Day 7 was Innsbruck. I left my wife in the hotel at St. Anton and went on the coach trip to Innsbruck. There we picked up our guide, Isolde, and journey up to the Bergisel. Here is a small park dedicated to Andreas Hofer. Originally an innkeeper, livestock trader and wine merchant, in 1809 Hofer fought at Bergisel against 30,000 Bavarian soldiers who were fighting for Napoleon. In 1810 he and his army were defeated in the fourth battle of Bergisel. On the orders of Napoleon he was later put to death.
Towering above us was the Olympic ski-jump. The original jump was destroyed in 2000 and a new one was being built. As we stood looking down over the town and the Basilika Wilten, Isolde tells us that the ski-jumpers, waiting to jump can look left or right. To the left is the hospital; to the right is the cemetery. Most jumpers are well-focussed and there are few accidents.
From Bergisel we drive down to the Basilika. A green-liveried tram decorated with images of Mozart passes by.
Later I am free to wander around the lovely ancient streets on my own. You can read about the rest of my day on our Europe 2002 journal.
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