Austria – an enchanting country and so independent!
I have just returned from a two week vacation in Austria including a four day Avalon River Cruise down the Danube. It was a brilliant experience filled with the beauty, history and charm of Salzburg, 3 days of driving through the Austrian countryside along the Enns River to the cosmopolitan, culturally rich city of Vienna where the cruise departed.
One of the statements I found myself saying in many of the villages and cities I visited was “I could live here”. And it is so true of Salzburg. Even though the weather when we first arrived was rainy and a bit cold, it did not preclude us from walking to Old Town, as Salzburg is an easily manageable and walking city. Now also because of the weather, I consented to take the very touristy tour of the Making of the Sound of Music and I must admit, it was worth it. Not only did we see the fronts/backs and grounds of many of the places the movie was filmed, we also traveled to the lakes above Salzburg to the area the famous first scene was filmed and to the church where the wedding scene took place. On a rainy morning it was a wonderful way to see Salzburg and the surrounding countryside which sits in the heart of the Alps. I admit… I highly recommend it.
The home of Mozart has an Old Town that is filled with narrow streets, large squares and Gothic churches. The great shopping street in the old town is Getreidegasse which bears a blend of baroque and Renaissance buildings which are adorned with wrought iron guild signs that hang above the doors. In earlier times, before most of the population could read, the signs indicated what goods the shop sold or the guild the shop owner belonged too. Salzburg is also a city of parks, surrounded by mountains, forests and hills with the river Salzac running through it. The restaurants are plentiful, affordable (mostly) and serving local cuisine in an elegant yet friendly way. Our favorite was Zum Fidelen Affen or The Flying Monkey. The atmosphere and staff were so friendly we returned 2 nights later for a late night glass of wine. Our perfectly located Pension called the Hotel Trumer Stube is run by the Hirschbichler family. Marianne, the daughter (also the mother) speaks impeccable English and is a wealth of Salzburg knowledge. The breakfast was a wonderful spread of local breads, cheeses, wonderful yogurts and meats. I just love the European breakfast.
Coming soon… Lofer, MariaZell, Vienna, The Danube and Budapest.
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