After a few changed plans, we turned a 3-4 day getaway to Bolzano (northern Italy) into a day trip. We drove through some very pretty countryside to arrive in Bolzano to visit the Otzi Museum, The Iceman. It was super cold but we received warm and cozy scarves and gloves from Momo and Marshall--and I got a hat too.
I am wearing my new gear in the dreary weather.
Here is Evan in the street with the angelic decorations above him. You can sort of tell he's wearing his scarf and gloves too!
Bolzano was a cute little town, easily walkable and lots of people milling around chatting, eating, and drinking--lots of joyful people despite the weather. It was the day of their fruit, flower, and vegetable markets and I wish we would have taken a picture of the street views. More colorful flowers, fruits, and veggies just abounding, and against the gray backdrop of a day, it was a nice contrast of color.
The reason we visited Bolzano was to go see the Iceman. In September 1991, 2 hikers saw something sticking out of the icewater and rock that turned out to be the backside and shoulders of a human corpse. It ended up being a man from the 4th millenium BC that they believe to have been killed by an arrow to the shoulder that caused him to bleed to death, but under the conditions, the body stayed relatively in tact after all this time.
Otzi was found in Italy but was very close to being in Austrian territory by just a few meters I think. Over the years, researchers have studied Otzi--everything from the pollen left in his pores to the contents of his intestines to know what he ate for his last meal. There were a variety of materials and objects discovered near him: bow and arrows, rolled birch, the clothes he wore made of animal fur and grass, backpack, medicine, tools, and others.
Researchers estimate he was about 54 years old. Here is an estimate of what they think he looked like.
We enjoyed our time with Otzi and it was well worth the drive and quick trip. It snowed on us on the way out of town and for a little while longer while leaving the area. A nice way to end our day.
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