i say it again...breathtaking.
That is me second from back
Gliding,
splashing, laughing and shivering in between pinching myself to the
fact that I was being tossed around like a pantyhose in a washing
machine admist a scene from 'Heidi'. Green, fertile hills, cows grazing
on meadows, sun shining down illuminating each individual cheerful
flower- happy to be growing in such beautiful surroundings.
To
warm up after our deep freeze we were handed a shot of schnapps. I
didn't realise although being conjoined with sweet fruits such as
strawberries, apples and peaches, Schnapps- the real stuff. Tastes a
lot like tequila. Definitely strong. Definitely warming.
The
township of Innsbruck, was oh so quaint! This is the place famous for
the Winter Olympics; a gorgeous imperial church perched above the
township and below the mountainous scenery, a little bakery with the
smell of sweet strudel wafting out on to the cobblestoned streets.
I swear I even saw Julie Andrews with a cane basket in hand skipping along.
I couldn't go to Austria and not pop in to the Swarovski Crystal World.
Mum would have been very disappointed.
I
entered inside the giant with glistening crystal eyes. After being
dazzled by the 11m high crystal wall and the inside of a giant crystal
prism I indulged myself in some little treasures from the Swarovski
store.
