Foto: The hairpin bends of the Grossglockner (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Austria - Just before Sankt Johann in Tirol, we leave the highway. Passing well-known winter sports towns such as Brixen, Kirchberg, and Kitzbühel, we drive towards the famous Grossglockner High Alpine Road. It’s already after seven o’clock when we arrive in Zell am See. From here, the mountain pass begins. Would the pass still be open in the evening? After all, it's a toll road. As we arrive, luckily, one toll booth is still open. Although all signs indicate €36, we only have to pay €26. We have no idea why—perhaps because it's already evening? We quickly drive on. We are at an elevation of 845 meters. The highest point of this pass lies at 2,505 meters. Through hairpin bends, we quickly gain altitude. Calmly, in second gear, we climb the 12% incline. There's barely any other traffic, just the occasional group of motorcyclists. The higher we go, the more beautiful the view becomes. Dark clouds hang above the pass. We pass remnants of last winter’s snow. Snow is still visible on the surrounding mountain peaks. One of these giants must be the Grossglockner itself, towering at 3,750 meters. We don’t take the time to figure out exactly which peak it is. We skip the visitor center and the side road to the glacier as well. It’s nearly eight o’clock when we descend the other side of the pass, heading toward Heiligenblut.
Schonbrunn Palace
Austria - Today we are visiting Schönbrunn Palace. This former summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Empress Elisabeth is located just outside the center of Vienna. We board the metro at Schwedenplatz. From there, it's a direct ride to the palace. ...
The Imperial Library in Vienna
Austria - We continue wandering through the streets and arrive at Josefsplatz, part of the Hofburg complex. In the center stands the statue of Emperor Joseph II. Around the square are the Palffy Palace and the Pallavicini Palace. On the other side of Josefsplatz ...
Vienna
Austria - Vienna is the capital and one of the largest cities in Austria. Nearly two million people live in Vienna — more than 25% of Austria’s population resides in the capital. The city is the cultural, economic, and political center of the country. Until ...