Day 7 - Boats and trains and Tyrollean maids

Today was a pretty warm one and, since it was our last opportunity, Eleanor and I decided to humour Gaz and take the Achenseebahn down to Jenbach. The little mountain railway runs from the boat landing stage at Seespitz, down to Jenbach station, where it meets main line trains heading to Innsbruck, Salzburg or the Zillertal.

We raced from Pertisau to Seespitz, Gaz and El taking the boat, stopping first at Buchau, me walking. The boat won, but I was only a few minutes behind. I was in time for us to load into one of the little open carriages, before Georg (the engine) steamed into action. 

Jenbach is not the most fascinating of places, and the Innthal was much sultrier than the Achensee, so it was something of a challenge to fill the hour and a half until the next train up. We had a little wander through the village centre and a look at the church, before heading back to the station. 

The return journey failed to hold Eleanor's attention. Perhaps it was boredom with the familiar scene, or perhaps it was the rhythmic motion of the lurching carriage, but Eleanor was fast asleep after about 5 minutes. She slept all the way back up the hill, only waking a couple of minutes from the end of the line at Seespitz. 

We decided that rest was the order of the day from now on. Eleanor wanted to go swimming, so we headed back to the hotel. Gaz and El popped to the shop before that, to buy Eleanor's treat, earned after getting 10 stars for good behaviour. She had been eying a particular outfit up in the Tyrolean tat shop all week, so with Daddy in charge of purchasing, she managed to get her particular wish. Pictorial evidence to follow.

El and I then enjoyed a long swim in the pools. The outside pool was pretty crowded, in view of the warmth and sunshine, so we spent more time in the indoor pool, diving for dive sticks, along with another little girl. 

Then it was time for madam to dress for dinner. Which she did with much enthusiasm. We were a little concerned that she might get mistaken for a waitress, but Eleanor informed me, gravely, that it was ok, her apron was green and the hotel ladies wore red ones, plus everyone would know she wasn't a waitress because she was small! 















  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interlaken

Image
Wednesday morning was pretty mixed. We woke to sunshine and glorious mountain views from our hotel balcony after a blissful night's sleep in the comfiest bed of the holiday thus far. Eleanor and I missed out on a pre-breakfast swim, owing to the lateness of the hour, but we had thoroughly sampled all the hotel had to offer by way of watery amusement last night and, dare I say it, I have pretty much had enough of swimming! Breakfast was served in the fading grandeur of the Hotel Belle Epoch Victoria's lavish dining room.  Like much if this hotel, it showed signs of having once been luxurious, but it's gentility was now somewhat shabby. Breakfast (or possibly a surfeit of pool water last night) Did not sit well with Eleanor and whilst I was at the self service egg station boiling some eggs  (the point of the mid holiday night in a hotel was that someone cooks my meals for me!) Eleanor was sick! Since Daddy was in charge, they headed, not for the open do...
Read more

Leukerbad

Image
Our first couple of days in Valais saw us mainly poolside. The next two days saw us venture mountain side. Gaz is very mindful of the Robin Hood half marathon looming, so packed his running kit and set off on Sunday morning for a run. Whilst Gaz ran 6 slow, steep miles, Eleanor and I went for a cold swim. After lunch, we headed up the mountain road to Leukerbad from where we got the cable car up to the Gemmi Pass. On a clear day you have a view of about a dozen c.4000m peaks. It wasn't a clear day (well, it seemed ok in the valley, when we set off, but the clouds had drawn in by the time we got to the mountain top). Our drizzle-y view is below, but the Gemmi  Webcam gives you a much better view. On our return to the valley bottom, we coaxed Eleanor into walking a little way up the road from our campsite to the Butan Bridge, which crosses a deep gorge across a huge riverbed, currently hosting a tiny stream. Then it was back to the campsite for more freezing s...
Read more

A tale of two pools...

Image
The first couple of days of our holiday in beautiful Valais has seen us mainly swimming. Yesterday I made good on my pinky promise to join Eleanor in the glacial Bella Tolla campsite pool. It took me some time to build up to going in, and once fully submerged, I found you did need to keep moving, as the water was bracing! Eleanor and I had a morning swim on our own. Gaz excused himself on the feeble grounds of having forgot to pack his swimming gear. (We are staying on a campsite with a pool - I did tell him!). However, after lunch and a quick trip to Susten to stock up on essentials at the supermarket  (which didn't sell swimming trunks) we coaxed him into the pool (clad in running shorts). In addition to the slide, our pool has a diving board. Eleanor is desperate to have a go but didn't feel brave enough. She requires a rubber ring to do it. Since she can swim, I didn't think to pack her, long discarded, rubber ring. The supermarket in Susten doesn't sel...
Read more