Fritz and Friends in the Tyrolian Alps

Okay, as promised, I'm picking up where I left off yesterday. So, our guide, Elizabeth, is clearly a women in love with her hometown of Innsbruck. She ran us past the city treasures in record time; sights like the Golden Roof, the Hofkirche (Imperial Church), the Landestheater, the Triumphpforte (Triumphant Arch) and more Christmas markets all in the heart of Old Town.

Following our steep climb via funicular to the top of the world (see photo from last entry) we took a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the nearby towns of Götzens, Birgitz and Axams; three Tyrolean Olympic villages known as the “Pearls of the Low Mountain Range." Our chariot driver was a man dressed in Austrian cowboy apparel that went by the name of Fritz; befitting I'd say.

Fritz deftly navigated the narrow town streets past beautiful bucolic farmhouses, catered ski chalets and guesthouses and vacation rentals that would be perfect for a group of traveling friends. I joked that the 9 of us journalists should pool our money and buy a place and use it like a timeshare. I think it was seriously considered at a brief pause in conversation.

The meal before the ride included dining at a local favorite called Postkutscherhof, a restaurant, again, owned by Fritz and his busy wife. Fritz was such a hoot. A man of few words but nicer than Santa Claus.

Today, Donna and our ski guide, beautiful blue-eyed Sebastian, went skiing atop the the Tirol Mountains in a romantic resort called Axamer Lizum. The breathtaking view from above was nearly as exhilarating as carving our way down the piste.

Donna and I rented our demos and spanking new Soloman boots earlier from a convenient ski shop called The Progressive Sports Store. I highly recommend leaving your equipment home when a place like this, run by a guy named Volker, exists. They hooked us up with all the necessities in record time.

Donna and I skipped lunch to indulge in the fleeting sunshine. We hurled our bodies down 5 or 6 favorite trails because the mountain hasn't received enough snow yet to keep the rockier terrain open. By January or late December, that should change. In the meantime, there are zero lift lines and a super fast funicular train that fits several dozens, leaving base camp every 10 minutes.