Salzburg 1

View from Nonnberg Convent. Maria lived there before

joining the von Trapp family. Once the home of 400 nuns,

26 live there now.

Several churches and bell towers throughout Salzburg.

Salzach river, tours offered on boats specially designed

for it.

Views on the way from Salzburg to Mondsee. The water

becomes a lot bluer than the water in the city. Mirabell Gardens. Mirabell Palace was built in 1606 by

Archbishop Wolf Dietrich. Salzburg was ruled for a long

time by Archbishops. This and several other design features in Mirabell gardens

were featured in the Do Re Mi sequence in the Sound of

Music. While some Austrians are familiar with the story

of Maria and the von Trapp family, collected from her diaries

written in German, most (you know who you are) have not

watched or do not like the Robert Wise movie based on the

Rogers and Hammerstein broadway.

The landscape in Mondsee. A religious Moon culture evolved

in the area 4000 years ago, with inhabitants living in houses

built on stilts around the lake.

Back in Salzburg, Hellbrunn Castle is one of the locations

used as the von Trapp house and current home to the

gazebo. The gazebo is now closed due to an unfortunate

accident. An 82 year old lady tried to reproduce the dance

sequence in "16 going on 17" and fell through the glass. Frohnburg Castle. The lake and mountain scenery, but not the

Castle, was used in the movie. Important lectures, including

one by Henry Kissinger, were given here after 3 harvard

alumini purchased it.

Mondsee church used in SOM wedding scene. Procession

up to the altar made to exaggerate its length. The 17th

century organ inside was used in wedding march.

Views from Hohensalzburg Fortress Views from Monchsberg Museum of Modern Art's restaurant/

cafe terrace. Amazing museum dug inside the mountain

with several works by Picasso, Mondrian, Paul Klee,

Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Joan Miro, etc.

Interior of Museum

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is the largest completely

preserved fortification in Central Europe, built in 1077.

It is accessible by foot or by taking Austria's oldest

funicular (1892).
Gathering of wine merchants and wine samplers.

You can see the city's landmark fortress on the right.

Outside the Mozart House (on the right)

Church bells every quarter hour.

Crossing on the Mozart bridge

Probably one of the best weekends of my life. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much and Mozart concertos are playing in loop in my head. I am very grateful and glad to have the chance to see all of this. The air in Salzburg is very crisp and clean. Even with eyes closed, you can feel the difference between standing on a mountain and standing by the river. The food was also great and you can get good beer from the Spiegl Brewery. The hills are alive with the sound of music and there is no shame in doing very touristy things that make you happy and eager to travel more. There are no drawings in this post but next one will have only drawings. Next stop is the one I have been looking forward to the most...