The Sound of Music in SalzburgSalzburg is absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful - just the sort of city you'd want for a Hollywood movie set. We loved looking around to see things we remembered from scenes of The Sound of Music, like the "snorting horse" fountain, and from Amadeus, like the church organ young Wolfgang Mozart played as a boy. It was also cool to see some distinctly Salzburg things that weren't memorialized in film, like the cool wrought iron shop signs and the massive fortress overlooking the city.
Our favorite thing: The signage for the shops in Salzburg - not only was each one a work of art, the signs relayed the purpose of the shop without words |
Experiencing "A Few of Our Favorite Things"Salzburg and the surrounding area is the backdrop for much of Rogers and Hammerstein's blockbuster The Sound of Music. During a free afternoon, local guide Christoph took us by minivan to the most famous locations from the film. Our van echoed with Do-Re-Mi, I Am Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and Edelweiss (the last song written by Hammerstein and a last-minute addition to the musical) as we traveled over the beautiful Austrian countryside on a sunny afternoon. Remembering the initial viewing of the movie as youngsters, Jill and Jody loved visiting the location of the Von Trapp family's escapades. The tour included the beautiful Mirabell Gardens, the snorty horse fountain where the children frolic around the edges, the two wedding chapels (one for the outside and one for the inside scenes of the ceremony), the romantic gazebo where star-crossed lovers dance, and the tree-lined alley where the children climb in their drapery play-clothes. Christoph entertained us with many anecdotes about the cast and movie including little Gretl who could not swim and needed to be rescued each time the boat overturned, the two gazebos (one in Salzburg used for the outside scenes and the large, Hollywood version with room for sweethearts Leisl and Rolf to dance) and the citizens of Austria's amazement when Rogers and Hammerstein informed them that the weedy Edelweiss was essentially the national flower. The Hills were truly Alive with the Sound of Music for our group that afternoon.
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Clean Bulls, Fresh Fish & Funny MonkeysOur local guide Helga regaled us with funny stories of Salzburg's history during a city walking tour. She explained how Salzburg got the nickname, "the bull washers." During a siege, citizens hiding out in the fortress above town kept repainting the same bull to trick their invaders into believing the fortress held a plentiful supply of fresh beef that could outlast a lengthy siege. She also told us about St. Michael's monastery, which served visitors the freshest fish by keeping its fountain well-stocked. Visitors could pick out the precise fish they wanted to eat. We assume Red Lobster stole the idea from these monks. At the end of the tour, we headed back toward the hotel for dinner at a restaurant recommended by our guide Donald. We really enjoyed how much he liked the restaurant name, The Funny Monkey.
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Give Us a Sign
Salzburg is known for its intricate wrought-iron signs, which were created in an era when many citizens couldn't read and instead interpreted pictures. Today, that tradition continues and even modern businesses like McDonald's and Red Bull are required to have a beautiful and traditional sign outside.
Amadeus, Amadeus, Rock Me Amadeus
Achieving rock-star status in the mid-1700's, Salzburg-born Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy and began composing at the age of five. Living on the fourth floor in a one-bedroom apartment, he began life as the youngest of seven children. As a child, Wolfgang outdid the King of Pop, by touring Europe at the tender age of six. He was a "superstar" and earned commensurate wages. Growing restless and in search of a better position, the seventeen year-old Mozart moved to Vienna where he composed the majority of his symphonies. He was the toast of the town and entertained the elite of his day, including the Austrian archduchess Maria Theresa (who our tour meets upon our arrival in Vienna). He died a pauper , but managed to have a wonderful confection, the Mozart Ball, created in his honor.
Another One of Our Favorite ThingsOn our first Rick Steves tour, which was to Italy, our tour guide Ben encouraged us to go hang out where the locals do before the work day starts. He would give us the names of a few nearby coffee shops where we could sit and "people watch" with a fresh, locally brewed cappuccino. Since that trip, going out for morning coffee or tea has become one of our favorite ways to start the day. It's an authentic experience to watch local business people reading the newspaper or checking their smart phones, see groups of gossipy older ladies deep in conversation, and chat with waiters and restaurant owners. Often, we are the only Americans in the place - which is just the way we like it.
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