Ötzi the Iceman!

Sunday, 10 March, 2013

Ciao!

Today has been our Ötzi day – our day to see the iceman mummy that was discovered in the ice in the alps in 1991!  The entire purpose of our jaunt here to Bolzano!  But to begin at the beginning…

Bolzano

Bolzano

Up around 7 to a stunningly beautiful day!  A few days ago, while we were in Vienna, in checking the weather for Bolzano and vicinity, there had been indications of showers for the entire three days that we were here.  (I had looked at this location as the most problematic, as if we got a late season blizzard, we could have had difficulty getting here or out!  Rather, though, weather had been predicted to be wet but in the 60’s temperature wise, with no freezing at night.)  At any rate, the sun was shining and the sky was blue – lots and lots of birds chirping everywhere!  Spring must definitely be on its way!!  We went down to breakfast about 8 a.m., and a great breakfast it was!  (Including glasses of Prosecco, but as the designated driver, none of that for me – unfortunately!)  A lovely buffet breakfast spread out, including salmon, tomatoes, three different kinds of cheeses, ham, salami, rolls and bread, hard boiled eggs, various cereals as well as different types of pastries – including some wonderful slices of some cake-type bread made with almonds.  We had a lovely breakfast, then back to the room to assemble ourselves.

Bolzano

Bolzano

Bolzano

Re-creation of Ötzi

Bolzano

Bolzano

Out again about 9, as I wanted to get parked and find the museum before it opened at 10 a.m.  The roads were fairly deserted (again, it’s nice that it’s Sunday!  Very quiet – except for the chiming of church bells all over the place – beautiful!)  We wound our way into town and found parking beneath the local main square.  Then out and followed the map to the museum.  We arrived about 10 minutes early, and were the first ones there – followed just a minute or so later by a big tour group, obviously lately off a bus.  So…we were the first two in the door, and headed first to the ticket office and then to see Ötzi.  

Robert had the fantastic idea of getting first to Ötzi (the mummy) and then going through the rest of the exhibit afterward.  We had him truly, all to ourselves!  (I really wish we had been allowed to take pictures, but, of course, we weren’t, until we got to the reconstruction, which I think is about all we have!  So, our recommendation is that you Google South Tyrol Museum of Archeology, and read all about Ötzi!)  A year or so ago, when we were in Valencia, Spain, their natural history museum had a great exhibit on Ötzi.  They obviously didn’t have the “original” but had done a nice job of presenting information; it was then that we decided that the South Tyrol Museum here in Bolzano had to be added to our list of places to see!  Hardly seems possible that we now have actually seen the real Ötzi and his belongings!  Wow!!

To begin.  Ötzi (the name comes from the nearby Ötz valley) was discovered in 1991 by two hikers making their way a bit off route on a standard hiking trail in the Alps.  It took people a couple of days to realize that they had an ancient mummy on their hands, and when he was finally taken from the ice, he was moved to Innsbruck for study.  However, it was quickly determined that if he was to be “preserved and protected” that it would need to be under unusual circumstances.  Thus, he is kept in a permanent ice locker, where he is spritzed occasionally with sterile water, which then freezes, giving him a rather permanent “shine” from the very thin layer of ice that coats his body.  When he was found, his left arm was laid out at an odd angle, showing dislocation of the shoulder, but they are not sure if this happened before/as he died, or as a result of possibly melting/refreezing over the years.  When first found, they thought Ötzi was on the Austrian side of the border, which is why he was first taken to Innsbruck but, after checking the survey, they figured out that he was about 100 yards inside Italy, which is why the museum is Bolzano and not Innsbruck.

Various countries and teams of scientists have conducted tests on Ötzi and his belongings over the years, and have been able to determine many things.  But it wasn’t until 2001 that it was discovered that there was an arrowhead stuck in his shoulder from the back, which probably was the cause of his death; Ötzi was murdered!  In addition to Ötzi himself, who was clothed when he fell, his belongings were scattered around the area in which he was found.  Never before has there been such a find!  Scientists were able to find and reassemble much of his clothing – loin cloth, belt, leggings, coat, cape, bear fur hat, which is presented in the museum.  To that, there was the wooden frame from a back pack, two birch bark containers with various items – including some analgesic herbs – his quiver with arrows, as well as the start of a long bow, an iron ax, a flint dagger, and various cords and tools.  

Everything was presented beautifully, in Italian, German and English; definitely a first-rate home for Ötzi!  There are also some wonderful children’s areas – things to dress up in, things to color, etc.  A very well thought-out and planned museum.  We recommend it highly!

From the museum, we decided to take a saunter through town.  Most everything was closed – it is Sunday in Italy, after all! – but they have a really stunning arcade – very old and beautiful buildings lining both sides of the street, with shops on the ground floor level, and then housing up above.  The arcades were really lovely; I’d guess the precursor to our enclosed shopping malls!  Strolled down one side, sat in the sun in the piazza at the end, then strolled back down the other side, and then finally back to the car.  We had such a huge breakfast that neither of us is hungry at all, so decided to skip lunch and head back to the hotel for a lazy Sunday kind of experience!

Not sure where the rest of the afternoon went, but I dimly recall us sleeping through most of it!  Between moments sitting out on the balcony with a book, and napping under our wonderful duvets (which Robert HATES!), we have had a truly lovely and relaxing day!  I’m hoping that the weather holds at least a bit, as R wants to go to Verona tomorrow to see Juliet’s “wall” from the movie Letters to Juliet.  [And, yes, there really is a group called The Secretaries of Juliet.] We haven’t been in Verona since our last opera there – Carmen at the Arena di Verona (a Roman arena built in 30 A.D., still used for entertainment!), several years ago.  We’re thinking we may dash into town, once around the Arena and Juliet’s balcony, lunch and then back out!  We’ll see…

More later!

m

xxx

Ciao Encora!  Back from a wonderful dinner in the dining room…they’re closed on Monday, so no telling where we may end up tomorrow night!  Tonight was MUCH calmer than last night, when it was like a 3-ring circus.

A real salad!

Margie & salad

Angler fish

Margie & Pizza

White and dark chocolate mousse

We both had their salad bar this time – SO good to have fresh produce again; I really miss salads away from home.  Robert then had their angler fish main course, which he said was great, and I ordered a pizza with mushrooms and ham – and it was amazing; they have their own pizza oven on premises!  Robert had a desert wine to finish, and I had their chocolate and white chocolate mousse – fabulous!  Back to the room a bit before 9!

m

xxx