Out of the handful of cities in europe which are on my bucket list, Innsbruck is very close to the top. So when out of the blue I found a very good deal It really was too good to miss. Although me being the travelholic that I am. It was never going to be a straight forward weekend away.
Innsbruck is most commonly known for being one of the most popular ski destinations for UK tourists during the winter months. But skiing is not all that this wonderful city has to offer. Being located at the heart of the Austrian Alps there are incredible views that are visible for miles and miles from all over the city which are very nearly impossible to beat. The only place I have been that is similar is Yosemite National Park on the west coast of the USA.
What drew me in to visiting was the numerous photography opportunities that where to be found. From the two very scenic approaches to the airport and although simple, the mountains. I mean where else can you see green grass and snowy mountains in a single photo?
As is becoming expected of me now this was another of my wacky spontaneous day trips which would prove to be my most tiring yet...
It all started with an insanely early coach from home only a matter of hours after I finished work. So I thought sod it whats the point of sleep? Now its been a short while since I last took the National Express to Gatwick and I forgot that it stops quite a few times on the way so my plan for sleep went straight out the window. Lucky I had a comfy seat on a plane reserved!
After a few hours bumping around on the A roads I eventually arrived at Gatwick and collected my boarding pass from a very happy and awake check in agent. It always amazes me how they can be so alert at 4am! It was when I got to the gate that it was to my surprise that easyJet had scheduled an A320neo. Perfect day for it as the extra quiet cabin made for an "easy!" hour or so sleep before I woke to the gorgeous mountainous views of the alps. After meeting a mate who had travelled another slightly more adventurous route to get here It was time to leave the airport and go for a wander.
We walked and walked and walked in the bitter cold before finding a very good place at the end of the runway to to take amazing pictures of the airport, mountains and the planes. Then before we knew it, it was time to head back to the airport for our flight home. When I say home...
Well I did say this was another one of my wacky trips. My flight was on Thomas Cook up to Manchester. It seemed strange being back on a Thomas Cook A321 as a passenger again after I had an access all areas tour of their Maintenance Hangar just a few months back. Even for me after all the times I fly it did seem quite daunting taking off in the middle of the mountains in darkness. It was quite an uneventful flight mainly filled with editing the hundreds of pictures from my hectic day. To finish up it was my incredibly frequent FlyBe flight back down to Southampton with a very short connection time between two terminals in Manchester.
So many people say that all this travelling with no sleep I must be mental. And my response to that is... I am TravelholicTom!
This was a very long and tiring day. Although I enjoyed it so much that I would do it all over again in a heart beat. And HIGHLY recommend Innsbruck in fact the Alps in general to anyone whether you're looking for a ski holiday, weekend away or even an out of the blue day trip.
Here are a handful of the pictures from the day...
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Stay tuned for another blog from another one of my bucket list european cities very soon… In fact i’m writing this very blog right now at 40,000ft on my way there!