Salzburg for the Sound of Music and Mozart

Post date: Sep 22, 2018 8:7:0 PM

Penny said “Let’s go to Salzburg for a weekend in September” and I said “I'm booking my ticket now”. I know friends who plan their travel meticulously. They schedule things years ahead of time, and buy the cheapest flight possible, and then save for months.

Penny and I planned about as much as the conversation you see above. We didn’t even do research on things to do and places to see. This is one of the many reasons we’re soulmates.

Because we did no research we started Saturday morning with a delightful breakfast on the river and sketched out rough plans.

They largely amounted to 1) Wander around 2) Do the Sound of Music Tour 3) Wander some more 4) Eat and drink a lot.

Let the plan commence!

These two statues were at the entrance to the garden for a palace thingy (seriously, I could be a tour guide). Penny remarked that they are trying for an “eternal fist bump” and the real travesty of this picture isn’t the glorious garden, but of their perpetual failure. Devestating.

Same garden, and also a scene from the Sound of Music. Now Penny and I are fans, but not crazy fans. We didn’t recognize this until we saw a video later on the Sound of Music tour.

Which was just as awesome as it sounds. Nay. More.

The guide and bus driver were both in the Austrian clothes, and explained their tradition. They also were full of crazy corny jokes and silly quips that they clearly used on everyone. Penny and I love being tourists so we ate it right up.

They played almost the entire original score as we drove around, and we were encouraged to sing. The woman sitting next to us knew every word and cried when the tour was over. She is my hero.

This is the mansion/villa/birthday present to a spoiled nephew that was filmed for the outside of the house. The gazebo used to be on the grounds, but so many people broke in to dance in it that they moved it.

A few years ago an 80 year old lady wanted to relive the jumping scene in the gazebo, and fell, crashing through the glass. So the owners now keep in locked. Our tour guide told us that if we sung about being 16 going on 17 the doors would magically unlock. I think she was lying though.

This is the lane that Maria walked/danced/skipped down talking about how she had confidence in confidence alone! Penny did an awesome skip-click your heels- skip move. My only job was to capture it in a photo. One of succeeded. It was not me.

The best part of the trip was that we got out of Salzburg and I got to drool over the local countryside. Austria is a stunning country, and next time I hope to hike these hills. Or, climb every mountain if you will.

Seriously, if you get the chance to be in Salzburg I can highly recommend this tour. We had an absolute blast and it was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Coolest thing about Salzburg? The hills. But seriously they liked to build things on top of hills. They were alive with the sound of music. Ok I’ll stop now.

Happily, there was a funicular to the top! I love a good funicular ride, and although I hate museums, Penny loves them. And I strive to be a good travel buddy. So up to the fortress we went!

For some reason in one of the rooms they wanted to show armor and how it would be used in a battle. So they constructed stick figures with armor. I know it was supposed to be artistic, but all I could do was laugh (loudly) at the dead stick figure on the ground as the battle rages on.

The view was amazing, and worth stopping for a drink. Or two. Who’s counting. It was in the weekend agenda.

We also tried this cake thingy which apparently was “invented” in this hotel (I dispute the term "invented" when referring to food). It’s supposed to be amazing! It was not. But the wine was delightful (I’m looking at you next, Austria wine tour ;)

There was also a bunch of Mozart stuff. He was born in Salzburg and they are OBSESSED with the guy. Most of the postcards contain his silhouette. They made a chocolate for him, and even made him his own bridge.

Finally, I leave you with this portrait we found of Bill Murray that Penny really liked. It’s unclear to me why, but she’s recently gotten into collecting art and now has her eye out for things like this (“I will take one “art” please. Yes, thank you very much”).

Till the next adventure with Penny!