The Sound of Salzburg

I wanted to visit Salzburg so on Monday Sabine & her mom where nice enough to drive me and spent the day showing me around. Since we were driving I had one other request. I wanted to go on the German Auto-Bahn. So, on our way to Salzburg we drove through Germany and I got my chance to be on the German Auto-Bahn.

NOTE: It's ok Mom.....we never went over the speed limit. At most we hit about 130, but that is it. You had nothing to worry about!

When we arrived in Salzburg we walked around the famous Mirabell Gardens. It was beautiful, even covered in snow. We tried to find the famous gazebo from the Sound of Music, but it turned out that it was in another location. We headed toward the Austinia Church and met the priest. Sabine told him that was from California and I wanted to see the Sound of Music sites. He laughed and said, "Well, if your going to show him around Salzburg then you must visit the church". So, to took a look inside. After, we took a hiking trail around Salzburg on the mountainside that was covered in snow.....this hike was recommended by the priest. It was a blast.....and a few snowballs were thrown. Here and there you would get these fantastic views of the city and of the Hohensalzburg Fortress.

The Hike

Salzburg

The Fortress

When we made it to the fortress we took the audio tour. I've never been a fan of audio tours, but this one wasn't too bad and it wasn't overly long either. I just feel like a cow moving from one site to the other with a big group. The fortress was huge, but the best part was the 360-views it offered of Salzburg it offered.

Salzburg

Salzburg

We worked our way down the hill from the fortress to look for a lunch spot and to stop in shops along the way. We found our way into several sweet shops. One in particular Sabine had to buy several items which we could enjoy later.

Lunch was traditional "Rindsgulasch mit Semmelknodel" (Gulyas of beef and bread dumplings). Very Tasty! Oh, and I had a beer too. After I had to use the restroom so I was walking down the hall of the restaurant to find it. There was this odd and out-of-place cove along the wall so I had to stand in it. Hmmm. "Nothing!" I thought, so I moved on. When I came back to the cove I noticed something I hadn't before. I was standing on thick plastic over an old well. Had I looked down I would had noticed this about a 20ft drop and bones at the bottom.

Our next stop was the birth home of Mozart. I didn't pay to go inside because I figured that seeing his birth home wouldn't allow me to play the piano or compose music any better. I'm doomed to have a poor musical talents. I was more impressed with the courtyard outside of his home:

The Courtyard

We walked into a flower market where I bought Sabine and her mom roses. Only a minor gift of the generosity they have given me. We walked by a hat shop and Sabine was distracted. I later told Sabine that I know two of her weaknesses: Sweets and Hats.

Our next stop was the Salzkammergut Lake District and I was excited to go! We stopped in a little town where Sabine went to school called, "St. Wolfgang". It was gorgeous! By now Sabine must have thought was nuts with all of the photos I had been taking.

St. Wolfgang

St. Wolfgang

St. Wolfgang

St. Wolfgang

The ride home was nice. The vodka chocolate balls I bought at the sweets store were able to put me to sleep for a while. Once it got dark I really enjoyed watching the various castles along the Auto-Bhan. The castles were glowing with light against a dark mountain so they looked like they were floating. I was enthralled!

Upon arriving back to Sabine's house we were greeted with Wiener Schnitzel. It's basically a piece of fried pork. Sabine said, "You eat it with jam". I laughed and said, "No you don't". She says, "Yeah!" I wasn't going to fall for this one. She cuts a piece for herself, squirts lemon, puts on the jam, and eats it. I was in disbelief. I reluctantly cut a piece, squirted lemon, put on some jam (keeping my eye on Sabine waiting for her to laugh at the stupid American), and slowly put it in my mouth. Turns out, it is very very good! I loved it!