Mayrhofen Bike Race and On to St. Johann di Tirol
Tonight was a big Pro Bike Race, 70 (I think) laps around Mayrhofen, with many Tour de France bikers taking part. We stopped to talk to some local announcers trying to find out exactly what was going on....View image....went in for dinner and came out to watch the proceedings.
Sorry, all your fanatical bike fans. Watching a bike race is like watching paint dry (for us). You stand there and the bikers zoom by in a split second! It wasn't exactly engrossing plus we were leaving for St. Johann di Tirol the next day. However, we showed some esprit, clapping and shouting encouragement for heavens knows who they were.
We learned another new travel lesson at the Zillertalerhof (there is always something). You had to pay for all your drinks in cash...not on a credit card. This is the first time we've ever run across that while staying at a hotel, and it certainly made no sense to us. The personnel in the restaurants and maids were wonderful but the reception person was rather condescending which left a bad taste. (When I asked a question, he would reply, "I already told you and will tell you once again.") Otherwise, the hotel was wonderful.
It was time to leave beautiful Mayrhofen with it's myriad of activities and hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and move on to St. Johann di Tyrol.
St. Johann di Tirol was settled over 3,000 years ago and is down the road (about 10km) from Kitzbuhel. We were staying at the Hotel Post*** which cost about 96 Euros/day including breakfast, dinner, all service and taxes. We dragged our suitcases from the train station to the hotel which is situated on the main street of St. Johann, about a three-block walk from the station.
Whenever I walk down the street of some of these little towns, I'm positive that either: a. this is a movie soundstage for "The Sound of Music"; b. a broadway musical will be starting momentarily; or c. I'm in the middle of a fairy tale - because of the quaint, painted houses with incredible decorations.
Christl Schneider is the owner of the Hotel Post and couldn't do enough for us. She was extremely warm and pleasant, answering all questions we threw at her, always with a smile and advice on the best places to hike or not hike. A pefect location and after discovering a new Konditorie, called Ranier, directly across the street from the Hotel, I was a very happy person. "ex-Marine" prefers a nice chocolatey Sacher Torte, but my favorite is the Tofenstrudel, a strudel pastry filled to the brim with a dry sort of cottage cheese/ricotta mixture with raisins. And, I have a hard time finding Tofenstrudel outside of Austria. Hog heaven for me!
I was ready to explore St. Johann...
Comments
Wonderful website, and wish you all the best.
Please place on your list for updates.
Thank you.
J & E Fraser
Posted by: Jim & Eileen Fraser | August 25, 2006 05:14 PM