Otzi

Leaving Lake Garda this morning we traveled further into the Italian Alps stopping in Bolzano to visit Otzi, a.k.a. Iceman, who died over 4,000 years ago. (http://www.iceman.it/en/node/226 in case you want to read more.) The museum was well worth the stop. And in case you want to know what Otzi looked like, Cousin John does a darn good  impersonation. He sends word to his grand nephews, Ryan & Jason, that he's thinking of them. (Kind of scary isn't it?!)

Then we waved goodbye to Italy and said Hello to Austria staying once again in a farmhouse, this time on the mountain overlooking Oberlienz. Garmin, the GPS, was a bit confused so I found myself interrupting the evening milking in a barn trying to find the house. Maria, the person who greeted us, doesn't speak a word of English and John, in spite of two years of German, can just about manage "ya" and "bier". However, we somehow got shown to our rooms, shown the history of the house that was built by her family in the late 1800's, and learned she has 6 children, 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Luckily Sonja, the daughter-in-law, who does speak a little English, showed up so making arrangements for breakfast became a bit easier. Sonja also brought out the apple schnapps they make in their own distillery. POTENT! I hope to get a picture of the still before we leave to post tomorrow.