We spent the rest of the night in Innsbruck. The next morning we stopped by to have coffee with Müch, one of Timi's oldest climbing buddies, and his girlfriend Marianna. Then we rented a car and headed to Italy, or, as the Austrians say: South Tyrol. (They can live without Hungary and Romania, but they're still not over the loss of Northern Italy, hence it'll always be Tyrol to an Austrian.)
We arrive two hours later in gorgeous, sunny Arco. Timi immediately sees three climbers he knows. It was obvious the place was packed for the holiday weekend. My concern that we wouldn't find a hotel (we hadn't had time to make a reservation) was unfounded. Among European climbers, it's customary to sleep in the car, so we snagged a quaint little place right away.
Timi's busy chatting, and the boys are pooped from traveling and whining for food. By way of distraction, I explain that it's a pedestrian town, and they can ride wherever they want. Big miscalculation. Parker manages to wheel through two cafes within thirty seconds.
As I'm chasing Parker in and out of Cafe Piu, I glance up and see an old friend, Gudi.
The last time I saw her was five years ago on a bouldering trip in Hueco Tanks, Texas when Peter was 4 months old. She now has a 18-month-old daughter herself and another on the way.
Too bad I can't hang out and chat. Parker is on the lam again. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see several Italian ladies cross themselves.
I hand the bike over to Peter, so I can talk and look around.
What a beautiful clock tower. I really hope Timi isn't planning on climbing it.
This is Castello di Arco. I'd love to hike up there, but Timi pooh-poohs my suggestion: "We're here to clip bolts, not mess around with hiking. We can do that anywhere."
The rock and mountains are outstanding for climbing.
Timi is eyeing an old manmade facade too.
Peter is back on the scooter. So where's Parker?
Ahh...here he comes. Somebody gave him a balloon.
We finally sit down for some paninis.
I try to check email, but my phone doesn't work. Ah well, nothing to do but relax and enjoy the day.
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