Summer Fun- July 2013 rome, dolomites and innsbruck, austria

A rare dinner with the 4 of us

an even rarer terrace photo of us all

gorgeous scenery everywhere you turn

the streams were all full of water after a very rainy June and July

matthew and christopher trying out a new pizza place for them

beautiful days

he did the tough hike and we did the easy part

snow on the mountain tops in the sella range

relaxing

just gorgeous rocks everywhere

hard to put the camera down

view from the passo gardena

one of my favorite trails 

had fabulous local greens every nite

a fish appetizer

dinners were exquisite, baccala tempura

hotel after dark

where our room was, stepping out on terrace and taking in that view every morning was heaven

zona relax next to great heated outdoor pool

view looking toward ortisei

one of our apple strudel breaks, this one in ortisei

we took a hiking break and drove to Innsbruck one day

one of Innsbruck's main streets

very tyrolean

I loved this tomb of Maximilian I in the hofkirche. Construction took 80 years.

tomb had everything, incredibly detailed marble reliefs

this was our preferred dining area at he hotel, where we ate every night, in the "stuben"

wonderful bronze statues surrounded the tomb. there were 28 of them.

they included ancestors and heroes

these were all lined up along the side of the tomb

choir stalls in the church

maximilian's tomb; great wrought iron, marble reliefs,  bronze statues and more. Completed in 1572. The kneeling statue of him  on top, as well as  lovely iron grill  dates to 1584. he was never buried here. sad story really.

loved this turk on one of the screens. such wonderful detail

another wonderful wrought iron door in church

part of the royal palace

 Having Matthew and Christopher visiting at the same time in July was the highlight of the summer. Then a week long trip to Dolomites to breathe fresh air, take in gorgeous views and relax wasn't bad either. Matthew went off to attend an economic conference in Canazei. Scott and I took a  day trip to Innsbruck was a lot of fun.

 Maximilian I was the King of the Romans (also known as King of the Germans) from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky. As in the Renaissance his family and the Hasburg empire spend by marriage to various princesses in Spain and France. He was a patron of the arts, science and a reformer of laws. All in all seemed like a good figure from my brief introduction to him.

More photos to follow.