En route to Cortina
Miraculously, I actually managed to get up at the stipulated time this morning.But then we got on the coach and I got a cold. :P
Anyway, we hadn't been travelling for very long when misty outlines of the Alps started looming in the distance. By the time we reached Innsbruck, the snowy mountains were gleaming in the sunshine high up over the city.
Our first stop in Innsbruck was its famous Golden Roof. Made with more than 2,000 gold-plated copper tiles, it was commissioned during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.
Then we were ushered into the nearby Swarovski shop, where we spent some time admiring the "Winter Wonderland" display in the basement before proceeding to the shops on the upper floors.
We had very little time to wander around after that, but I managed to get my postcards and take in some of the scenery. The streets weren't very crowded but there were preparations being made for the upcoming Euro 2008 competition, with posters being transported around and little plastic footballs hung on buildings.
However, we ended up facing a delay of nearly an hour because the coach couldn't stop along the road without risking being run over by approaching trams. We managed to catch a police band marching past whilst waiting though.
But eventually we sped off out of Austria and into Italy high up via the Brenner Pass. The pass offered endless views of little towns - situated in valleys flanked by densely-forested mountains of moss and olive green - and rolling hills perched with rustic chalets. Every now and then white Alpine peaks appeared in the distance, whilst ruined castles lay scattered amongst the landscape.
Finally we descended into the valleys, driving past chalets in fields sprinkled generously with Alpine flowers.
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