Just a few years after I’d moved to Innsbruck, my parents came to visit from Greece. It had been on the list for a while — them seeing the place I now called home — and finally, it happened.

First impressions from above

I’d arrived in Innsbruck in August 2012, still finding my footing in this mountain-framed city, trying to balance a new job, a different culture, and the weight of being away from home. So having my parents there with me, seeing where I lived and worked, was both comforting and exciting. I wanted to share with them more than just my apartment and local coffee spots — I wanted them to feel the beauty of this place.

Walking the Zirbenweg

One of the highlights of their visit was a hike on the Zirbenweg trail in Patscherkofel. It’s the kind of walk that’s more than just scenic — it’s cinematic. We took the lift up together, rising above the valley floor with wide eyes and bigger smiles. The trail itself is gentle, hugging the mountain and offering sweeping views of Innsbruck and beyond.

It was early autumn, so the air was crisp but kind, and the colors were just beginning to shift. My parents aren’t what you’d call “avid hikers,” but they took it all in stride — the silence, the altitude, the way the mountains just humble you with their stillness. We walked, chatted, laughed, took photos, and stopped often just to soak it all in.

Grateful in hindsight

Looking back, I’m so grateful we did that together. Back then, I was still pretty green when it came to Tyrolean life — figuring out the language, getting used to snow in October, and understanding the rhythm of alpine living.

That hike wasn’t just a fun day out; it was a moment of connection. I got to share a piece of my new world with the people who raised me, on a trail that felt like a welcome mat to everything I had grown to love about Innsbruck. And even now, when I revisit the Zirbenweg, that memory always comes with me — quiet, steady, and full of warmth.