Friday, 7 May

After breakfast at 'home' Josef drove us the few Ks into Brixen, a town of around 15,000. First we visited the Augustinian monestary of Neustift, then coffee in Brixen at Pupp. Brixen is a beautiful town of cobbled, narrow streets, churches, small cafes and shops. The Alps rise on either side and the Eisack River runs through the centre, raging at this time of year with the melting snow. We had a very enjoyable lunch of Tyrolean dumplings, grilled vegetables and baked camembert at Dertraubenwirt on the Kleine Lauben (small portico). Drove a few Ks south through the valley to the village of Klausen then took many hair-pin bends up to Villanderer Alm - climbed from 560m to 1746m. A short walk further up through low alpine growth and a few snow patches then back to the restuarant for coffee. We thought we were pretty high then later saw a poster for a duatholon up to 2,300m. A walk around the pretty village of Klausen then back to Brixen and later dinner with Josef at Kutscherhof - tried the local speciality of Speck which is smoked, spiced and cured ham, a bit like Proscuitto - excellent. Great local beer - if you ask for a kleiner beer in Bavaria it is 500ml, here it is 200ml - tastes just as good.