The hills are alive, with the sound of music....

Posted Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - photos same day

No, we aren't in Salzburg (where the "Sound of Music" was filmed) but from outside, in the crowded streets of Innsbruck - I hear music. Earlier, a trio from England was playing and singing country music.

They sounded "like us" and played quite well, in spite of the fact that their instruments displayed several broken strings.

Innsbruck sits in the valley surrounded on all sides by the Alps - such a beautiful setting. Today, the mountaintops have been covered by the low-hanging clouds. The winter olympics were held here in 1964 and again in 1976. The Junior Olympics will be here in 2012.

.....down in the valley, valley so low......

Our B&B (Hotel Weisses Kreuz) is in Old Town and was first mentioned in city chronicles in 1465. In 1769, Wolfgang Mozart slept here (in our room??). In 1945, Major Eliott, commander of the American Troops in WWII made this his temporary headquarters.

The facade was painted in 1926 by Rudolf Stolz - a well-known fresco painter.

As Rick Steves might say, this is a "hidden gem" with good beds, larger bathroom than we've been accustomed to in other B&Bs - and again, real towels! It's also located in a great location in the heart of Old Town with sidewalk cafes everywhere.

The Golden Roof (at the end of our street) is possibly Innsbrucks greatest tourist attraction. There are 2,600 gold-plated tiles covering the three story balcony. It was built by Archduke Frederich IV in the 15th century and was constructed for Emperor Maximilian I so that he could sit in luxury and enjoy tournaments in the square below, as well as watch his "subjects" as they went about their daily lives.

Another of Innsbrucks ornate buildings - also at the end of our street in Old Town.

Tomorrow, we'll tour a castle, the Basilica and ride the Incline Railway up one of the mountains. And, tomorrow night (late) we will board our final European train as we make our way back to Rome for the last leg of this fabulous and memorable journey.

Sarah