Innsbruck, nestled in the Alps, was an unexpectedly pleasant town that we ended up in. I also managed to meet a schoolmate of mine after twenty-six years, who’s been in Innsbruck for more than a decade. Thanks to him, Sruthi and I received a crash course in Innsbruck history and a whirlwind tour of the town.
Though the city looks charming today, we were reminded that most of it was rebuilt after the Second World War. Due to its role in collecting Germany, Italy, and Switzerland and the presence of the Brenner Pass, just south of Innsbruck, it was a critical town that had to be captured. The Americans began bombing runs over the town as soon as it managed to get a foothold in Italy by landing in Sicily. Today, the city has a resort-like feel and it’s hard to imagine bombs raining down from the skies. The city also is one of the few places in Europe that also manufactures penicillin.
The main attraction of the city is a thirty minute cable ride that takes you up to an altitude of 2300m giving one a spectacular view of the city and surrounding peaks. It’s perplexing to imagine why we have so far and few similar attractions despite being home to the towering Himalayas.
It was only after reaching Innsbruck that I discovered that the Swarovski jewels are named after the company’s founder – Daniel Swarovski who established the firm in the town. There’s also a Swarovski Museum, which was heavily marketed by the tourist department as a must-visit site. I stayed away!
Innsbruck will also be etched in memory for a different reason. It was while roaming there that we heard about the Air India tragedy.
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