Where Tap Water Tastes Like Evian Mineral Water

Innsbruck, Austria

Facts:

• 80,000 sq km with about 8 million people
• Capital is Vienna. Other major cities include, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck
  

Economic:

• In Innsbruck, many people are reliant on Swarovski crystal trade.
• The crystals are made from the water of the austrian alps. It is so pure that you could just scoop water out of the lake and drink.
• another big company to come out of Austria is Red Bull

Political:

• It was a Monarchy since the 13th Century, up to World War 2 when it became a republic.
• The rise of the Habsbergs was the reason why Austria became a super power at that time.
• They started accumulating provinces around Austria, and they started to expand their borders without much bloodshed. They did so by marrying into other families and then acquiring their lands and placing those lands under their (the Habsbergs) control.
• Everything was pretty smooth sailing until a problem arose centuries later. The Habsbergs were marrying each other. Because they were marrying to Princesses and Princes in Spain and Italy and all over europe, their descendents were marrying one another in the later generations. this started to lead to their heirs becoming fairly "retarded" and incapable of ruling the nation as well as the Holy Roman Empire, of which Austria was the head. Ultimately, the Habsberg family died out in 1740s.
• After World War 2, Austria was split into quarters like Germany, but within 10 years, their oppressors left, Russia being the last to leave. The Republic returned to austria and has been so ever since.

Attractions:

• Austria is a top destination for winter sports. Known as the home of skiing, white water rafting, Austrians love the outdoors. Ask any Austrian why they love winter sports, they'd just say "because the alps is just there."
• Vienna is home of the classical music. Great composers like Mozart, Strauss come from Vienna.
• Salzburg is where the origins of the Sound of Music came from.

People:

• Austrians are one of the fittest people in the world. They love to ski and unlike other people who ski down the mountains, they ski upwards. They have invented a special type of skiis which allow them to grip like brakes when they have moved upwards. Crazy.

Food:

• Very similar to the Germans.
• A real speciality is the Austrian Strudel and Schnaps (its a type of hard liquor)
• Schnitzel is also one of the local delights. Its like pork cutlet.

A very beautiful and scenic drive through the Austrian Alps.

Swarovski Crystal. Biggest Swarovski shop in the world.

Swarovski was opened by a man named Daniel Swarovki. I can't remember the full story.

Easter Markets, otherwise known as Oster Markets in German. they sold food, easter eggs, accessories, something like pa-sar-ma-lam

one of the houses of the Habsbergs. It has a roof made from pure gold. It was a symbol to tell the people that they were a family of influence.

Imperial Palace Courtyard. It is painted in Empress Maria Theresa's favourite shade of yellow called "Schonbrunn yellow". Well, it makes the palace look dull.

Another part of the EAster Markets.

Schnap shop! I tried a Schnap cos it was free, I nearly died.

This is the main church in Innsbruck. Its called Jesuitenkirche if im not wrong.

On the streets of Innsbruck with the beautiful Austrian Alps behind. Everywhere in the city has a background of the Alps. simply beautiful.

the Arch of someone, I didn;t take note, so I forgot. haha.

The main shopping street called Maria-Theresian-StraBe

It was time for a break. Time to eat some Austrian-German Cruisine. German Sausages. Plus Fried potatoes, super!

Just thought I'd end the post with the Austrian Alps. Oh yeah, the tap water in Austria, tastes like Evian Mineral Water. I mean it. I think its because its from the same source as Evian. haha.