Trying to pronounce Austria in German is one of the hardest things to do, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to try. And imagine that what is even better than trying to pronounce the country's name is visiting it. Austria is a land of vibrant colors and towering mountains. It contains some of the most peaceful cities I have ever visited.
Salzburg
This city is famous for a multitude of reasons, none of which is due to the majestic sites the city offers. This town is famous for being the birthplace of the famous classical composer, Mozart, and the location of the town was also made famous by the 1965 hit movie The Sound of Music. If either Mozart or musicals entertain you, you can take specific tours around Salzburg that show key places from both Mozart's life or the movie. As much as I like music, when I travel I am much more interested in the sights places have to offer than what made the town famous.
Hallein Salt Mine:
Located just outside of Salzburg, touring this mine gives insight into the origins of Salzburg's name. Walk the very tunnels where miners were hauling salt hundreds of years ago, to catch a glimpse of history. The Hallein Salt Mine had been in use for approximately 800 years during which miners hauled out approximately 12 million tons of salt. Tours of this mine include walking along the ancient mining tunnels, traveling by boat across a salt lake deep inside the mine, and sliding down a 64-meter wooden slide used by the miners. During the tour, since the mine is located close to the border between Austria and Germany, you can "illegally" cross back into Germany.
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| The border between Germany and Austria located underground. |
Located on a hill high above the town, this castle provides wonderful views of the town below. To reach the fortress you can take a funicular for a small fee, or if you feel athletically inclined, climb the steep slopes to the fortress doors. Beware! This is a strenuous hike up to the castle on steep, gravelly slopes, for your own comfort don't make the same mistake as I did: do NOT wear flipflops. While you can take a tour of the castle, I recommend seeing one of the concerts that are held almost daily in the Prince's chambers. That way you can listen to Mozart in the birthplace of Mozart.
Innsbruck
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| The center of Old Town in Innsbruck. |
Located more in the western part of Austria, this town offers a quiet atmosphere and picturesque views offered by the Alps that you can view while eating gelato below in the colorful old town.
The Alps:
To get to the top of the Alps, you have to take a combination of rail car and cable car. It takes two to three vehicles to get to your destination depending on how high up you want to go. The higher the better in my opinion, as these mountains offer outstanding views like nowhere else. Even in the middle of summer, it is common to find snow at the top of the mountain since the temperature never gets warm enough to melt all the snow. I suggest taking a light jacket with you if you visit during the summer. Gazing out across the Alps, you can hear the ringing of cowbells as there are many cows scattered across the mountains. Be careful where you step as dense fog can be sudden since you are literally touching the clouds. This is a must see as this town demonstrates some of the immense beauty this world offers.
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| A view of the Alps taken from the top. |
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| A view of Innsbruck taken from the cable car. |
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| Cows and snow are common on the mountain. |
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| Clouds can suddenly appear and create dense fog. |
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