An old proverb in Lucerne reads: "When Pilate hides his head, Sunshine below will spread; When Pilate’s head is bare, Of rain beware." This morning you travel by way of the steepest cog-rail in the world to the top of Mt. Pilatus. At its highest point, Pilatus is 6,985 feet; the view from the observation deck of the Alpine range and the waters of Lake Lucerne is truly dazzling. You lunch at a colorful local inn; and afterward, you take a cruise on the lake where you can sit on the deck and drink in the clean, crisp alpine air. This evening, you and your travel companions have à la carte dining in a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Driving eastward this morning, you journey along country roads, past quaint little villages, to the Principality of Liechtenstein and its capital city of Vaduz – nestled in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria. A very picturesque mountain country, Liechtenstein has long been considered a "secret" tax haven. You lunch at a casual country inn in one of the surrounding mountain villages. Entering Austria, you cross over the Arlberg Pass on our way to Innsbruck. Set at the junction of the Inn Valley and the Sill Gap, with the steep snow-covered slopes silently standing watch, this city is the cultural and tourist capital of Tyrol. Your hotel here is the plush Europe Tyrol – located just minutes from the Old Town. This golden-yellow building is accented with charming old-world details – carved wooden paneling, mirrors, Oriental carpeting, marble floors, and statuary. Lovely antiques, etchings and watercolors adorn the hallways. This evening, you select from the à la carte menu in the hotel’s Tyrolean restaurant. (B,L,D)

This morning, you visit the Old Town and see the "Golden Roof", finished in 1500 during the reign of Maximilian and a symbol of Habsburg power. Nearby is the 18^th-century St. James Cathedral with its Baroque-style interior. And all around are ancient, balconied houses decorated with colorful signs, reliefs, and frescoes. Later in the day, you drive out of town to visit one of "Mad" King Ludwig’s castles – Linderhof - and stop in the village of Oberammergau where residents perform the Passion Play every ten years in commemoration of the fact that their village was left unscathed by the Plague. This evening, you will dine at a restaurant in Innsbruck featuring local specialties. (B,L,D)

This morning you cross the border back into Germany for a short time as you journey northward toward Salzburg. Along the way, you stop at Berchtesgaden, which was the site Adolf Hitler chose for his notorious holiday retreat, "Eagle’s Nest", on the Kehlstein. An impressive road, carved out of the rocks, leads to a summit where there is a magnificent view of the neighboring peaks.

You drive a short distance and enter Austria once again, soon arriving in Salzburg. The enormous gray castle on the hilltop, Hohensalzburg, looms over the city; it was home to prince-bishops in the 13^th century. The modern town is spread along one side of the beautiful Salzach River; the old town, bristling with domes and church spires, sits across the river, just below the intriguing Hohensalzburg. Overlooking the Salzach River, your hotel - the Hotel Sacher – has an elegant staircase leading up to an atrium with palms, ferns and intricate stonework. This evening, you dine in one of the à la carte dining rooms of the hotel. (B,L,D)

Salzburg is magical, a fairytale town of charming old houses set along narrow streets, whimsical wrought-iron signs, men clad in lederhosen, and women wearing multi-colored dirndls. Its name evolves from the mining of salt – the "white gold" that historically supported the region. There are many magnificent architectural treasures here. Fortunately, numerous historical buildings have been restored rather than replaced.

You see St. Peter’s Abbey, founded in 696, and the 17th-century Cathedral with its three bronze doors symbolizing faith, hope and charity. Just up the hill, you visit the Hohensalzburg castle-fortress. Begun in 1077, it was enlarged and remodeled (with the addition of state rooms) over many centuries; there are sweeping views of the city and the countryside from the terrace. Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; although the local citizenry didn’t offer much encouragement during his lifetime, today they are pleased to recognize him. At his birthplace on Getreidegasse, you see where Mozart composed the majority of his earlier works. In the mid-1960s, music of another variety graced Salzburg with the filming of "The Sound of Music". Join your travel companions this evening for dinner in one of Salzburg’s picturesque restaurants. (B,L,D)

This morning you set out for Vienna, capital of Austria. The landscape is dotted with farms, low rolling verdant hills, and high mountains. Numerous images come to mind when thinking of Vienna – magnificent architecture along wide boulevards, elaborate imperial palaces, coffee houses offering delectable pastries, crystal chandeliers, lace curtains, Baroque mirrors, choirboys with angelic voices, horse-drawn carriages, the blue Danube River, Strauss’s waltz, and elegant shops.

Upon your arrival in Vienna, you check into the Hotel Imperial, which was once the city’s most prominent ducal palace. The spacious opulence of the Baroque marble lobby, with its glittering chandeliers, offers a vivid picture of "old Vienna", when this was the Wurttemberg Palais. The wealth of antiques, tapestries, polished marble, crystal, and glossy honey-toned wood provides an elite yet warm setting. This evening, you dine from the à la carte menu, pampered by an attentive staff and entertained by the strains of classical music. (B,L,D)

For six centuries, Vienna was the seat of the imperial court; and the influence of the Habsburgs remains clearly evident. Now the headquarters of the neutral federal government, it enjoys considerable prestige. Set in the Danube River valley, with the hills of the Vienna Woods creating a northern and western border, the city is built on both sides of the Danube. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with its glorious tiled roof, is at the heart of the old city in the Innere Stadt, which is encircled by the Ringstrasse. The cathedral was built on the site of a 12th-century church – the main entrance of the original building was incorporated into the present structure.

You visit the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) – favorite residence of the Habsburgs - and see the imperial apartments as well as the treasury. There is ample time this afternoon for shopping for items such as porcelains, enamelware, and needlepoint in the shops along the pedestrian-only thoroughfares of Kärtner Strasse, Graben and the Kohlmarkt; the numerous cafes will also tempt you with coffee and pastries. This evening, you go to a typical Viennese wine tavern (Heuriger) to sample the local specialties for dinner. (B,L,D)

Today, you visit the sumptuous Baroque Schönbrunn Palace, constructed in the late 1700s; it was home to Empress Maria Theresa (as well as Napoleon). Painted in Maria Theresa’s favorite shade of yellow, there are 1,441 rooms (including a chapel and a theater). In 1918, in the Blue Chinese Salon, the last Habsburg emperor, Charles I, abdicated; and the palace became the property of the new republic. Later, you get "off the beaten track" to enjoy the nature of the Vienna Woods as you drive through charming wine-producing villages and rocky, wooded valleys. Join your companions tonight for dinner in an elegant hunting lodge outside the city. (B,L,D)

This morning, your journey ends as you are escorted to the Vienna Airport for your flight to the USA. (B)