Streets of Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria
I arrived in Innsbruck under the legendary cover of darkness. Thirteen hours or so had swept me from the sultry hotlands of Andalucia, via Mallorca to Munich, followed by a greyish drive to the soundtrack of deep-throated windscreen wiper thumps.
I was, and still am, no stranger to gloom in northern Europe, even during the throes of so-called summer. I did grow up in Britain after all.
Yet Innsbruck played tricks on me. It lured me into a false sense of smugness, with my suitcase full of jumpers, a stash of thick tights and a distinct lack of suncream.
I woke to discover not only sunshine fresher than a snowflake on an outstretched hand, but a fully blown Austrian heatwave and a skyline dominated by Alpine mountains.
Mountains peeking through hotel curtains, mountains sweeping along the river, mountains rising up behind the streets. From every angle, in every place, green and granite glittered over the city of Innsbruck.
Alas for me, I spent the day indoors, dealing with hacking problems (computer, not phone) and working on my TBU travel writing workshop.
No problem, I thought. There’s always tomorrow.
Yet as tomorrow became today, it swallowed Innsbruck into the clouds, soaked it with water and spat it back out as a million vicious raindrops.
I staggered into the streets beneath my loyal but limp umbrella, snatched shelter beneath the arches and rethought my plans.
LiveShareTravel suggested the Swarovski Shop and – without a decent alternative – I moseyed along to see what it was all about.
Symbol of Swarovski
Swarovski, Innsbruck
To my surprise, Swarovski sparkled.
Not just in terms of the crystal glass, which fractured, or technically refracted, white light into rainbows across the gleaming walls. The whole Swarovski experience dazzled from the word go.
The shopfront displayed glass crystal sculptures, the staircase twinkled around dripping crystal and Swarovski even threw in a champagne bar for good measure.
Swans spread their wings in studded crystal glass, bugs hovered with scarlet eyes and Hollywood starlets posed with crown jewels and glass slippers (in photographs, at least.)
Surrounded by such brilliance, it’s an effort to remember that glass crystal comes from industrial factories, transformed from materials as dull as sand, lead and limestone.
As I emerged, blinking, back onto the street, I realised that Innsbruck had pulled off a similar chemical trick.
Puddles shimmered, the copper tiles on Innsbruck’s famous Golden Roof glowed, while sun flares shot across the mountain peaks fresh with light snow.
From leaden grey skies and lashings of rain, Innsbruck had created its own city of sparkle.
Disclosure: Swarovski Innsbruck invited me to help myself to any jewellery or watches I wanted, while plying me with endless champagne. Nah…only kidding. However, I was in Innsbruck as a speaker at the TBU Conference, with the help of the Innsbruck Tourist Board and the Austrian Tourist Board. All opinions, as ever, are mine.
Swarovski Innsbruck, Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 39, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Tel. +43 (0)512 573 100 Fax. +43 (0)512 573 530 swarovski.innsbruck@swarovski.com
Oh my gosh – that last photo is amazing! I left before the storm cleared so I never got to see the mountains post-snow – spectacular! Great photos.
And thanks again for the session jam-packed with valuable insight!
Ah – thanks for the compliments!
That first photo is really incredible. Wow! I also like the element of the Swarovski mission. Austria is now on the list (if only to relive fantasies of the movie Before Sunrise).
Well, for my part, I’ll have to add Before Sunrise to my film list ;)
Lovely photos. I like the foot of the statue best, although that last one makes me want to pack my bags!
I have a soft spot for the foot as well… Makes me want to reach out and tickle it…;)
All photos are great, I love the first one and the last one, but also the foot! Lol, a little difficult to choose :P
I still like the foot…(Good job I put up more than one photo, eh?!)
Definitely the first one – it reminds me of the streets of Cambridge after a summer shower. The foot comes in a close second!
Taking a second look at that photo – I see what you mean! Two beautiful cities…
Abigail, your photos are fabulous, but what really grabbed me here was your prose – absolutely amazing mastery of words!
Wow, Clare, thank you. (Unless, of course, you’re being sarcastic but I like the authentic idea much more…;) )
Much as I often do a fine line in sarcasm and facetiousness, this is not one of those times ;-) I genuinely do love your writing style!
In which case, thank you very much! ;-)
those are some nice photos austria is very beautiful
Thanks!
you shot these yourself?
Yep! ;)