This blog is the travel journal for the LSAMP students selected to participate in the inaugural "global awar
eness" trip to the Medical University of Innsbruck. We will be in Austria from June 29-July 17,2009, during which time we will conduct science projects in three
different laboratories, as well as experience the culture and the beautiful regions of Austria, the land of Mozart, the Sound of Music, Sacher Torte, strudel and schnitzel. Your fearless leader, the cyberprof, is preparing for what should be an exciting and informative trip. My recommendations to you are to read up on some basic phrases (even though most everyone in the major cities speaks some English), and begin making a list of places you would like to visit, things you would like to see, and foods you would like to sample. Bring a camera, a good appetite, and a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Pack light, but leave room for souvenirs.
There has been a great deal of rain here in Austria. The Danube is running quite high, and there has been flooding of many towns along the river. Although it has been cool, the weather is warming up for the next week or so. The temperature will be between 75-85 (24-29C) during the day, and between 60-65F (14-19C) at night here in Vienna. There will be thunder showers expected as well. The weather forecast for Innsbruck is cooler for the next several days, through Monday: 14-21C during the day, 8-11C at night, mostly cloudy, with rain/thunderstorms. So, expect the temperature to fluctuate, getting warmer as we move into July. Plan to layer clothes, and bring clothes to keep dry, as there will be frequent rain. Because there has been a great deal of rain, and it is warming up, also expect mosquitoes. 
July 7, 2009 brought much rain to the region. It was also cooler than the previous few days, with very low clouds and fog. This brought the possibility also of snow at higher elevations, and indeed, we awoke the following morning to find a dusting of snow on the local mountains.
