MONT BLANC - MONTE BIANCO

Mont Blanc (in French) or Monte Bianco ( in Italian), The White Mountain, situated between France and Italy is clearly visible from the surrounding hills of Geneva. Rising to a height of 4,810 meters it is the highest mountain of the Alps.

The REFORMATION WALL

On the grounds of the Geneva University, along the old city walls, the 100 meter long "Reformation Wall" was erected in 1909
The main and center point depict four of the most important personalities, who carried the religious fight against the dominance of the Roman Catholic church:

William Farel (1489 -1565 ),

John Calvin  (1509 - 1564 )

Theodore Beza (1519 - 1605 )

John Knox ( 1513 - 1572 )

Four stern and forbidding men, who, in their religious fanaticism

would put every Pope to shame.

It may be interesting to note,  that just about at that time, the German Priest, Martin Luther (1483 - 1546 ) became disenchanted with his church and posted the famous 95 Theses in 1517, demanding, among others, an end to the sale of "indulgences".

Geneva

An exceedingly important European City, Geneva, is best viewed from the topmost balcony of St. Peter's Cathedral. I think I counted more than 130 steps along a narrow winding stone stair case. Finally the City lay before me and my camera had to work over time.

The mountains of the French Alps 

seem to be on top of those  buildings

and the two flags appear to be 

mounted on the snow covered peak.

GENEVA Street Musicians

Two wonderfully talented and friendly street musicians: 

He, in the Rustafarian garb, from Ghana played a lovely guitar and sang with verve and gusto in the style of Bob Marley and she, with the bright smile beat a rhythmic drum and sang with sentiment and feeling. I could have listened to them for hours.

From Innsbruck to Zurich

Through alpine regions to the rolling hills we reach Switzerland's largest City : Zurich.
The financial centre of Europe, its 383,500 inhabitants enjoy one of the highest standards of living anywhere.
Beautifully located at the end of Lake Zurich it is a city deserving a visit much longer than the one day we were able to give to it.

above and below:

The romanesque style of the Protestant church "Grossmünster"

 imposes its powerful presence over the city.

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St. Peter's Church boasts the largest clock face of any church in Europe

Along the Limmat river imposing structures line the shore.

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The "Frauenmünster Church" and "St.Peter's Church" as seen from one of the many bridges crossing the Limmat.

Well, so much for Zurich. Just a little taste.

I hope it's enough to make you want to visit this interesting place.

from Braunau to Innsbruck

From Bleiburg to Braunau it is 337 km and from Braunau to Innsbruck it is a further 250 km.
The trip is absolutely no hardship. It takes you through the most beautiful country side on good roads with limited traffic. So... don't just sit around, go there !!!

DO NOT FORGET TO CLICK ON PICTURES FOR EXTRA SIZE

Leave the front door of our Hotel

"To the Golden Eagel"

turn left, and this is what you see:

The Hafelekar.

A  chain of mountains, seemingly

going on and on and on.

The Golden Roof in Innsbruck

The Golden Roof

in Innsbruck was decorated in the year 1500
with 2738 fire gilded copper tiles
by Emporer Maximilian I

There is a quaint story connected with the "Goldene Dachl"

The rumour had spread in Austria, that Emperor Maximilian

was broke. The Treasury was empty.

In  order to counteract this rumour, the Emperor caused this roof to be covered 

with shingles made of pure Gold.

When the job was done, the people said:

If he wasn't broke at first, he surely shot the wad with this stupid roof.

Below:

We stayed at the 4 Star Hotel, The Golden Eagle.

consider this: in 1492 Columbus sailed the Ocean blue...

and finally discovered America.

98 years earlier travellers dined in the Restaurant to the Golden Eagle.