Istanbul to Zurich to Innsbruck to Melloblocco and back
After Istanbul, we flew to Zurich to rent a car. We fly back to the US from Zurich in June, so we figured it would be best to pick up and return a rental car to the same place. The next weeks have no direction, orientation, or schedule. It is daunting, but also exciting. We decided to go to Innsbruck, Austria. It is a cool mountain town with a mellow, outdoor lifestyle feel. The weather has been uncharacteristically poor in Europe of late, so we figured we could climb in the gym if nothing else. It is one of the best gyms in Europe. Sure enough, we spent a couple days there, but also made it outside to the historic limestone of Schleierwasserfall for a day. An opportunity presented itself to attend Melloblocco. It is a famous bouldering festival in a pristine valley of granite in Italy, so we capitalized. On the way there, we stopped in St. Moritz, Switzerland for a beer and some chocolate, and a touch of winter. After a couple days of avoiding rain and bouldering with friends on the abrasive granite blocs in the most splendid setting, we went back to Innsbruck…for the same reasons that we went there the first time…