After covering romantic Italy, we entered the Jewel of the Alps - Austria on the ninth day of our tour. Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and encompasses an area of 83,858 sq km, From a very modest existence about 50 years ago, Austria has grown to become one of the wealthiest nations in the EU and the world. Tourism plays a colossal role in shaping the Austrian economy. There are innumerable large beautiful lakes across the country and 47 per cent of the country lies covered with forests and 26 per cent is occupied by grazing lands. Austria continues to remain exceptionally clean and environmentally intact providing just the right ingredients for a rich influx of tourists. About 1.7 million stay overnight per year while the place attracts 6.9 million day visitors all of whom make a beeline for the Höhensalzburg Fortress, Hellbrünn Palace and park and, most importantly, Salzburg -Mozart's birthplace. Salzburg's Old City was declared a `World Heritage Site' by UNESCO! The most famous movie of all times, The Sound of Music was shot at locations in and around Salzburg.

Before we checked into the hotel in Innsbruck, we were taken for a short city orientation tour covering the 'Zentrum' area (City Centre). The Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) is a late gothic bay window with 2657 gilded copper tiles, built to serve as a court box during Emperor Maximilian Ist's reign (1494-96). Frescoes and coats of arms and dancers in relief decorate the bay and the interior of the seat. Just across from the Golden Roof is one of the most magnificent facades of 'Helblinghaus'. On the same street you will find the Innsbruck Crystal Gallery - Situated in the old town of Innsbruck near the Golden Roof, the world's largest Swarovski shop, the Crystal Gallery. The building dates back to the 15th century and looks back over a colourful past as an inn with stables. The interior was extensively expanded and modernized by Swarovski in 2004. On three levels, the world's leading manufacturer of cut crystals presents the latest trends from its multifaceted product range, encompassing crystal objects, decoration, jewellery and fashion.

Visit Sinne (Senses- Discover the Invisible) You dive into an inconceivably vast, black room. From there you will walk for approximately one hour in complete darkness across scented meadows, past the edge of a forest over bridges and through narrow gorges until you reach an idyllic lake nested in the midst of our fabulous mountains. A boat will take you and your family or friends safely to the other shore, to where tiny shops and charming cafés already await your visit. A fascinating journey along which as described at the beginning, you can be sure you won't see anything. Yet by using extraordinary power of your imagination and by intensively applying your other senses, your journey through a total absence of light set in installations of perception will be an impressive, unforgettable experience.

After the crystal shopping we went back to the hotel for a buffet lunch. We were scheduled to go to Salzburg for the Sound of Music Tour but due to  unavoidable reasons it was cancelled and instead we went to 'Bergisel' the Olympic Ski Jump Stadium and the view from top of the Olympic Stadium was 'Spectacular'- A bird’s eyeview of the city of Innsbruck- A must see ! Later instead of getting back to the hotel early in the evening, my dad and I decided to go for a walking tour of the Zentrum and its surroundings (on our own) with the help of a city map. We started walking from Höfburg (Imperial Court Palace) walked past the Golden Dach, Helblinghaus as we continued walking we saw the Stadtturm (City Tower) - Built 1442-50 as one of the most unique town hall towers. The pointed roofs were replaced with rounded ones in 1560. Crossing the City tower, we arrived at the Annasaule (St. Anna's Column) which was built between 1704 and 1706 by the provincial legislature in commemoration of the Tyroleans' successful resistance to a Bavarian invasion (1703) during the War of Spanish Succession. 

On day 11 of the tour after a good buffet breakfast most of us went to the supermarkets - a walking distance from the hotel to buy some potato chips,  mineral water and fruits for the long bus journey to Switzerland. We had an early lunch and then left for Switzerland. Our first stop in Switzerland was at Interlaken. It was a long road journey of 6 hrs and on our way we passed through the longest tunnel in Europe named 'Arlberg' measuring 15.7 kms. After a long day of travel on the bus and an early dinner the group retired to their respective rooms at Hotel Chalet Oberland. The “Chalet-Hotel Oberland” is located right in the heart of Interlaken - the starting point for many well known excursions. 

The Jungfraugh Railway Pass is a personal pass, valid for 6 consecutive days. It entitles the holder to unlimited travel on the route network of the  Jungfraugh Railways. The Jungfraugh Railway Pass is on sale from 1st May to 31st October, from your hotel or local travel agencies, tourist offices or stations of Jungfraugh Railways. Normal price for adults is around 165 Swiss Francs. 

For nearly 90 years, Jungfraujoch has enjoyed international acclaim as the highest railway station in Europe. But it has much more to offer than the coming and going of trains. For this is a wonder world of eternal snow and ice. A remarkable range of natural and man made attractions is on offer on the 'Top of Europe'. And the destination has been carefully developed down the decades with protection of the environment very much in mind. The route from the Kleine Scheidegg covers 12 kilometers, almost all of it through the tunnel hewn out of the Alpine rock. Stops are made at the Eiger North Wall, Eiger glacier and sea of ice stations, where huge observation windows offer breathtaking vistas of the valleys below.

The Jungfraujoch itself is an enchanting glacier and grotto world. Visitors are offered fine views of the Aletsch Glacier, at 24 kms the longest ice stream in the Alps. On clear days you can even see beyond Switzerland's frontiers to France's Vosges mountain range and the Black Forest in Germany. A particularly popular attractions is the Ice Palace, created in 1930s by local mountain guides. Located 20 metres under the Aletsch Glacier, it displays superb sculptures of wildlife and other impressive exhibits, carved out of natural ice. Another must for the visitors is husky sledge riding across the frozen wastes- just one of the several attractions for the active vacation visitor. 

Around 20 kilometres from Interlaken, we next visited the Trümmelbach Falls which is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. This spectacular place has 10 glacier waterfalls inside the mountain made accessible by tunnel lift and it is also illuminated. The Trümmelbach alone drains the mighty glacier defiles of Eiger (3970m), Monch (4099m) and Jungfrau (4158). Its drainage area is 24 sq km.- half of it is covered by snow and glaciers. Trümmelbach is the only glacier waterfalls in Europe inside a mountain and remains accessible. We returned to the hotel and relaxed until time for dinner. After dinner we went walking on the streets of Interlaken.