Germany/Austria 2012 ~ Salzburg

Thursday morning, we left for Salzburg, Austria.  It was the most beautiful morning, and the sun shining on the mountains was breathtaking.  To future Austrian travelers, you need a vignette for your car window to allow you to drive on Austrian motorways.  These can be picked up off the motorway, gas stations, etc and only cost 8 euros.  Now if you don't know about these vignettes, and you exit to Salzburg, you will be pulled over with the other foolish drivers and pay your 120 euro fine...as the Vastines did.  No worries if you don't have cash because they have a van equipped with credit card machines.  I'm sure there is no debt in Austria as it is paid for by the travelers with a lack of knowledge about vignettes.  Rick Steeves mentioned it, but I failed to read that page prior to our visit.  We'll just say it wasn't the best start to Salzburg. :)  But anyway, on with the visit...

I was lucky enough to capture this with my iPhone while moving at 160 kilometers per hour...nice work iPhone!

Our accommodations in Salzburg.  So adorable and very friendly owners!  We would highly recommend it!

This is the view from our hotel.  Wow!  Okay, it wasn't the view from our room (because we are never THAT lucky), you get this great view from the other side of the hotel.

The room!  It was big!

Salzburg is all about Mozart.  He was born here and stayed until he was 25.  This is the second home of Mozart.  His family moved here when he was 17.  This home is actually a reconstruction as the original was destroyed in the war.

Standing over the Salzach River that runs through Salzburg.  Behind us is the old part of the city.  The fortress overlooks the city.  You will see pictures from up there tomorrow.

Mozart's birthplace and home for 17 years is located in the old town section.

One of the many shops dedicated to Mozart.  They market him well.  The most famous are the Mozart balls. :)  It is a chocolate ball with pistachio inside.  They were really good.

The bells in this tower were actually made in Antwerp.

The beautiful dome inside the Salzburg Cathedral.

The lovely Salzburg Cathedral from the outside.  There are three dates displayed on the front....774 for the original church which is long gone...1628 which is the church you see here...and 1959 when reconstruction was completed after a WWII bomb destroyed the dome.  Our friend Rick Steeves suggested we walk across the square and stand in the middle of three arches.  When you do....

You can see that the angels on the cathedral appear to be crowning the statue of Mary who stands in the middle of the square.  Thanks Rick!  That was cool!  It was a unanimous "Awwww" from the Vastines.

This fountain was a former horse bath with the fortress above.

My favorite picture from the trip.  It was actually a suggestion made by Chris.  Good job, honey.  It's a keeper.

Some beautiful sites around town.

You move from street to street though passages.  It's very similar to the design in Scotland.  This passage was called Schmuck Passage, and here is Thomas...acting like a schmuck in the passage. :)

This fountain was featured in The Sound of Music, but it wasn't on the tour.  You'll see those pictures tomorrow.

We LOVED this restaurant.  Terrific food!

And tomorrow, the hills will be alive with The Sound of Music!  Stay tuned. :)


Until next time,
Wendy