09/04 - Concrete, Salzburg

On our way from the train station to the old town we passed by a large concrete building with a tall chimney, the Heizkraftwerk. We knew nothing about this former power station when we were there. I took a photo of it because it seems very interesting to me. The concrete seems nicely built. Not until I returned to Canada do I find out that many locals actually hate the building, especially the contemporary addition completed in 2003. They see the new concrete addition as a total waste of tax money.

09/04 - Salzburg

After Innsbruck, we made use of our rail pass to make a detour at Salzburg. A pretty Baroque city in a picturesque alpine setting. Thanks to the 1965 film The Sound of Music, everyone has a presumption of its beauty without setting foot in Austria.

We spent around three hours strolling through the old city without climbing the castle hill. The stroll along the Salzach River was particular pleasant. We were attracted by some Baroque houses that built against a cliff side. We had some good ice-cream at Mozart Square, took some pictures of the Mozart statue, passed by the Mozart residence and purchased three Mozart chocolate balls, Mozartkugel. That's Salzburg! In the evening, we hopped on a train to return to Munich.

09/04 - Innsbruck

I first visited Innsbruck in 1985 with my parents. Obviously I don't remember a thing about it except a few really dark images of the iconic Golden Roof, seen from some stone-age family albums stored in the basement of my old house. 24 years later AC and I decided to make a day trip from Munich to Innsbruck, mainly because of Hadid's funicular stations.

It's strange to revisit a place that faintly existed in my memory. Everything to me seems familiar, and it makes me wonder whether I remember the snow mountains and the old lanes and the Golden Roof from my childhood or I just know they exist because I have simply created a memory of the town from books, photos and my parents' descriptions.

Anyhow, Innsbruck is a pretty little town in Tyrol of West Austria, surrounded by snow-capped mountains in all four sides, and famous for a little balcony topped with 2000+ shiny copper tiles. That's Innsbruck.