The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 72

B4 THE PROVINCE Sunday, January 12, 2003 II III I 11 II fts if dam MS The snowy glaciers in Austria allow skiing even in the summer My wife and I have seen numerous alpine destinations in Austria, especially in Tirol. Our recent visit to the charming village of Mayrhofen in the Ziller Valley evoked feelings of nostalgia in both of us. This valley is surrounded by lush green forests and impressive snowy fiSsO Sl peaks and glaciers. -3 The glaciers allow 1 YOU WERE Sf nmM there skiing even in July and August. Cable cars carry you to dizzying A steam train runs in the Ziiler Valley in the Tirol.

heights more than twice the elevation of Grouse Mountain. Buses carry you to immense water reservoirs that provide hydroelectric power and keep the valley from flood- Vk Last but not least, I should mention the Zillertailer Railway. A diesel train, as well as one of the romantic steam locomotives, carry you along the 32-km stretch from Jenbach to Mayrhofen at the end of the valley. For those who don't want to hike extensively, there is a special nine-day ticket that includes all the modes of transportation, including the cable car, for under $80 Cdn. Hiking, however, is at its best.

Fabulous tours that could take anywhere from one to 10 hours are available at your fingertips. Hotels and restaurants show the rare mixture of rustic ambience combined with modern amenities at very reasonable prices. These are truly a home away from home. For those who don't want to go to bed at 9 p.m., there are several hotels that offer music and dancing until midnight. And don't worry, English is understood practically everywhere.

We stayed at the Hotel Andrea, where charming hosts Gabi and Thomas bent over backwards to accommodate us. With dinner they always served a free hors d'oeuvre followed by a little schnaps at the end. We definitely plan to stay with those wonderful people again next year. Walter and Brigitte Schmidt VANCOUVER For sharing their story, Walter and Brigitte receive a copy of Vienna, a Knopf CityMap Guide (Random House, The charming village of Mayrhofen in the Ziller Valley. Small Group In-Depth Holidays to over 100 countries.

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