Innsbruck - walking to the Bergisel (ski jump)

Here are some pictures from our walk to the famous Bergisel ski jump that was used in the Olympics, and also year round. It's a couple of miles from where Helli lives, but it was a beautiful warm sunny day, so we decided to walk.

They were selling pumpkins on the road next to a gas station. No one running it, it was pay on-your-honor (though there was a camera there).

The Olympic Stadium. The Winter Olympics were hosted here in 1964 & 1976

A little park and playground we passed along the way. Observe the beautiful mountains in the background.

Crossing a bridge over the railroad tracks. You can see the ski jump in the background (center left)

The road towards the mountain (ski jump is to the right of the middle of the tree)

Street signs - every country is always similar, but not

At the top of the hill there is a lookout looking over Innsbruck. Here are the Austrian flags welcoming us

View of most of Innsbruck. You can see Helli's apartment building from here (center center of the pic - the orange building)!

We asked someone to take our pic - I blinked :(

This is where we are going

Statue of Andreas Hofer - the hero of Austria

Going in.....

We walked the millions of stairs going up

Me, at the top of the sitting/standing area (Queen of the world!)

Looking down at my love (King of the world - but not as high as the Queen - lol)

The base of the jump is covered by all these long bristles....like in a car wash. Of course in the winter, it's all covered with snow. I'm not sure what they put on it in the summer.

Getting close to the top

This is where the jumpers begin....yikes! Helli told me that when they are launched off the jump and into the sky, the jumper has a nice view of the cemetery at the bottom of the hill....

Austrian phone booth

We made our way back down the mountain and back into downtown Innsbruck. In the city center, we came upon this "screaming room". Helli is demonstrating what you would do inside...

There was some sort of ceremony going on in the courtyard. There was a full band and riflemen - all dressed in traditional Tirolean clothing

A cool pic of the sun coming through the steeple

Walking home on the walk along the river, and we came upon this big giant fluffy dog. I just had to take a picture!