Octobirrafest in Balzano

All right. Where was I. Yes, heading back to Bergamo from Lake Como. A quick reversal of the same train ride(s) out; I change once more in Lecco, with a half hour to grab a cappuchio and panini. Turns out that was unnecessary, as Claudia's family was good and ready to once again stuff me with home cookin', as well as another episode of the Beautiful. I'm getting hooked.
This was not to be a long stay (well, except for the three course meal), and as quick as a lick (of the spoon) I'm on the 3pm train to Munich. But, getting off in Bozano, up high in the Italian Alps.
Up there, the livin' is easy, the population is more Germanic than Italian, and you expect to see Julie Andrews come over the mountain with a guitar case in hand. This was apparent before even getting there, for the Alps just scream "ach der leiber!" as the train weaves up and into them mountains. As soon as I detrain (if you can deplane, I'm sure you can deplane), I'm already looking forward to a Germany/Austria/Switzerland vacation. Next year. On a bike. Or maybe skiis. But I'm getting waay ahead of myself here. This place must absolutely rock in about a month, though; this is alpine ski central. Without the touristy bit. Still seems largely untouched by people like me.
So, before I set out to touch this place, I do the obligatory tour of Rick Steve's recommended hotels, and end up at the Albergo-Gasthof Feichter.
That's how they did it on the sign. "Feichter" is in bold. Wondering why, I just Babelfish-translated "Feichter" from German to English. Oddly enough, it translates from "feichter" to "more feichter". Try it for yourself. How much more Feichter can you get than bold-face?
Anyway, cool alpine hotel, my room is five floors up the stairs to the verrrry top. Best room so far, for cheap cheap cheap. But I'm not it Bolzano to sit in a room; I'm there with one aim in mind, to see Otzi the Iceman. It's getting on in the day, so I head down Leo Da Vinci lane to the museum, noticing...a cafe...with...apple streudels...and cappucino...
I have a picture of THAT, too. My goodness. Rather tasty.
OK, detour aside, it's off to the museum of Tirol, which has all you need to know about the iceman, including, well, the iceman himself. I rented the audio guide that steps you through the whole arheological history of the region, narrated by a British guy and girl, trading witty banter, until you get to the freezer displaying Otzi. They them solemnly remind you that this is the remains of a human body, and they won't say anything as you pay your respects.
Rather touching, except that they didn't mind cracking jokes about a couple of medieval skeletons in another display. Oh well. Maybe they're related to the iceman. Or at least they know who's paying the bills in this museum.
They also have all his closthes, accoutrements, etc, with great explainations of it all. Totally worth the trip.
Then, I headed of to find an Internet cafe, which was full, so off to dinner. This place, Hopken and Co., serving bavarian cuisine and home mede beer. What kind do I want? What do you have? Four kinds. Well, let's start at the top and work through them all, a couple of times... That, and some potato and beef and potato burgerstraatenfrickaseen stew stuff, and, another streudel, and I'm almost good for the night. Almost.
I stop by a couple of shops for neccessities (bottle of wine, chunk of cheese, apples, candies for snackin'), a quick check of a big bookshops small English section, then back to the hotel to drop it off.
I hit the Internet spot late (that was the last installment), and had them burn my camera pics to CDROM before heading to bed. Next day? Next Installment...