WWMG Innsbruck, 17 January 2020

There was very little skating we actually wanted to see today, so we decided to take another morning off and go out exploring. The J bus is a real blessing, as it goes from Igls, on one side of Innsbruck, to Nordkette, on the other. We caught it from the Sillpark stop, where it interchanges with the no 3 tram, although we could have caught it near the rink.

Our plan had been to get off in Igls and take the no 6 tram, which goes on a scenic route to Bergisel, where the ski jump is. Unfortunately, when we got to the station, we discovered that at this time of year, apart from an early school run, it only runs on weekends and public holidays.

So we decided we would walk down the path alongside the tram line to the next stop, where we could get the J, and take it all the way to Nordkette and then take the Hungerbergbahn back down to the city.

It was a really lovely walk, with wonderful views of Alpine scenery all round.

When we got to Nordkette, we went to see how much the Hungerbergbahn cost - not a great deal, compared with the Nordkettebahn - and then had lunch in the same cafe that I lunched in yesterday. Today I did have the noodle soup with sausages, which was OK, and the Swan Whisperer had käsespätzle like I had yesterday, only he managed to eat a great deal more of it than I had! We were both full when we had finished, so headed on to the Hungerbergbahn. I bought the tickets and was delighted to find that contactless now works here! I do usually pay cash when I can, when I'm abroad, as it is cheaper (in the UK there is, of course, no surcharge), but it is useful to be able to pay be card or contactless when necessary.

The journey was very quick and not particularly scenic, as a lot of it was in tunnel. Fun, though.

Then we walked along the river to the market, where we got apfelstrudel for supper pudding, and then a team back to the hotel. The Swan Whisperer went up to the rink after we'd had a cup of tea, but I had a nap!