Good news: Becca may have found her new favorite European city. Salzburg now joins Lucerne, Venice, Rome, Vienna and almost every other city as those to share that honor. Elite company.
Salzburg was founded for its salt mines (Salz = salt), was conquered a couple times, had a regimen defeat a Napoleon-led French army, ended up in French control, became British territory for a minute, went through a couple other tiffs, and eventually Austrian a couple hundred years ago before becoming a center of Nazi Germany and nearly getting flattened by allies. Now, the Austrian influence is on full display. The gorgeous ornate buildings and decorative traditional side streets are what get Becca, the schnitzel and wurstl stands everywhere throughout this mountain town what get me. There is also a strong obsession with Mozart here, which is reasonable since he was a child prodigy playing concerts in Schonbrunn Palace at the age of 6 and turned out to be one of the greatest composers of all time. What is not reasonable is for nearly every store to sell "Mozart chocolates" (but they ARE delicious) in violin shaped boxes, and others to sell Mozart liquor, Mozart lotions, etc.
We're almost fluent in German at this point and by fluent I mean I can count to three and say 'please and thank you'. Actually I don't know how to say 'and', so that should read 'please,' and 'thank you.' Austria really puts immaturity to the test with this language, and the natural tendency is to think of what these words would mean if they were English. Examples:
- Wiener Universitat = Higher education for aspiring male porn stars
- Wiener Walzer = males that like to dance naked
- Gute Fahrt, Auf Wiedersehen = good fart, goodbye!
What do they actually mean? Your guess is as good as mine. Actually it may be a little better. But I doubt it.
The highlight: We took on the city with a 24-hour Salzburg Pass, getting us into most attractions for a one-time 28-euro fee. Highly recommend. This also meant we would tour places like Mozart's apartment, which we may not have otherwise. The highlight was Hohensalzburg Fortress, though, for its unreal views and war museums included. A close second: Schloss Hellbrunn, a "summer palace" (always necessary) for the archbishop, who pranked his guests with trick fountains left and right. Seems like a guy I'd like to hang with.
Additional observations: The Asian tour buses riddle this town at certain stops, similar to Vienna, and we've keenly observed which photo poses are 'in' and which are 'out' amongst the culture. One-legged photos? In for sure. Peace sign? Was out, is now making its way back. Acting as though you're holding up monuments, holding large statues in your hand, etc.? Always in and will never be out.
Enjoy this photographic journey alongside us as we make our way to Slovenia with my former college roomie, Jackson Shuttleworth, and his fiancé Michaela.
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| Makartsteg pedestrian walking bridge plastered in love locks |
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| "Keep your love locked down, your love locked down" - Kanye West |
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| Walking bridge + view and a half |
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| The view atop Hohensalzburg Fortress. |
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| Hohensalzburg was built by an Archbishop who feared that his country's tiff with the Pope would require him to seek refuge. So he build an absolutely massive one atop a mountain, starting just before 1100 ad. |
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| Thrusting weaponry on display |
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| Becca has been running out of poses for all the photography |
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| Guns blazing. Cannon out of Hohensalzburg |
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Marionette museum within the fortress, or a scene from all your childhood nightmares?
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| More views from the fortress |
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| It's very pretty up there. |
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| St Peter's church and Fortress atop the hill |
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| Typical side streets of Salzburg |
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| Getreidgasse - this alley is the grandaddy of them all. Shops on shops on food on food with side alleys and cafes all up and around it |
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| Mirabelle Palace fountain |
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| These are Mozart's instruments in his childhood home. Yes, he was about 5 feet tall so they look like Little Tikes toys |
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| Bec getting artsy! |
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| Attention: this pose is now in. |
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| This church, Il Dom, was prepping for a "Pentecost festival". Doesn't seem like something to celebrate but whatever! |
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| Behind Mirabell Palace |
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| Mirabell palace statue depicting what is thought to be the first "Stone Cold Steve Austin Stunner" move |
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| Schloss Mirabelle (Mirabelle Palace) gardens |
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| Residenz art. We took our own tour, and marveled at the total rejection by the Archbishops of the Catholic "vow of poverty", as their residence was more of a colossal castle filled with gold and less of a "residence." |
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| Becca Mozart-ing |
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| still running out of poses in Residenzplatz |
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| View from atop Modern Art Museum |
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| Heading up in a cable car to Unterseen... |
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| ...Which was such a tall mountain that it led to this stunning view. |
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| Cappucinos at cafes. That does not get old. |
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| View across the river toward "Old Town." |
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| Gazebo from Sound of Music Scene - I am sixteen going on seventeeeen |
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| Hellbrunn. Enough room for an Archbishop to stretch out. |
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| Couldn't fool me, Trick Fountains |
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| Roman Theatre, Schloss Hellbrunn |
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| Schloss Hellbrunn |
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| Getreidgasse - Salzburg. Even the Tommy Hilfiger sign is in theme. |
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| Augustiner Brau - after their prayer and Monk duties, the Monks brew beers and let it rip at their brewery, and have been doing so since the 1600s. Mugs are still cooled by dipping in a fountain, which may or may not have been holy water |
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| Bartender at Augustinerbrau |
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| Cafe off Gestreidgasse |
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| Postcard from heaven |
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